National Park Service Grants
10 open grant opportunities from National Park Service, from Grants.gov — each with a plain-English summary of who qualifies, the deadline, and the award size.
NPS Cooperative Ecosystems Studies Units (CESU) Master Cooperative Agreements
Due Dec 31, 2027National Park Service · Amount varies
This National Park Service opportunity offers Master Cooperative Agreements to participants in the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) network across listed regions, supporting research, technical assistance, education, and capacity building. Only existing CESU network partners may apply, so applicants must already have joined the network. No specific award amount is provided.
ResearchersSchools & universitiesGovernment / tribalNarrow eligibilityOutdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program (ORLP) Recurring Notice 5 Year
Due Nov 1, 2030National Park Service · $300K–$15M
The National Park Service's Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) Program funds land acquisition and the development or renovation of outdoor recreation facilities in qualifying urban and tribal areas, with awards from $300,000 to $15 million. Only State and Territorial Lead Agencies, federally recognized Indian Tribes, and Alaska Native corporations may apply directly; local governments, park districts, and Native Hawaiian organizations must apply as sub-recipients through a State/Territorial Lead Agency or Tribal Government. Projects must be in a qualifying area (an urban area of 25,000+ population or a tribal/Native community area), require a dollar-for-dollar 50% non-federal match, and must protect the site for public recreation in perpetuity.
Government / tribalCost-share requiredLarge awardNarrow eligibilityReadiness and Recreation Initiative (RARI) – Recurring 5 Year Notice
Due Nov 30, 2030National Park Service · $250K–$3M
The National Park Service's Readiness and Recreation Initiative (RARI) funds outdoor recreation land acquisition near military installations, with awards from $250,000 to $3 million. Only State and Territorial Lead Agencies (the LWCF agency designated in each state and territory) may apply directly; other state agencies, federally recognized tribes, and local governments must apply through their State or Territorial Lead Agency as sub-recipients. This is a narrow program: projects must include land acquisition, sit within a designated REPI Partnership Opportunity Area or Sentinel Landscape, carry a military commander's letter of support, and protect the site for public recreation in perpetuity. It also requires a dollar-for-dollar (50%) match, though Department of War REPI funds may be used to meet that cost-share.
Government / tribalCost-share requiredLarge awardNarrow eligibilityResearch Techs
No deadline listedNational Park Service · Amount varies
This National Park Service program funds 501(c)(3) nonprofits (excluding colleges and universities) to support young-adult work and training opportunities tied to natural resource research, inventory, and monitoring in Mojave Desert Network parks. Eligibility is narrow — limited to nonprofits other than higher-education institutions, and the work is geographically tied to Mojave Desert Network park units; no specific award amount or deadline is listed in this posting.
Nonprofits501(c)(3) onlyNarrow eligibilityRegional Resource Condition Assessment
No deadline listedNational Park Service · $1–$32.3K
This National Park Service grant is open only to 501(c)(3) nonprofits that are not institutions of higher education, to provide research, technical assistance, and educational support to national parks in the National Capital Region. Awards are small, ranging from $1 to $32,270, under the CESU cooperative agreement framework; no deadline is listed.
Nonprofits501(c)(3) onlySmall awardNarrow eligibilityData Management
No deadline listedNational Park Service · Amount varies
This National Park Service internship program is restricted to youth organizations placing interns in data management and conservation support roles (GIS, ArcView, data entry, report writing). It is not a general operating or project grant for nonprofits or businesses, and no funding amount is specified. Eligibility is narrow, limited to organizations that place youth interns with NPS.
Narrow eligibilityR Package Development and Data Certification for the National Park Service Units of the National Capital Region and the Northeast
No deadline listedNational Park Service · $1–$90K
This National Park Service task agreement funds a partnership with the National Alliance of Preservation Commissions to deliver Certified Local Government training, and eligibility is limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education. Nonprofits, small businesses, and individuals are not eligible. The award is small, up to roughly $89,987.
Schools & universitiesGovernment / tribalNarrow eligibilitySmall awardEnhancing Interpretation at Ford's Theatre
No deadline listedNational Park Service · $1–$600.6K
This National Park Service notice covers a task agreement already awarded under an existing cooperative agreement to support interpretation work at Ford's Theatre. No new applications are being accepted, so it is not currently open to outside applicants. The amount shown (up to about $600,616) reflects the existing award, not a new competition.
Narrow eligibilityNational Capital Parks- East Shaw Neighborhood Research Interns
No deadline listedNational Park Service · $1–$38K
This National Park Service opportunity funds the Greening Youth Foundation to hire four research interns documenting African-American history at National Capital Parks-East, with awards from about $1 to $38,000. Eligibility is limited to 501(c)(3) nonprofits other than colleges and universities, and the program is scoped narrowly to this specific internship project rather than open general funding.
Nonprofits501(c)(3) onlySmall awardNarrow eligibilityVegetation Interns
No deadline listedNational Park Service · Up to $55.7K
This National Park Service listing for Vegetation Interns (up to about $55,746) states that the task agreement has already been awarded to the Student Conservation Association (SCA), meaning this opportunity is not open for new applicants. Organizations should not plan to apply to this specific listing.
Narrow eligibility
How many National Park Service grants are open right now?
UseGrants is tracking 10 open National Park Service opportunities. The next one closes Dec 31, 2027. The largest published award ceiling on this page is $15,000,000. The list is rebuilt from public records daily, so an opportunity drops off it the day its deadline passes.
Who can apply for National Park Service funding?
Eligibility is set per opportunity, not per agency — the same funder will run one program open to any nonprofit and another restricted to accredited universities. Across the National Park Service opportunities listed here the recurring eligibility signals are researchers, schools & universities, government / tribal and narrow eligibility. Every listing still states its own terms in plain English; confirm them on the funder's official notice before you apply.