Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network (15.930)
Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network (Assistance Listing 15.930) is run by the National Park Service, part of the Department of the Interior. It awarded $8.2 million in 74 grants from fiscal 2021 to 2025, about $110,667 per award on average. No funding opportunity is open on Grants.gov right now.
The typical award was $97,650. Half of the 74 awards fell between $45,077 and $148,650, and they ranged from $10,000 to $1.6 million.
- Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$8.2 million
- Grant awards74
- Typical award$97,650
- Awarded in FY 2025$1.0 million
- Size rank1,531 of 1,823
- Type of assistanceCooperative agreements
Key findings
- Annual funding fell from $2.1 million in fiscal 2021 to $1.0 million in fiscal 2025.
- It is the 1531st largest of 1,823 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
- The 20 largest recipients received 70% of the money.
- Awards went to recipients in 9 states and territories.
What the program funds
The National Park Service – Chesapeake Bay Office aims to connect people with the Chesapeake Bay’s natural and cultural heritage by supporting conservation, public access, education, and recreation through the Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network. Assistance supports the implementation of the Chesapeake Bay Initiative Act, the Chesapeake Bay Program, and the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail. Key goals include conserving landscapes and resources, enhancing public access to waterways, promoting heritage tourism, engaging youth, and interpreting the region’s rich history and environment.
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
PLEASE NOTE: While applicants can be from outside the Chesapeake watershed, only projects that take place in the watershed will be considered. Projects that take place outside the watershed will not be considered.
What the money can and cannot pay for
Recipients of financial assistance must comply with all applicable federal, state, and local environmental laws and regulations. Local planning offices can provide advice on Federal, state or local permits that will be necessary; and NPS - Chesapeake staff can advise on compliance and permitting processes. As advised by NPS Chesapeake, Recipients may be required to (1) document local support for the project; (2) document consultation with their State Historic Preservation Office, state agencies in charge of endangered species, local planning and zoning officials, and other affected agencies in developing their projects and gaining approval for project implementation; and (3) complete an Environmental Screening Form for their proposed project. All facilities and programming developed with NPS Chesapeake Bay funding must be accessible to persons with disabilities. It is the responsibility of the award recipient to comply with the Architectural Barriers Act of 1968, Section 504 and 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 as amended. All construction projects must be designed and engineered in accordance with applicable law. The services of a professional, registered engineer or architect are advised to assure that necessary provisions are being met with respect to public safety, codes, and standards.
Matching requirements
This program has no statutory formula. For awards made under section 502(b) of the Chesapeake Bay Initiative Act of 1998, 50% Recipient cost share is required.MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Award range and average, in the agency's words
Range: $60,000 - 650,000 Average: $170,000
Examples of funded projects
Fiscal Year2025: 1) Water access and outdoor recreation infrastructure: Funding can build or improve paddle craft facilities and trailheads so people can reach cultural, historic, and natural sites by water. Support can add kayak and canoe launches within new public spaces, co?designed with residents, giving tens of thousands of people safe river access for recreation and stewardship. 2) Heritage interpretation, exhibits, and museums: Funding can help museums install long?term exhibits based on oral histories, archaeology, and community input—bringing to life rural heritage, farming, maritime work, and social change for visitors of all ages. Grants can back traveling exhibitions and milestone anniversary programs that deepen connections to the region’s heritage while supporting local economic development through cultural tourism. Funding can also expand visitor services at central heritage hubs, improving orientation, interpretation, and the overall experience so travelers stay longer and explore more. 3) Education, eco?tours, and storytelling: Funding can create immersive, small?group expeditions—by boat, kayak, and on land—that showcase the area’s natural and cultural heritage, partner with local farms and tourism businesses, and encourage care for waterways. Place?based education projects can mark culturally significant river sites with signage linked to web maps and K–12 curricula, helping students and visitors understand deep local histories.
Funding history and past recipients
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network (15.930) awarded $8.2 million across 74 grant awards, an average of $110,667 per award.
| Recipient | State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chesapeake Conservancy, Inc. | Maryland | 4 | $1.9 million |
| The Society for the Preservation of Maryland Antiquities, Inc. | Maryland | 2 | $633,211 |
| Susquehanna Heritage Corporation | Pennsylvania | 3 | $329,416 |
| James River Association | Virginia | 2 | $329,041 |
| Historic Annapolis, Inc. | Maryland | 2 | $277,040 |
| Sultana Education Foundation Inc | Maryland | 1 | $200,000 |
| Friends of the National Arboretum, Inc. | District of Columbia | 2 | $172,565 |
| Department of Commerce | Maryland | 1 | $160,175 |
| Baltimore Green Space | Maryland | 1 | $150,000 |
| Black in Marine Science | Washington | 1 | $150,000 |
| The Nanticoke Historic Preservation Alliance, Inc. | Maryland | 1 | $150,000 |
| Baltimore County Maryland | Maryland | 1 | $150,000 |
| Backyard Basecamp, Inc. | Maryland | 1 | $150,000 |
| The Elizabeth River Trail Foundation | Virginia | 1 | $150,000 |
| Defensores de La Cuenca Inc | Maryland | 1 | $149,975 |
| Anacostia Watershed Society Inc | Maryland | 1 | $149,945 |
| Mariners Museum | Virginia | 1 | $147,884 |
| Rappahannock Tribe | Virginia | 1 | $147,802 |
| Corazon Latino Inc | District of Columbia | 1 | $147,455 |
| Ecolatinos Inc | Maryland | 1 | $125,517 |
Who usually wins
Nonprofits received 84% of the money, state and local governments 11% and tribes 1.8%.
| Recipient type | Awards | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nonprofits | 58 | $6.9 million | 84% |
| State and local governments | 13 | $928,257 | 11% |
| Other | 2 | $214,344 | 2.6% |
| Tribal governments and organizations | 1 | $147,802 | 1.8% |
By state
2 states have a page for this program: those that received at least $1 million or 10 awards. They are Maryland and Virginia.