Research Grants

Grant Process

• Proposals are typically generated in one of two ways:
  • National Park Service (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 1, 2025, through December 31, 2025, end of day. The RFP and application samples is also available for download in PDF format above.
• WNP Research Committee evaluates submitted applications 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 16, 2026.
• Those approved for funding will receive an electronic copy of the 2026 WNP Grant Awardee Handbook.
  • This handbook includes the grant agreement, which requires electronic signatures of the benefiting/host park superintendent, chief of interpretation, and primary PI as the final step in the grant approval process.
  • The benefiting/host park is the Grantee, and the funder, Western National Parks Association, is the Grantor.
  • The terms and conditions outlined in the handbook cannot be modified. Applicants are strongly encouraged to review the draft version prior to apply to ensure their proposed project aligns with WNP's funding disbursement schedule and other requirements. A draft copy of the awardee handbook can be viewed here: [Insert Link]
  • All approved grants will follow WNP's funding disbursement structure, with payments issues 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.

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. Proposals that contribute to the understanding and preservation of natural and cultural resources within our national parks are particularly encouraged.

Who May Apply

•  Qualified researchers may contact the park superintendent directly regarding unsolicited proposals.
• Consideration will also be given to proposals submitted by active NPS employees.
• Graduate students may not serve as primary project PIs but may be listed as a co-PI if the primary PI is the academic supervisor.
• A single park may submit no more than two proposals every year.
• Superintendents submitting more than one proposal in a year must rank each proposal in terms of its priority for park needs.

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. For information regarding multiyear funding, refer to the section titled Guidelines.

Guidelines

Research Project Start Date

Proposals must reflect a start date no earlier than March 23, 2026, and no later than September 30, 2026.

Budget

• Travel, equipment, and supplies required by a PI to conduct their research must appear on the budget form and be explained in detail.
• Salaries for permanent employees—regardless of employer, including NPS—are not allowable expenses.
• Additional compensation for permanent employees—such as pay for time spent on the project or replacing part of their regular salary through offsets or supplements—is also not allowable.
• Stipends may be allowable expenses when they directly support graduate students, interns, or trainees involved in the project. The type and purpose of each stipend must be clearly defined and justified in the project budget. Only reasonable living expenses, travel, and other direct costs related to project participation are permitted. Stipends are not considered salaries or wages and should not include fringe benefits.
• Funding for 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 PIs or other experts from private organizations 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 $100 require an itemized list on the budget form. 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 PI and park superintendent are responsible for complying with current NPS policies and procedures regarding the disposition of materials.

Non-Qualified Expenses: WNP will not provide funds for the following and will deny funding if such are included:

• Publication costs (e.g., page charges, journal fees, etc.).
• Salaries or benefits for active NPS employees.
• 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.
• Salaries, wages, or fringe benefits of any kind, regardless of employer. This includes PIs affiliated with academic institutions, tribal nations, nonprofit organizations, private-sector companies, or any other entity.
• Faculty salary augmentation at institutions of higher education, including:
  • Salary supplements for faculty during periods covered by their regular institutional appointment.
  • 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

Important: Applicants must ensure that all expenses listed in the budget are qualified according to the guidelines. Inclusion of non-qualified expenses may result in automatic rejection of the application. If you have any questions or need clarification regarding qualified versus non-qualified expenses, please contact us.

Multiyear Projects

Under special circumstances, multiyear proposals, up to three years, will be considered, based on the following conditions:

• Initial proposal states the proper project duration and project completion date.
• Project objectives, methods, participants for each year are clearly outlined, and estimated budget (with justification) is explicitly detailed.
• Adequate and timely annual reporting for the duration of the project as required by WNP.
• A park may have only one ongoing multiyear project under way at any given time.
• Funding limits are $40,000 for a two-year project and $60,000 for a three-year project.
• Budgets for multiyear projects must be comprehensive and reflect the full duration of the project. Applicants should ensure all anticipated expenses over the multiyear period are included. Incomplete or partial budgets may result in disqualification or a request for resubmission.

Failure to submit adequate and timely annual reporting for the duration of the project, as required by WNP, may result in the forfeiture of unpaid funds.

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 2026 funding, all applications must be submitted through the WNP website between September 1, 2025, and December 31, 2025.

WNP Contact Information

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

To Properly Prepare Your Submission

Review the Applicant Toolkit and download the relevant sample electronic application forms.