Heritage Partnership
Active
- Assistance listing
- 15.939
- Agency
-
National Park Service
Department of the Interior
- Grant awards
- 537 $287,236,706 in federal obligations
Program facts
- Also known as
- National Heritage Areas
- Assistance types
-
- Cooperative Agreement
- Project Grant
- Treasury account
-
- 14-1042-0-1-303
- More information
Program details come from SAM.gov Assistance Listings. Updated . Grant award figures come from USAspending.gov.
About this program
The Department of the Interior National Park Service funds projects preserving, interpreting, and enhancing nationally significant natural, cultural, historic, and recreational resources within designated National Heritage Areas through the Heritage Partnership Program (CFDA 15.939), with the most recent grant award issued December 19, 2025.
The program supports heritage area management entities in implementing congressionally approved management plans. Funded activities include resource stewardship and preservation education, heritage tourism development, historic preservation, cultural revitalization, interpretive programming, conservation work, community engagement, and administrative and operational support for heritage areas. Recent awards demonstrate funding for trail maintenance and expansion (Delaware and Lehigh Towpath Trail), interpretive center operations (Wheeling Artisan Center), storytelling and educational initiatives, volunteer stewardship programs, native landscape restoration, heritage commemoration programming tied to America's 250th anniversary, and subgrants to community partners for aligned heritage projects. Beneficiaries span the general public, state and local governments, nonprofits, private entities, and heritage area management coordinating entities.
Cooperative Agreements dominate the portfolio, representing 535 of 537 awards. The National Park Service and its regional offices drive funding across five operational entities. By award count, the National Park Service central office leads with 210 awards ($62.7 million federal dollars obligated), followed closely by the Northeast Region with 165 awards ($70.2 million), while the Southeast Region accounts for 27 awards but contributes $62 million in federal dollars, the Intermountain Region issued 56 awards ($21.3 million), and the Midwest Region funded 17 awards ($40.6 million). Combined federal dollars obligated across the program total $287.2 million; when including non-federal cost-share contributions, the total dollars obligated reach $533.5 million, indicating substantial matching investment by recipients.
Award magnitudes typically range from approximately $97,858 to $1 million, with outliers reaching $2 million to $3.6 million. Recent representative awards include $1 million for New Jersey Revolutionary War Heritage Area (December 2025) supporting the state's 250th anniversary commemoration, $1 million for Champlain Valley Heritage Partnership (October 2025) covering administration, stewardship initiatives, and cultural preservation, and $3.6 million for Ohio Erie Canalway Association (July 2024) providing subgrants for partner projects and heritage marketing.
Grant awards have been disbursed consistently; the portfolio reports 537 total awards spanning from June 2000 to December 2025. The past five years show stable annual output ranging from 32 to 43 awards, with 2025 recording 42 awards. Cooperative Agreements generally have a performance period of up to five years, with annual renewals possible not to exceed a total of five years. Projects are generally renewed on an annual basis contingent on Congressional appropriation and availability of funds.
No recent grant opportunities are currently open. All opportunities in the source have due dates from 2019 to 2020 and were notices of intent to award without competitive solicitation. The program does not appear to have posted competitive funding announcements; opportunities are consistently structured as noncompetitive notices of intent to award to designated heritage area management entities. Eligible applicants include state, local, or tribal governments; public entities; educational institutions; and private nonprofits. Application review is merit-based; evaluation criteria are specified in individual funding announcements posted on grants.gov. The program's application period varies by project, generally ranging from 30 to 90 days per funding opportunity announcements.
Objective and description
- Objective
The purpose of the Heritage Partnership Program funding is to carry out programs and projects that engage National Heritage Area (NHA) recipients, partners, communities, and/or visitors in shared environmental stewardship. It promotes greater public
- Description
The Heritage Partnership Program provides federal support to National Heritage Areas to preserve, interpret, and enhance nationally significant natural, cultural, historic, and recreational resources. It funds projects that strengthen environmental stewardship, promote public and private participation in preservation and education, and improve quality of life within designated heritage regions. Goals for each National Heritage Area are set forth in each of their designation legislation, but in general, the goal of designation as a National Heritage Area is to preserve and interpret for the educational and inspirational benefit of present and future generations the unique and significant contributions to our national heritage.
Eligibility
- Applicant eligibility
State, local, or tribal government or other public entity, an educational institution, or a private nonprofit organization.
- Beneficiary eligibility
General public, states, their political subdivisions, non-profits, private entities, the heritage area management/coordinating entity.
