Research Grants

Grant Process

• Proposals are typically generated in one of two ways:
  • NPS official determines a need for research and finds a principal investigator (PI).
  • Researcher contacts the park with an idea for research.
• Applications must be completed electronically through the WNP website from September 10, 2026, through December 11, 2026, end of day. The RFP and application samples are available for download in PDF format above.
• WNP Research Committee evaluates and scores submitted proposals and makes decisions regarding funding awards.
• Parks and the primary Principal Investigator (PI) will be notified by email of funding decisions the week of February 15, 2027.
• Those approved for funding will receive an electronic copy of the 2027 WNP Research Grant Awardee Handbook as the final step in the funding process.
  • This handbook is an agreement between WNP (the Grantor) and the benefiting/host park (the Grantee), which must be electronically signed by the benefiting/host park superintendent, resource management representative, and the primary PI. It is not a sponsored-research agreement, subaward, or contract with the primary Pi's affiliated institution.
    • The resource management representative refers to the individual listed on the application as the Benefiting/Host Park Head of Resource Management or, if no dedicated position exists, the staff member identified as responsible for overseeing research activities at the park.
  • The terms and conditions outlined in the handbook cannot be modified. Applicants are strongly encouraged to review the draft version prior to applying to ensure their proposed project aligns with WNP's fund disbursement schedule and other requirements. View a draft copy of the awardee handbook.
  • All approved grants will follow WNP's fund disbursement structure, with payments issued directly to the benefiting park unit. In some cases, a third-party organization employing the primary PI may also be designated as a payee. Each award will include a payment stipulation identifying the approved payee(s).
    • If the benefiting/host park cannot accept grant checks directly, the park must identify a regional NPS office that can receive payment disbursements on its behalf. The park must provide the regional office's name, mailing address, and primary contact information for inclusion in the awardee handbook.

Funding Criteria

Where We Fund

Grant projects must originate in a WNP-affiliated park in Arizona, California, Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming. 

Note: Sabino Canyon National Recreation Area and Palisades Visitor Center, both in Arizona, are not currently eligible for WNP Research Grant funding.

What We Fund

WNP supports a wide range of scholarly research across various disciplines, including but not limited to anthropology, archaeology, botany, citizen science, ecology, geology, history, natural history, social science, and zoology. Applications proposing research that contribute to the understanding and preservation of natural and cultural resources within WNP parks are particularly encouraged.

Who May Apply

• The park superintendent and/or their key staff identifies the need for research and seeks a qualified primary PI or institution/organization before submitting an application. Qualified researchers may contact the superintendent directly regarding unsolicited research proposals.
  • All applications must be approved and submitted by the park superintendent or acting park superintendent.
  • The application must identify the Benefiting/Host Park Superintendent. If an acting superintendent is serving while a permanent superintendent is on leave or detail, the permanent superintendent should be identified in the application. If no permanent superintendent is in place, the acting superintendent should be identified.
  • If multiple WNP-partner parks will be involved in the project, applicants must identify each participating park and upload a signed approval letter from the superintendent of each additional park. Each letter must be on park letterhead and identify the project title and confirm the park's participation in and approval of the proposed research project.
• Consideration will also be given to proposals submitted by active NPS employees.
• Graduate students may not serve as project PIs but may be listed as an additional PI if the primary PI is the academic supervisor.
• A single park may submit no more than two proposals every year.
• Parks submitting more than one proposal in a year must rank each proposal in terms of its priority for park needs..

All applications must be approved and submitted by the Benefiting/Host Park Superintendent or Acting Park Superintendent.

How Much We Fund

The funding limit for research grants is $20,000 for one-year projects; $40,000 for two-year projects; and $60,000 for three-year projects. See Multiyear Projects below for more information on multiyear funding.

Guidelines

Research Project Start Date

Applications must reflect a start date no earlier than April 1, 2027, and no later than September 30, 2027.

Budget: Qualified & Non-Qualified Expenses

The application budget is organized into two main sections: Personnel and Honoraria, and Other Expenses. Applicants should review the category descriptions below before completing the online form, as each category has specific documentation and threshold requirements.

Qualified Expenses

• Travel, equipment, and supplies required by a PI to conduct their research must be included on the budget form and explained in detail.
• Stipend Personnel: Stipends may be allowable expenses when they directly support individuals participating in the project, such as graduate students, interns, or trainees. The duties to be performed, deliverables, purpose of the stipend, and amount requested for each individual must be clearly defined and justified in the project budget. Stipends are not considered salaries or wages and should not include fringe benefits.
• Honoraria may be allowable for individuals, tribes, or organizations such as tribal elders, knowledge holders, or cultural consultants providing expertise, participation, or knowledge-sharing in connection with the project. The recipient, role, purpose, and amount of each honorarium must be clearly identified. Honoraria are not considered salary, wages, consulting fees, or fringe benefits. If an honorarium includes an amount for travel, the amount allocated to travel and what it covers must be identified.
• Research technician positions specific to the project and hired through conservation groups such as AmeriCorps, Conservation Legacy, Student Conservation Association (SCA), or similar organizations may be eligible for funding, as long as a clear explanation of their role and justification for the expense are provided.
• Consulting fees for a PI, Supporting Personnel member, or other outside expert may be allowable if clearly defined and justified within the project budget, including a detailed scope of work and deliverables. Examples of allowable consulting services include technical expertise, data analysis, regulatory compliance support, project coordination, community engagement, and report preparation directly related to the research project.
• Equipment purchases over $500 require an itemized list on the budget form.

