Battlefield Interpretation Grants

NPS ABPP administers Battlefield Interpretation Grants to provide assistance for projects that deploy technology to modernize and enhance battlefield interpretation and education at Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and Civil War battlefield sites eligible for assistance under the Battlefield Acquisition Grant Program established under 54 U.S.C. §308103(b).

Applicants should emphasize partnerships and collaboration among diverse stakeholders in all phases of their project, including but not limited to the active participation of landowners, descendant communities, Indian Tribes, state and tribal historic preservation offices, and nonprofit organizations.

Proposed projects should:

• Include expertise in content, interpretive and educational methods, and integration of technology at all stages of the project;
• Convene a project team with a diversity of perspectives and sources of knowledge (disciplinary, cultural, experiential, etc.). To better understand and interpret the past, projects should not rely on a single subject matter expert;
• Undergo clear, collaborative, and comprehensive scoping with both subject matter specialists and technical specialists prior to technical production;
• Use technology in ways that foster effective communication with the intended audience(s). Projects may combine multiple forms of technology or traditional interpretive media, and grants may fund stakeholder consultation and audience research to ensure that appropriate platforms and technologies are selected;
• Define appropriate metrics and strategies for evaluating the project’s effectiveness during and after implementation; and
• Plan for technological and institutional sustainability. 

Two categories of grants are available for battlefield interpretation projects in different stages:

• Scoping Grants: These are available to fund the early stages of project development, such as research and content creation, consultation with stakeholders, exploration of available technologies, audience research, and development of technical proposals.
• Implementation Grants: These are available to applicants who have completed interdisciplinary scoping prior to the application and can provide draft content and design plans. 

As the nation approaches the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026, NPS ABPP encourages projects that promote and expand preservation as well as enhance our understanding of the origins of the United States. Special thematic priority will be given to applications that preserve and interpret historic sites associated with the American Revolutionary War as a living part of community life and development. 

• City or township governments
• County governments
• Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
• Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
• Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
• Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
• Private institutions of higher education
• Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
• State governments

Estimated Total Program Funding: