Appalachian Forest Grants Notice of Funding Opportunity 2026-2027

This grant is for projects that support AFNHA goals within the 18 AFNHA counties. 

Grant requests can range from $2,000 to $15,000. Recipients must provide a non-federal match (cash or in-kind) at least equal to the grant amount received. Additional Match reporting is encouraged, and leveraged “Other Federal Funds” used to support the project should be reported.

Applications are due by November 30, 2026

Formal Partners of AFNHA will be given priority preference on grant review. To become a Partner of AFNHA please visit our partners page HERE

For more information or questions, please email grants@afnha.org

Online applications will be available October 5, 2026  

• Instructions for application will be available when Applications open..
• Login to the 2026 AF Grants Portal will be live when applications open.

Instructional Webinar for grant applications being offered October 7. See website for details and link to recorded session when available.

AFNHA Mission Alignment for Eligible Projects:

Applications should demonstrate how the proposed project will contribute to AFNHA’s long-term goals. Strong applications will show both (1) benefits to the applicant organization and (2) shared benefits to the AFNHA region, such as advancing common heritage themes, enhancing regional tourism networks, or creating models that other partners can replicate. Projects with potential to continue beyond the grant period, or to serve as a resource for multiple AFNHA partners, will be given stronger consideration.

Projects should fit one or more of these AFNHA goals:

• Preserve Assets – Identify, Preserve, Conserve, and Enhance the assets that reflect Forest Heritage, including natural, recreational, historical, cultural assets, collections and archives, and encourage stewardship of such assets.
• Interpretation – Share the Stories of Forest Heritage through Education, Interpretation, and Experiences. Projects should relate to one of the AFNHA themes of Forest Abundance, Crucible of Isolation, Logging Boom Builds the Nation, or the Resilient Forest.
• Tourism Development – Support Sustainable Tourism. Tourism projects should relate to AFNHA assets and themes. Tourism projects should improve/enhance tourist attractions, accessibility, encourage wider audiences and/or enhance the visitor experience.
• Funding Priority: While not required, special attention will be paid to projects engaged in activities in alignment with the AFNHA theme Logging Boom Builds a Nation. More information on this theme can be found HERE

Grant Timeline

• October 5, 2026 

• Final NOFO, application & instructions will be available online HERE
• Application Portal Opens for submission online.

• October 7, 2026 1 pm -  Pre-application webinar explaining key terms and procedures will be held online. A link to the meeting will be posted on our website when available

*****UPDATE***** We had no one attend the webinar on October 7, so nothing to record. Please reach out to us if you have questions about the grant or the application.

• November 30, 2026  – Application Portal closes at 5pm; grant application due online.
• January 15, 2027 - Awards are announced to awarded applicants. Planning and match activities may begin once notified. Agreements will be sent within 10 days.
• February 1, 2027

• Grant performance period begins
• Deadline for fully executed Award Agreements to be submitted. Contracts will specify the size and number of payments and reporting requirements.
• Funded Grant activities may begin

• Initial payments to Grantees will be made on or after February 1, 2027.
• July 31, 2027 Interim progress reporting due for the period from the start of the Performance Period through June 30, 2027
• January 30, 2028, Interim progress report due for all activity through December 31, 2027 
• June 30, 2028 - Grant performance period ends
• July 31, 2028 Final Report Is due. After all reporting is completed, the final grant payments will be released.

Applicant Eligibility:

• Grant applicants must be public, governmental, or non-profit organizations. For-profit businesses or private individuals are not eligible to receive grants or to receive pass-through funds but may partner with eligible applicants in a collaborative public or nonprofit project.
• Applicants must be registered with SAM.GOV and have a current, unexpired UEI number.
• Only one application per organization will be accepted

• Submitting an application on behalf of an unincorporated entity as a Fiscal sponsor does not count against the Sponsoring Entity for the purposes of the 1 application limit.  

• Non-profit applicants must attach a copy of their IRS Nonprofit Determination Letter. They will also certify in the Grant Agreement that they are in good standing with their respective Secretary of State’s office. Any deficiencies must be resolved before the grant contract can be signed.
• Non-profit organizations, collaboratives, or informal associations that are not incorporated 501(c)(3) or (c)(6) organizations need to apply through a fiscal sponsor who meets those requirements.
• Quasi-governmental organizations, such as Commissions and Boards of Governmental Organizations that do not have their own independent FEIN as a government organization, must apply under their Parent government organization as their fiscal sponsor.

