Cultural Resources Management (15.159)
Cultural Resources Management (Assistance Listing 15.159) is run by the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Bureau of Indian Education, part of the Department of the Interior. It awarded $19.7 million in 19 grants from fiscal 2021 to 2025, about $1.0 million per award on average. No funding opportunity is open on Grants.gov right now.
The typical award was $600,000. Half of the 19 awards fell between $283,103 and $1.3 million, and they ranged from $40,009 to $5.7 million.
- Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$19.7 million
- Grant awards19
- Typical award$600,000
- Awarded in FY 2025$4.0 million
- Size rank1,321 of 1,823
- Type of assistanceProject grants (discretionary), direct payments for specified use
Key findings
- Annual funding rose from $2.7 million in fiscal 2021 to $4.0 million in fiscal 2025.
- It is the 1321st largest of 1,823 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
- The 15 largest recipients received 100% of the money.
- Awards went to recipients in 7 states and territories.
What the program funds
To ensure the proper management, protection, and preservation of cultural resources over which the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) maintains responsibility; furnish secure, short-term housing and care for cultural resources recovered during investigations; provide for the curation, stewardship, and public access to the BIA museum collections and other cultural resources, including the increase of public awareness, appreciation, and knowledge of these resources.
Open opportunities
No opportunity under this program is open or forecast on Grants.gov right now. Programs often post once a year, so the funding history below shows what to expect.
Rules from the program listing
Who can apply
State and local agencies, sponsored organizations, public nonprofit institutions/organizations, other public institutions/organizations, Federally-recognized Indian Tribal governments, specialized groups, small businesses, profit organizations, private nonprofit institutions/organizations, quasi-public nonprofit institutions/organizations, other private institutions/organizations, and Native American Organizations, educational or scientific organization, or any institution, corporation, association, or individual that possesses the requisite professional expertise. Applicant eligibility will be specified in the Funding Opportunity Announcement, if applicable.
What the money can and cannot pay for
Funds used for all aspects of BIA cultural resource management activities, including but not limited to museum collections management, curation, monitoring, research, rehabilitation, restoration, preservation, documentation, data recovery, interpretation, and education. Contact the BIA program office for more information.
Matching requirements
This program has no statutory formula. Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Deadlines
Deadlines do not apply Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate, for application deadlines
Examples of funded projects
Fiscal Year2025: BIA was able to repatriate 6 collections to Tribes in FY 2025 with two more collections nearing repatriation. Under the ARPA Assistance Agreement, the contractor conducted ARPA trainings with Tribes and restore at least 5 damaged or looted sites.Fiscal Year2026: With current funding, the BIA will be able to continue NAGPRA and ARPA projects.
Funding history and past recipients
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Cultural Resources Management (15.159) awarded $19.7 million across 19 grant awards, an average of $1.0 million per award.
| Recipient | State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archaeology Southwest | Arizona | 3 | $6.1 million |
| The National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition | Minnesota | 1 | $5.7 million |
| University of Alaska Fairbanks | Alaska | 1 | $2.0 million |
| Arizona State University | Arizona | 2 | $1.2 million |
| Chaco Heritage Tribal Association | New Mexico | 1 | $1.2 million |
| Conservation Legacy | Colorado | 2 | $844,507 |
| National Association of Tribal Historic Preservation Officers Inc | District of Columbia | 1 | $640,685 |
| Alaska Native Heritage Center, Incorporated | Alaska | 1 | $631,026 |
| University of Arizona | Arizona | 1 | $463,179 |
| Navajo Nation Tribal Government | Arizona | 1 | $434,356 |
| University of New Mexico | New Mexico | 1 | $321,513 |
| Museum of Northern Arizona Inc | Arizona | 1 | $136,379 |
| New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs | New Mexico | 1 | $89,920 |
| Portland State University | Oregon | 1 | $40,009 |
| Northern Arizona University | Arizona | 1 | $10,887 |
Who usually wins
Nonprofits received 63% of the money, colleges and universities 21% and tribes 8.1%.
| Recipient type | Awards | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nonprofits | 6 | $12.3 million | 63% |
| Colleges and universities | 8 | $4.1 million | 21% |
| Tribal governments and organizations | 2 | $1.6 million | 8.1% |
| Other | 2 | $1.5 million | 7.8% |
| State and local governments | 1 | $89,943 | 0.5% |
By state
4 states have a page for this program: those that received at least $1 million or 10 awards. They are Arizona, Minnesota, Alaska and New Mexico.
| State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona | 9 | $8.3 million |
| Minnesota | 1 | $5.7 million |
| Alaska | 2 | $2.6 million |
| New Mexico | 3 | $1.6 million |
| Colorado | 2 | $844,507 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $640,685 |
| Oregon | 1 | $40,009 |