Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Culture and Arts Development Grant Program | P23AS00077

Opportunity Information: Apply for P23AS00077

The Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Culture and Arts Development Grant Program is a discretionary federal grant opportunity administered by the National Park Service under CFDA 15.071. It is grounded in federal statute at 20 U.S.C. 4441 (within 20 USC Chapter 56, Subchapter II), which authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to fund programs that strengthen, perpetuate, and expand Native Hawaiian and Alaska Native culture and arts through organized educational, training, and institutional efforts. In practical terms, the program is meant to support long-term cultural and arts development initiatives rather than one-off events, with an emphasis on formal study, instruction, and the creation or strengthening of durable cultural infrastructure.

Eligibility is targeted and statute-driven. Funding may go to a private, nonprofit organization or institution that primarily serves and represents Native Hawaiians or Alaska Natives, and that has been formally recognized by the Governor of Hawaii or the Governor of Alaska (as applicable) specifically for the purpose of being eligible to receive these grants. The opportunity listing also identifies eligible applicant categories as public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education). Because the authorizing language is explicit about who may receive support, applicants typically need to be prepared to show both mission alignment (primary service and representation of Native Hawaiians or Alaska Natives) and the required gubernatorial recognition.

The statute lays out how grant funds are intended to be used, to the extent feasible as determined jointly by the Secretary and the recipient. Allowable and encouraged uses include providing scholarly study of and instruction in Native Hawaiian or Alaska Native art and culture; establishing programs that culminate in the awarding of degrees in fields tied to Native Hawaiian or Alaska Native art and culture; and establishing centers and programs similar in purpose to the types of cultural centers and programs referenced elsewhere in the same chapter (notably those described in 20 U.S.C. 4417(b) and (c)). The emphasis across these purposes is on building capacity for cultural education and arts development, supporting expertise, curriculum, and institutional programs that can sustain cultural knowledge and artistic practice over time.

A distinctive feature of this program is its governance requirement. Any organization or institution receiving an award must establish a governing board to manage and control the funded program. The composition rules differ depending on whether the award supports Native Hawaiian or Alaska Native art and culture. For Native Hawaiian-focused grants, the governing board must be made up of Native Hawaiians or individuals widely recognized in the field of Native Hawaiian art and culture, and it must include specific institutional representation: a representative of the Hawaii Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the president of the University of Hawaii, and the president of the Bishop Museum. Members must serve for fixed terms. For Alaska Native-focused grants, the governing board must include Alaska Natives and individuals widely recognized in Alaska Native art and culture, must represent Alaska's Eskimo, Indian, and Aleut cultures, and members must also serve fixed terms. These governance provisions are central compliance requirements and signal that awards are expected to be community-anchored and guided by recognized cultural authorities and key institutions.

For the specific opportunity data provided (Funding Opportunity Number P23AS00077), the closing date was February 6, 2023, with an award ceiling of $250,000 and an expectation of about five awards. The funding instrument is a grant, the activity category is arts, and it is administered by the National Park Service. Overall, the opportunity supports organizations and institutions that can demonstrate statutory eligibility and propose credible, well-governed programs that advance Native Hawaiian or Alaska Native cultural and arts education, potentially including formal instruction, degree pathways, and lasting cultural centers or programs with strong community and institutional oversight.

• The National Park Service in the arts sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Culture and Arts Development Grant Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.071.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2022-11-07.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-02-06. (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 $250,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.

Apply for P23AS00077

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: