National Park Service 21st Century Conservation Service Corps Civilian Climate Corps Program - National Youth Cooperative Agreements
This funding opportunity supports non-profit organizations and educational institutions in engaging young people and veterans in conservation projects across national parks, promoting job skills and environmental stewardship.
The National Park Service (NPS) Youth Master Cooperative Agreement Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), under NOFO number P24AS00064, aims to support the 21st Century Conservation Service Corps (21CSC) and Civilian Climate Corps (CCC) programs. This initiative is designed to engage young Americans and veterans in conservation and public service projects. The program targets individuals aged 16-30, with veterans eligible up to age 35, providing opportunities for employment, education, and experiential learning in various natural and cultural resource conservation projects. The NOFO seeks partnerships with non-profit youth-serving organizations capable of implementing programs that align with NPS’s conservation goals across its numerous park units and affiliated sites. The NOFO offers Master Cooperative Agreements that establish a framework for future funding through Task Agreements. While the Master Cooperative Agreements themselves do not provide funding, they enable NPS to issue subsequent Task Agreements based on available appropriations and specific project requirements. The estimated funding range for individual Task Agreements is approximately $10,000 to $800,000, and the overall annual budget for the program is expected to be between $45 million and $60 million, though this is contingent on Congressional appropriations. Eligible applicants include non-profit organizations, public and private higher education institutions, state and local governments, and Native American tribes, provided they qualify as youth or conservation corps. Applicants must demonstrate a history of successful natural and cultural resource stewardship projects and have the capacity to engage economically, physically, or educationally disadvantaged youth. A cost match of 25% in non-federal funds, either cash or in-kind contributions, is required for funded projects. The program focuses on projects that develop participants' vocational skills and conservation ethics while addressing public land conservation needs. Projects may involve field activities such as trail restoration, invasive species removal, ecosystem rehabilitation, or educational initiatives like developing visitor materials and conducting historical research. The goal is to equip participants with job skills, leadership abilities, and a commitment to community service, thereby creating a pipeline for future employment in conservation and related fields. The application process is open until September 30, 2028, and proposals will be evaluated on criteria including the quality of youth development models, organizational structure, and past performance. Successful applicants will engage in ongoing collaboration with NPS staff, who may provide technical assistance, program guidance, and training to support project execution. While the receipt of a Master Cooperative Agreement facilitates the possibility of future funding, it does not guarantee specific project awards.
Award Range
$10,000 - $800,000
Total Program Funding
$60,000,000
Number of Awards
Not specified
Matching Requirement
Yes - Match Required.
Additional Details
Estimated Total Funding ($0): The awards selected under this announcement are $0 Master Cooperative Agreements. Subsequent funded Task Agreements will be determined once final fiscal year appropriations have been made for subject Task Agreement. Expected Award Amount ($0): Based on prior year data, the NPS anticipates awarding approximately between $45M and $60M annually in financial assistance to youth and veteran agreements across all the entire NPS agency. Funding provided under this NOFO will be provided through the issuance of subsequent Task Agreements based on individual program goals and funding made available through annual appropriations. The amount of funding provided through individual Task Agreements will vary depending on the scope of individual project objectives, but past projects have ranged approximately between $10,000 - $800,000 per Task Agreement.
Eligible Applicants
Additional Requirements
NPS is authorized to enter into cooperative agreements with any entity type (e.g., states, subdivisions of states, territories, Indian tribes, public or private nonprofit organizations, and institutions of higher education) qualified as youth or conservation corps to perform appropriate conservation projects, as defined in Section A, Applicant Organization Requirements, Program Quality Assurance. Non-profit applicants must be Section 501(c)(3) compliant. Non-Profit Organizations Section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code exempts payment of federal income taxes for charitable, religious, scientific, literary and educational organizations. It is the most commonly used section in the IRS code granting tax exemption. Unless a non-profit corporation files a 501(c)(3) application with the IRS, it will not be exempt from paying federal income taxes. For-profit entities are not eligible to apply.
Geographic Eligibility
All
Application Opens
September 27, 2023
Application Closes
September 30, 2028
Grantor
U.S. Department of the Interior (National Park Service)
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