- Uses of assistance
Funding and/or assistance is managed by an agency, nonprofit or other organized party identified in the public law that created the National Heritage Area. Funding is to accomplish intended purpose specified within each individual National Heritage Area's public law. Funding applies to interpretation and education, recreation, preservation and conservation and economic development of the region applied specifically to the nationally important story for which they were established.
- Length and time phasing of assistance
Cooperative Agreements generally have a period of performance of up to five years. Funding availability and source will be a factor in determining the length of assistance. Reimbursement is accomplished as outlined in the proposal and subsequent task agreements based on the particular project requirements. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: Funds to recipients are distributed through ASAP.
How to apply
- Criteria for selecting proposals
Specific evaluation criteria will be included in the funding announcements posted on www.grants.gov.
- Award procedure
Proposals received in response announcements on grants.gov are reviewed on the basis of a competitive, merit-based review process, and are rated in accordance with the evaluation criteria stated in the announcement. Awards may be made to the highest rated proposals based on the amount of funding available each year.
- Time to approval or disapproval
Varies depending on the type and complexity of the project. Further information will be available for each specific project at the time the funding opportunity announcement is posted on www.grants.gov and may be obtained by contacting the Program Manager listed as the point of contact. Generally 30 - 90 days.
- Renewals
Projects may generally be renewed on an annual basis, not to exceed a total of 5 years. If renewals or extensions are applicable to the project, this information will be included in the funding opportunity announcement. When renewals or extensions are applicable, continuation of funding for these activities is at the discretion of Congress and will be subject to availability of appropriated funds.
- Appeals
None. Final award decisions are not subject to appeal; however, the National Park Service will provide applicants with information on why their proposals were not selected for award, upon request.
Grant opportunities
Show 40 more
Latest 50 listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Grant awards
Latest 10 of 537 listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Top recipients by federal obligations
| Rank | Recipient | Federal obligations | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Erie Canalway Heritage Fund Inc. | $10,710,931 | 4% |
| 2 | Silos And Smokestacks National Heritage Area, Inc. | $9,776,000 | 3% |
| 3 | Essex National Heritage Commission | $9,524,009 | 3% |
| 4 | Blue Ridge National Heritage Area, Inc. | $8,890,000 | 3% |
| 5 | The Last Green Valley, Inc. | $8,582,000 | 3% |
| 6 | Rivers Of Steel Heritage Corporation | $8,571,000 | 3% |
| 7 | Cane River National Heritage Area, Inc. | $8,365,110 | 3% |
| 8 | Ohio & Erie Canal Association | $8,267,000 | 3% |
| 9 | Wheeling National Heritage Corp | $7,680,000 | 3% |
| 10 | SC National Heritage Corridor | $7,648,432 | 3% |
10 of 69 recipients listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Federal obligations by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Federal obligations |
|---|---|
| FY2026 | $960,000 |
| FY2025 | $27,572,715 |
| FY2024 | $28,773,331 |
| FY2023 | $29,211,631 |
| FY2022 | $26,288,294 |
| FY2021 | $23,449,008 |
| FY2020 | $20,512,794 |
| FY2019 | $18,524,733 |
| FY2018 | $18,812,342 |
| FY2017 | $19,064,765 |
| FY2016 | $18,622,980 |
| FY2015 | $18,802,215 |
| FY2014 | $17,568,680 |
| FY2013 | $15,142,498 |
Show all 14
Quick answers
What is Assistance Listing 15.939?
Assistance Listing 15.939 is Heritage Partnership, a federal grant program run by National Park Service (Department of the Interior).
What is the CFDA number for Heritage Partnership?
Its CFDA number is 15.939: Assistance Listing numbers were called CFDA numbers before 2018.
How much funding has Assistance Listing 15.939 awarded?
537 grant awards under 15.939 have obligated $287,236,706 in federal funds to 69 recipients.
Who receives the most funding from 15.939?
The recipients obligated the most under Heritage Partnership are Erie Canalway Heritage Fund Inc. ($10,710,931), Silos And Smokestacks National Heritage Area, Inc. ($9,776,000) and Essex National Heritage Commission ($9,524,009).
How much did 15.939 obligate in fiscal year 2025?
Grants under 15.939 obligated $27,572,715 in federal funds in fiscal year 2025.
Are there open grant opportunities under 15.939?
None of the latest 50 opportunities under 15.939 is open now. The latest, Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta National Heritage Area, was posted on May 28, 2020.
On GovTribe
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