Collaboration for Historic Interpretation, Cultural Resource Development, Education and Outreach to Youth- CHYO | NPS NOIP17AC01220 01

Opportunity Information: Apply for NPS NOIP17AC01220 01

The Collaboration for Historic Interpretation, Cultural Resource Development, Education and Outreach to Youth (CHYO) grant opportunity is a National Park Service (NPS) cooperative agreement focused on expanding public interpretation, youth engagement, and cultural resource access tied to the Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument in Wilberforce, Ohio. The Monument covers about 60 acres and includes the home and surrounding farmland of Colonel Charles Young, a nationally significant military leader whose legacy is closely tied to the Buffalo Soldiers and broader American history. Designated a National Historic Landmark in 1974, the site exists to preserve and protect Young's property while commemorating and interpreting his life and the contributions of Buffalo Soldiers. Because the home has not yet been restored, the NPS is seeking support through a formal partnership to ensure programming, interpretation, and related work can continue and grow in the meantime.

A central feature of the opportunity is collaboration with Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. (often referenced as OPP in the notice), a historically Black fraternity founded in 1911 at Howard University and guided by the principles of manhood, scholarship, perseverance, and uplift. The grant frames Omega Psi Phi as a partner with deep community ties and a legacy of prominent members across civil rights, government, academia, the arts, athletics, science, and the military, including Colonel Charles Young himself. The partnership is designed to leverage that reach to connect more people, particularly minority youth and communities historically underrepresented in national parks, to the NPS mission and to the story of Colonel Young and the Buffalo Soldiers.

Programmatically, the cooperative agreement emphasizes planning and capacity-building rather than only one-time events. The objectives include developing plans to introduce minority youth to NPS opportunities through service-wide youth initiatives, leadership training, mentorship opportunities, and a scholar-in-residence concept. Another major component is digitization of historic collections held in the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity archives that relate to the Monument's periods of significance. By digitizing and connecting these materials to NPS interpretation, the project aims to improve access to relevant historical resources, strengthen educational content, and support richer storytelling about Colonel Young, the Buffalo Soldiers, and their role in American history.

The selected recipient is expected to designate a liaison who will work directly with the NPS to coordinate and deliver collaborative programs and events. While the Monument in Wilberforce is the primary focus, the notice also points to a broader interpretive network, envisioning collaboration that can extend to other national parks with similar missions and stories. In practice, this means the work is meant to benefit both the local Wilberforce community and potentially wider NPS interpretation efforts that highlight African American military history, leadership, and public service.

Administratively, this is a discretionary funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, offered as a cooperative agreement (which typically means NPS expects to have substantial involvement in the project rather than simply issuing a pass-through grant). The opportunity number is NPS NOIP17AC01220 01, and the CFDA number listed is 15.954. It was posted June 15, 2018, with an original closing date of July 1, 2018. The award ceiling is $60,000, with one award expected. Eligibility is limited to nonprofits that do not have 501(c)(3) status with the IRS (excluding institutions of higher education), which aligns with partnering through organizations that may be structured differently than typical charitable nonprofits but still have the capacity to carry out community-based cultural and educational programming.

• The Department of the Interior, National Park Service in the community development, education, employment, labor and training, humanities (see cultural affairs in cfda) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Collaboration for Historic Interpretation, Cultural Resource Development, Education and Outreach to Youth- CHYO" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.954.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jun 15, 2018.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 01, 2018. (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 $60,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.

Apply for NPS NOIP17AC01220 01

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