Non-Qualified Expenses

WNP will not provide funds for the following expenses and will deny funding if they are included in the project budget:

• Salaries, wages, or fringe benefits of any kind, regardless of employer. This includes:
  
  • Permanent employees, including all NPS staff.
  • PIs affiliated with academic institutions, tribal nations, nonprofit organizations, private-sector companies, or any other entity.
  • Additional compensation for permanent employees, such as pay for time spent on the project, or offsets or supplements to replace part of their regular salary.
  • Faculty salary augmentation at institutions of higher education, including salary supplements during periods covered by regular institutional appointments, and reimbursement for consulting by faculty who already receive a full-time institutional salary during the same period as the proposed research. WNP considers research to be a normal and expected function of faculty appointments.
• Publication costs (e.g., page charges, journal fees, etc.).
• Administrative or overhead costs charged by affiliated organizations or institutions.
• Tuition payments or other educational fees, including enrollment costs for courses, degree programs, continuing education, and fees for certifications or licenses.

Note: Purchased equipment becomes the property of the NPS upon project completion unless other arrangements are made and approved in writing by the park. Any supporting documentation resulting from WNP-funded research (e.g., oral history tapes, photographs, collections, and specimens) becomes the property of the NPS. The primary PI and park superintendent are responsible for complying with current NPS policies and procedures regarding the disposition of materials.

Important: Applicants must ensure that all expenses listed in the budget are qualified according to the guidelines. Inclusion of non-qualified expenses will result in automatic rejection. For clarification, contact the Program Administrator before submitting an application.

Completing the Budget

This section outlines how the online budget form is structured and what documentation is required for each category.

Personnel: Budgets are divided into Principal Investigator(s) (up to 5), Supporting Personnel (up to 5), Stipend Personnel (up to 4), and Honoraria (up to 4). Travel expenses should not be included in personnel costs unless specifically noted in the application. Consulting fees for a PI or Supporting Personnel member being compensated for a defined scope of work should be included within the applicable personnel category rather than under Other Expenses.

• Stipend Personnel: List each individual (up to 4) receiving a stipend funded by WNP and provide the individual's duties, deliverables, purpose of the stipend, and total amount requested. If a stipend includes an amount for travel, the amount allocated to travel and what it covers must be identified in the individual stipend breakdown.
• Honoraria: Identify each individual (up to 4), tribe, or organization receiving an honorarium and provide the recipient's role, purpose of the honorarium, and total amount requested. If an honorarium includes an amount for travel, the amount allocated to travel and what it covers must be identified in the individual honorarium breakdown.

Other Expenses: Applicants must provide the required detail and justification for each applicable Other Expense category. Specific documentation or itemization requirements vary by category and are identified in the application.

• Supplies and Materials: Itemization is required if the amount requested exceeds $3,500; itemized costs should sum to the total requested from WNP.
• Subcontracts/Facilities: Identify the subcontractors or facilities performing work under the project, describe the services provided, identify the cost per subcontractor/facility, and explain why the work is being subcontracted.
• Equipment: Purchases over $500 must be itemized, including the purpose of each item, how it supports the project, and who retains ownership of the item after project completion.
• Travel and Subsistence: Provide a breakdown of anticipated costs by traveler (up to 4), destination, purpose, duration, and expense type. Travel expenses for Principal Investigators, Supporting Personnel, and other individuals involved in the project should be included in this category unless the travel is included as part of an honorarium or stipend. If the Travel & Subsistence budget exceeds 25% of the project's total budget, applicants must provide a strong justification for why alternative approaches (e.g., fewer trips, virtual coordination, shared travel) were not feasible.
• Other: Applicants must explain any expenses listed under the "Other" category, including the purpose of each expense and why it does not fit into the standard budget categories. Expenses already reported in the Personnel or Honoraria sections should not be included under Other Expenses.

In-Kind and Matching Contributions: Should be clearly noted for each applicable category rather than listed as a single lump sum; proposals with matching contributions are given priority consideration.

Multiyear Projects: Applicants must complete the full project budget for the entire project duration, including all funds requested from WNP and applicable cash/in-kind contributions for the entire project. The Funds Requested from WNP must then be broken down by budget category and project year in the Multiyear Budget Allocation.

Multiyear Projects

WNP will consider applications requesting funding for up to three years, based on the following conditions:

• The initial application specifies the proper project duration and projected completion date.
• A park may have only one ongoing multiyear project underway at any given time.
• Funding limits are $40,000 for two-year projects and $60,000 for three-year projects.
• Applicants must complete a full project budget for the entire multiyear project and then allocate the Funds Requested from WNP by category by project year.
• Each year's proposed activities, expenses, and funding allocation must be clearly justified and consistent with the project's overall objectives and timeline.

Submission Instructions

Online Grant Application

All applications must be approved and submitted by the benefiting/host park superintendent online through the WNP website. Links to the applications are located at the top of this page along with an option to download the RFP and sample application forms.

Deadline for Submission

To be considered for fiscal year 2027 funding, all applications must be submitted through the WNP website between September 10, 2026, and December 11, 2026, end of day.

WNP Contact Information

After reading all the provided materials, should you have questions or need assistance, contact us.

Application Preparation

Applicants are strongly encouraged to review the Applicant Toolkit included in the Request for Proposal, which includes general application tips, a variety of resources to support proposal development, and the Sample Application. Several changes have been made to the application for the fiscal year 2027 grant cycle, including updates to project information, budget structure, and requirements for multiyear projects. Reviewing the Sample Application in advance will help applicants understand the information and documentation required before beginning the online application.