National Trails System Projects (15.935)
National Trails System Projects (Assistance Listing 15.935) is run by the National Park Service, part of the Department of the Interior. It awarded $35.5 million in 145 grants from fiscal 2021 to 2025, about $244,591 per award on average. No funding opportunity is open on Grants.gov right now.
The typical award was $99,300. Half of the 145 awards fell between $48,910 and $208,759, and they ranged from $4,070 to $1.9 million.
- Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$35.5 million
- Grant awards145
- Typical award$99,300
- Awarded in FY 2025$7.9 million
- Size rank1,134 of 1,823
- Type of assistanceCooperative agreements
Key findings
- Annual funding rose from $5.6 million in fiscal 2021 to $7.9 million in fiscal 2025.
- It is the 1134th largest of 1,823 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
- The 20 largest recipients received 92% of the money.
- Awards went to recipients in 24 states and territories.
What the program funds
To preserve, protect, and develop the components of the National Trails System, with a strong emphasis on volunteer involvement, the Secretary of the Interior may enter into written cooperative agreements to operate, develop, and maintain any portion of such a trail either within or outside a federally administered area. The Secretary may provide financial assistance to encourage participation in the acquisition, protection, operation, development, or maintenance of such trails.
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
States or their political subdivisions, landowners, private organizations, or individuals.
What the money can and cannot pay for
Funding is to be used by States or their political subdivisions, landowners, private organizations, or individual to operate, develop, and maintain any portion of such a trail either within or outside a federally administered area. Such agreements may include provisions for limited financial assistance to encourage participation in the acquisition, protection, operation, development or maintenance of such trails. After consulting with States and their political subdivisions, the Secretary may provide assistance to such entities under appropriate cooperative agreements. The availability of discretionary funding is determined by individual national trail offices each fiscal year.
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.
Award range and average, in the agency's words
Range: $10,000 - $1,000,000 Average: $100,000
Examples of funded projects
Fiscal Year2025: 1) Trail Maintenance and Infrastructure: Funding is used to repair and improve trail infrastructure, including: rehabilitating eroded trail sections, replacing or repairing footbridges, shelters, and privies, and installing erosion control structures and signage. 2) Conservation and Resource Protection: Funding is used to focus on preserving natural and cultural resources along trail corridors, including: removing invasive species and restoring native habitats, protecting historic landmarks and landscapes, and conducting environmental assessments and planning. 3) Volunteer and Youth Engagement: Funding supports volunteer programs and youth involvement, including: training and coordinating thousands of trail volunteers, and providing leadership and safety training for trail stewards. 4) Education and Interpretation: Funding helps create educational programs and interpretive materials, including developing classroom resources and field trips for students, hosting public events and reenactments, and creating signage, exhibits, and digital content to share trail history.Fiscal Year2026: Building capacity for non-federal partners to protect, develop, and promote historic trails; fellows contribute to community outreach, trail planning, interpretation, and special projects that improve public awareness and support. Standardized data collection & reporting.
Funding history and past recipients
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, National Trails System Projects (15.935) awarded $35.5 million across 145 grant awards, an average of $244,591 per award.
| Recipient | State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appalachian Trail Conservancy | West Virginia | 38 | $19.2 million |
| North Country Trail Association Inc | Michigan | 2 | $2.2 million |
| Ice Age Trail Alliance, Inc. | Wisconsin | 3 | $1.5 million |
| Santa Fe Trail Association | Kansas | 5 | $1.0 million |
| Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina, Inc. | North Carolina | 1 | $980,000 |
| Oregon-California Trails Association | Missouri | 7 | $838,037 |
| Trail of Tears Assn | Oklahoma | 5 | $803,351 |
| Missouri River Basin Lewis & Clark Interpretative Trail & Visitor Center Foundation Inc. | Nebraska | 2 | $750,000 |
| Appalachian Mountain Club | Massachusetts | 2 | $725,949 |
| The National Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route Association | Maryland | 3 | $653,894 |
| Connecticut Forest and Park Association Incorporat | Connecticut | 2 | $648,408 |
| Old Spanish Trail Association | New Mexico | 5 | $507,202 |
| Northern Virginia Regional Commission | Virginia | 4 | $450,521 |
| El Camino Real de Los Tejas National Historic Trail Assn. | Texas | 6 | $433,123 |
| Youth Outdoor Experience | Arizona | 3 | $423,949 |
| Partnership for the National Trails System Inc | Texas | 2 | $396,761 |
| Environmental Education Exchange | Arizona | 1 | $315,715 |
| Overmountain Victory Trail Association | Virginia | 7 | $313,090 |
| New Multimedia LLC | Nebraska | 1 | $306,212 |
| The Fairfield Foundation | Virginia | 2 | $259,081 |
Who usually wins
Nonprofits received 77% of the money, state and local governments 1.9% and small businesses 1.1%.
| Recipient type | Awards | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nonprofits | 100 | $27.3 million | 77% |
| Other | 31 | $7.0 million | 20% |
| State and local governments | 8 | $665,388 | 1.9% |
| Small businesses | 3 | $398,212 | 1.1% |
| Tribal governments and organizations | 2 | $60,000 | 0.2% |
| Businesses | 1 | $40,000 | 0.1% |
By state
8 states have a page for this program: those that received at least $1 million or 10 awards.
| State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| West Virginia | 38 | $19.2 million |
| Michigan | 2 | $2.2 million |
| Wisconsin | 3 | $1.5 million |
| Virginia | 19 | $1.4 million |
| Kansas | 9 | $1.3 million |
| Maryland | 12 | $1.2 million |
| Nebraska | 4 | $1.1 million |
| North Carolina | 3 | $1.0 million |
| Missouri | 8 | $923,037 |
| Texas | 9 | $917,172 |
| Oklahoma | 5 | $803,351 |
| New Mexico | 9 | $775,202 |
| Arizona | 5 | $751,214 |
| Massachusetts | 2 | $725,949 |
| Connecticut | 2 | $648,408 |
| California | 4 | $294,427 |
| Hawaii | 2 | $203,653 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $141,483 |
| New York | 2 | $127,094 |
| Wyoming | 1 | $80,000 |
| Pennsylvania | 2 | $68,500 |
| Tennessee | 1 | $60,000 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $30,000 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $25,000 |