Opportunity Information: Apply for P20AS00007
The Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Grant Program is a National Park Service (NPS) preservation funding opportunity created to help HBCU campuses protect and rehabilitate their historic built environment. First established in 1988, the program focuses on documenting, preserving, and stabilizing significant campus structures so that historically important buildings remain safe, usable, and intact for future generations. In practical terms, it is designed to support repair work on eligible historic structures rather than general campus improvements, with an emphasis on keeping preservation decisions consistent with nationally recognized historic preservation practices.
This specific opportunity was offered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service as a discretionary grant under Funding Opportunity Number P20AS00007 (CFDA 15.904). The funding activity category is listed under Humanities/Cultural Affairs, reflecting the program’s role in safeguarding places of historical and cultural significance. The program’s central purpose is to fund projects that repair historic structures located on HBCU campuses, but only when those structures are formally recognized as historic resources through listing in the National Register of Historic Places. A building can qualify either by being individually listed in the National Register or by being a contributing resource within a listed National Register historic district.
A key requirement is that proposed work must meet the program’s major selection criteria and comply with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and Guidelines for Archeology and Historic Preservation. This means projects are expected to follow established preservation principles, such as retaining historic materials and character-defining features where possible, using compatible repair methods, and avoiding alterations that would compromise the building’s historic integrity. In effect, the program is not just paying for construction; it is funding preservation work that must be planned and executed to professional preservation standards.
Eligibility includes public and state-controlled institutions of higher education as well as private institutions of higher education, with additional eligibility details referenced in the official notice. The application timeline for this round shows the opportunity was created on October 4, 2019, with applications due by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on February 4, 2020. The maximum award amount (award ceiling) was set at $500,000 per award, and the NPS expected to make approximately 10 awards. Overall, the opportunity supports targeted preservation outcomes on HBCU campuses by funding repair and stabilization efforts for National Register-listed historic structures, ensuring the work aligns with federal preservation standards and contributes to the long-term stewardship of culturally significant campus resources.Apply for P20AS00007
- The Department of the Interior, National Park Service in the humanities (see cultural affairs in cfda), other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Grant Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.904.
- This funding opportunity was created on Oct 04, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 04, 2020 Applications are due by 1159 pm ET on February 4, 2020.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $500,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
HBCU Grant Program (NPS) FAQs
What is the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Grant Program?
The HBCU Grant Program is a National Park Service (NPS) preservation funding opportunity created to help HBCU campuses protect and rehabilitate their historic built environment. It supports work such as documenting, preserving, and stabilizing significant campus structures so historically important buildings remain safe, usable, and intact for future generations.
Who offers this grant opportunity?
This opportunity was offered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service (NPS) as a discretionary grant.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number and CFDA number for this grant?
The Funding Opportunity Number is P20AS00007 and the CFDA number is 15.904.
What funding activity category does this program fall under?
The funding activity category is listed as Humanities/Cultural Affairs, reflecting the program's role in safeguarding places of historical and cultural significance.
What types of projects does the program fund?
The program funds projects that repair historic structures on HBCU campuses, with an emphasis on preservation-focused outcomes like repair and stabilization rather than general campus improvements.
Is this grant meant for general campus improvements?
No. The program is designed to support repair work on eligible historic structures rather than general campus improvements.
What buildings are eligible to be funded under this program?
Eligible buildings must be formally recognized as historic resources through listing in the National Register of Historic Places. A structure can qualify if it is individually listed in the National Register or if it is a contributing resource within a National Register-listed historic district.
Does a building have to be individually listed in the National Register to qualify?
No. A building can qualify either by being individually listed in the National Register of Historic Places or by being a contributing resource within a National Register-listed historic district.
What standards must proposed work follow?
Proposed work must meet the program's major selection criteria and comply with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and Guidelines for Archeology and Historic Preservation.
What does it mean to comply with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and Guidelines?
It means projects are expected to follow established preservation principles, such as retaining historic materials and character-defining features where possible, using compatible repair methods, and avoiding alterations that would compromise the building's historic integrity.
Is the program paying for construction in general, or specifically for preservation work?
The program is not just paying for construction. It funds preservation work that must be planned and executed to professional preservation standards.
Who is eligible to apply for this grant opportunity?
Eligibility includes public and state-controlled institutions of higher education as well as private institutions of higher education. Additional eligibility details are referenced in the official notice.
When was this funding opportunity created?
This round of the opportunity was created on October 4, 2019.
What was the application deadline for this round?
Applications were due by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on February 4, 2020.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The maximum award amount (award ceiling) was $500,000 per award.
How many awards did NPS expect to make?
NPS expected to make approximately 10 awards.
What is the main goal of the program for HBCU campuses?
The main goal is to support targeted preservation outcomes by funding repair and stabilization efforts for National Register-listed historic structures, ensuring the work aligns with federal preservation standards and contributes to long-term stewardship of culturally significant campus resources.
When was the HBCU Grant Program first established?
The HBCU Grant Program was first established in 1988.
What kinds of outcomes does the program emphasize for historic buildings?
The program emphasizes outcomes that help keep historically important buildings safe, usable, and intact, while maintaining historic integrity through preservation-consistent decision-making and repair approaches.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification)
Next opportunity: 2020 Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation Small Grants
Previous opportunity: IUSE/Professional Formation of Engineers: Revolutionizing Engineering Departments
Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for P20AS00007
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Inside Our Applicants Portal
Access Applicants Portal
- Grants Repository - Access current and historic funding opportunities with ease. Thousands of funding opportunities are published every week. We can help you sort through the database and find the eligible ones to apply for.
- Applicant Video Guides - The grant application process can be challenging to follow. We can help you with intuitive video guides to speed up the process and eliminate errors in submissions.
- Grant Proposal Wizard - We have developed a network of private funding organizations and investors across the United States. We can reach out and submit your proposal to these contacts to maximize your chances of getting the funding you need.
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Learn More
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "P20AS00007", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.