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.Apply for NPS NOIP17AC01220 01
- 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the CHYO grant opportunity?
The Collaboration for Historic Interpretation, Cultural Resource Development, Education and Outreach to Youth (CHYO) opportunity is a National Park Service (NPS) discretionary funding program offered as a cooperative agreement. It focuses on expanding public interpretation, youth engagement, and access to cultural resources connected to the Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument in Wilberforce, Ohio.
Which federal agency is offering this funding?
The funding is offered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service (NPS).
What type of award is being offered (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?
This opportunity is offered as a cooperative agreement. The notice indicates this format is intended for projects where NPS expects to have substantial involvement in project coordination and implementation, rather than simply issuing funds with minimal federal participation.
What is the main purpose of the project?
The main purpose is to ensure interpretation, programming, and related work tied to the Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument can continue and grow, particularly while the historic home at the site has not yet been restored. The effort centers on collaboration, planning, and capacity-building to expand education and outreach, especially for minority youth and communities historically underrepresented in national parks.
Which site is the focus of this opportunity?
The primary focus is the Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument in Wilberforce, Ohio. The Monument includes approximately 60 acres and contains the home and surrounding farmland of Colonel Charles Young.
Why is this partnership support needed right now?
The notice explains that Colonel Young's home has not yet been restored. Because of that, NPS is seeking support through a formal partnership so that programming, interpretation, and other related work can continue and expand in the meantime.
Who was Colonel Charles Young, and why is the site significant?
Colonel Charles Young is described as a nationally significant military leader whose legacy is closely tied to the Buffalo Soldiers and broader American history. The site exists to preserve and protect his property while commemorating and interpreting his life and the contributions of the Buffalo Soldiers.
What is the Buffalo Soldiers connection?
The opportunity frames the Monument as a place to commemorate and interpret the contributions of the Buffalo Soldiers and to connect that history to public education and outreach initiatives.
When was the site recognized as nationally significant?
The notice states the property was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1974.
What is Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.'s role in this opportunity?
A central feature of the opportunity is collaboration with Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. (often referenced as OPP in the notice). The partnership is designed to leverage Omega Psi Phi's community reach and ties to connect more people, particularly minority youth and historically underrepresented communities, to the NPS mission and to the story of Colonel Young and the Buffalo Soldiers.
Why does the notice emphasize Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. as a partner?
The notice describes Omega Psi Phi as a historically Black fraternity founded in 1911 at Howard University, guided by principles of manhood, scholarship, perseverance, and uplift. It also highlights the organization's legacy of prominent members across many fields, including Colonel Charles Young, and positions that reach as an asset for youth engagement and community-based programming related to the Monument.
What kinds of activities does the cooperative agreement emphasize?
The notice emphasizes planning and capacity-building rather than only one-time events. Key activity areas 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.
What is meant by "planning and capacity-building" in this opportunity?
Based on the notice, this means the work is intended to build structures and plans that can support ongoing youth programs, interpretation, and partnership coordination, rather than focusing solely on standalone events.
What youth-focused outcomes are envisioned?
The opportunity specifically references introducing minority youth to NPS opportunities through service-wide youth initiatives, leadership training, mentorship opportunities, and a scholar-in-residence concept.
What is the scholar-in-residence concept mentioned in the notice?
The notice lists a scholar-in-residence concept as part of the planning and capacity-building objectives. It is presented as a component of efforts to strengthen education, mentorship, leadership development, and interpretation connected to the Monument's themes.
What cultural resource work is included in the project?
A major cultural resource component is digitization of historic collections held in the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity archives that relate to the Monument's periods of significance. The goal is to connect those digitized materials to NPS interpretation to improve access and strengthen educational and interpretive content.
What materials are expected to be digitized?
The notice specifies historic collections in the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity archives that relate to the Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument's periods of significance.
How will digitization support interpretation and education?
According to the notice, digitizing and connecting relevant archival materials to NPS interpretation is intended to improve access to historical resources, strengthen educational content, and support richer storytelling about Colonel Young, the Buffalo Soldiers, and their role in American history.
Is the work limited only to the Wilberforce, Ohio site?
While the Monument in Wilberforce is the primary focus, the notice also points to a broader interpretive network. It envisions collaboration that can extend to other national parks with similar missions and stories, potentially benefiting wider NPS interpretation efforts related to African American military history, leadership, and public service.
What is expected of the selected recipient in terms of coordination with NPS?
The selected recipient is expected to designate a liaison who will work directly with NPS to coordinate and deliver collaborative programs and events.
How many awards will be made?
The notice states that one award is expected.
What is the maximum (ceiling) award amount?
The award ceiling listed in the notice is $60,000.
What is the opportunity number for this funding?
The opportunity number provided in the notice is NPS NOIP17AC01220 01.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed in the notice is 15.954.
When was the opportunity posted, and what was the original closing date?
The notice indicates it was posted on June 15, 2018, with an original closing date of July 1, 2018.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to nonprofits that do not have 501(c)(3) status with the IRS (excluding institutions of higher education). The notice describes this as aligning 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.
Are 501(c)(3) nonprofits eligible?
No. The notice states eligibility is limited to nonprofits that do not have 501(c)(3) status with the IRS (with institutions of higher education excluded as well).
Are institutions of higher education eligible?
No. The eligibility statement excludes institutions of higher education.
What is the intended audience or community focus of the project?
The notice emphasizes outreach to minority youth and communities historically underrepresented in national parks, using the partnership to broaden access to NPS-related opportunities and to the Monument's stories and resources.
What topics or themes will the interpretation and storytelling focus on?
The notice highlights interpretation connected to Colonel Charles Young, the Buffalo Soldiers, and broader themes of African American military history, leadership, and public service.
Does the project relate to the NPS mission beyond the Monument?
Yes. The notice positions the work as both locally beneficial to the Wilberforce community and potentially useful for broader NPS interpretation efforts through an expanded interpretive network that could connect to other national parks with related missions and stories.
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