WASHINGTON – The National Park Service today announced the availability of $150,000 in National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Grants. This grant program, funded by the 400 Years of African American History Commission, in collaboration with the Association for the Study of African American Life and History and National Park Service, is open for application through May 13, 2022.

"The Network to Freedom Program is thrilled to be able to collaborate with the 400 Years of African American History Commission and the Association for the Study of African American Life and History to support the preservation of Underground Railroad resources,” said National Program Manager of the Network to Freedom, Diane Miller. “We are eager to see new Network to Freedom listings documented and existing members will use these funds to amplify their stories throughout this process.

These grants will support community work to document, preserve, and interpret Underground Railroad history. For the first time, a portion of grant funds may be used to research and develop new applications to the Network to Freedom.

“The 400 Years of African American History Commission is pleased to provide these resources to honor the resilience of those who endured the hardships, dangers, and risks involved in the quest for freedom along the Underground Railroad,” said Addie Richburg, Executive Director of the 400 Years of African American History Commission. “We value the work performed across the National Park Service’s Network to Freedom to commemorate and sustain programs, sites, and other recognized efforts which preserve this very significant portion of our collective history.”

2022 Funding Opportunities

• Existing Network to Freedom sites may apply for competitive grants ($100,000 available, between $1000-$10,000 each) for preservation and restoration of buildings associated with the Underground Railroad, for interpretation, and for additional historical research.
• Historic sites interested in joining the Network to Freedom may apply for competitive grants ($50,000 available, up to $5000 each) to support research and preparation of Network to Freedom applications. These grants are available to the public and do not have to be associated with an existing Network to Freedom member. As a requirement of the grant, recipients must submit their application to the Network to Freedom within six months of the date of the award.

Projects that highlight lesser-known aspects of the Underground Railroad such as the movement south to Spanish Florida, Mexico, or the Caribbean, or the involvement of Indigenous Nations will be prioritized.

More information about applying for grant funding is available on the Network to Freedom website. All application materials are available on the Association for the Study of African American Life and History website. Applications are due by May 13, 2022 at 11:59 EDT.