Save America's Treasures - Collections | P20AS00004

Opportunity Information: Apply for P20AS00004

The Save America's Treasures - Collections grant (Funding Opportunity Number P20AS00004, CFDA 15.929) is a competitive, discretionary federal grant program administered by the U.S. Department of the Interior through the National Park Service (NPS). It is funded through the Historic Preservation Fund and is designed to support preservation and/or conservation work for collections that are considered nationally significant. In practical terms, the program is aimed at helping safeguard important cultural, historic, or heritage collections by funding professional conservation treatments, preservation activities, and related efforts that keep these materials protected for the long term. The program is administered by NPS in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services, reflecting its cross-disciplinary focus on arts, humanities, and cultural heritage stewardship.

A central feature of this opportunity is its cost-sharing structure. Awards require a strict dollar-for-dollar match from non-federal sources, meaning applicants must show they can provide an equal amount of support alongside the federal funds. This match can be provided in cash or through documented in-kind contributions, as long as those contributions are allowable and properly substantiated. This requirement is intended to ensure applicants have meaningful institutional or community investment in the project and the capacity to carry it through.

The eligible applicant pool is broad and includes many types of public and nonprofit entities. Eligible applicants listed in the notice include state, county, and city or township governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; and federally recognized Native American tribal governments. The eligibility list also includes nonprofits that do not have 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education), as well as additional categories referenced in the notice's eligibility clarification field. This range suggests the program is meant to reach museums, libraries, archives, universities, tribal entities, and public institutions that hold and care for nationally significant collections.

In terms of funding size and timing, the opportunity listed an award ceiling of up to $500,000 per award. The posting shows an original application closing date of December 10, 2019, with complete applications due by 11:59 pm Eastern Time. The opportunity categories associated with the program span arts, humanities, community development, and an "other" category as described in the full notice, reinforcing that the funded work often sits at the intersection of cultural preservation and public benefit. The listing also shows "Expected Awards: 0," which is sometimes an artifact of how notices are entered or updated in systems rather than a definitive statement about whether awards will be made, but it is still a detail present in the source data.

Overall, this grant opportunity is best understood as a high-standard preservation funding source for major collections of national importance, offering substantial federal support but requiring applicants to demonstrate both significance and readiness: a compelling case for national significance, a well-defined preservation or conservation plan, and the ability to meet the required non-federal match through cash or documented in-kind contributions.

• The Department of the Interior, National Park Service in the arts (see cultural affairs in cfda), community development, 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 "Save America's Treasures - Collections" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.929.
• This funding opportunity was created on Oct 02, 2019.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Dec 10, 2019 Complete applications must be received by 1159 pm Eastern.. (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.
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

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