• The fiscal sponsor will oversee and have ultimate responsibility for the grant project, spending, and reporting. The fiscal sponsor will fill out the portal profile and then add information about the project organization you are sponsoring. Application by a fiscal sponsor will not count against that organization if they are also applying for their own project grant. Please note that:

• The eligible Fiscal Sponsoring Entity is the named Applicant.
• The Project Entity being sponsored, which is carrying out the project, provides its contact information in the Application but does not apply itself. Generally, it will carry out the project activities and provide full reporting to the fiscal sponsor, who then makes formal grant reports.  
• The eligible Applicant (Fiscal Sponsor Entity) Organization is responsible for submitting the Application and final execution of the Grant Agreement, as well as all facets of the project implementation according to the terms of the Grant Agreement.  

• Previous grant projects – If your organization is a previous or current AFNHA grantee, that project must either be completed with satisfactory paperwork submitted, or in good standing on reporting (including appropriate communication on extensions.) Organizations who fail to properly complete or document a previous grant, may be put on suspension of eligibility for a period of time as determined by AFNHA. Such an organization is welcome to communicate if you have had a major change of circumstances which will enable you to be more capable of properly completing any future grants.

Project Eligibility

• Eligible projects should accomplish or provide new or enhanced activities beyond what the organization already does.  New or enhanced activities that are sustainable or likely to continue, or improvements that will support future growth, may be prioritized.

• Suppose a project involves a regularly scheduled or continued event or experience. In that case, the grant project should add something new or improve the experience, not just continue operating funds for said project.

• Acquisition, Construction, Major Renovations, or activities that are a part of a larger construction project, as defined below, are not eligible for grant award or match. Repair or improvement projects may be eligible.

• Acquisition is the purchase of real estate.
• Construction means

• The creation of a building, structure, or facility, including the installation of equipment, site preparation, landscaping, associated roads parking, environmental mitigation, and utilities, which provides space not previously available. It includes freestanding structures, additional wings or floors, enclosed courtyards or entryways, and any other means to provide usable space that did not previously exist (excluding temporary facilities).
• Improvements to real property including trails creation, addition of bridges or walkways to said trails that were previously not present. Creation of new structures or improvements of any kind to landscapes including parking lots, roads, etc.

• Major Renovation is considered a structural change (e.g., to the foundation, roof, floor, or exterior or load-bearing walls of a facility, or an extension to an existing facility) to achieve the following: increase the floor area and/or change function and purpose of an existing building, structure, or facility. Excavation, removing or building walls, redesigning interiors, or the predevelopment activities associated with these activities are not allowable and considered Construction or Major Renovation.
•  Repair and maintenance activities are allowed for eligible purposes. These may include large and small projects such as re-roofing a historic structure or repointing masonry that seem like “Major Renovation” but are instead repairs. Non-construction conservation activities, as well as trail and landscape repair and maintenance, are eligible. 
• Adding accessibility to space for ADA compliance is eligible if the ADA and Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Historic Preservation rules are followed.
• For projects involving physical improvements to land or buildings, the grantee is responsible for ensuring all required permissions and regulations are approved and followed, including property owner permission, NEPA, Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Historic Preservation, and Section 106 compliance. Projects of these types will need to submit to the Grantor all pertinent documentation proving compliance.  
• If you are unsure if your project qualifies, submit the outline of the project to us before completing an application.

• For projects involving youth or other vulnerable populations, the grantee is responsible for coordination with partnering organizations involved, including following all requirements for supervision, background checks, etc.

Budget Eligibility and Reporting:
Grantees will be responsible for financial reporting, including expenditures and non-federal match documentation. We will work with you to explain what is needed and, in some cases, adjust budget categories and modify the budget. Some awarded projects may be partially funded.

The initial payment will be advanced near the beginning of the project. Grant reporting will include interim and final reports on progress, visitation data, outcomes, and financials. Reporting requirements will be detailed in the Grant Agreement.

Budget eligibility --

• All expenses must be documented according to the terms of the Grant Agreement as adopted.
• Expenses paid with federal source funds are not eligible for match, but may be included in Leveraged expenses. If you are in doubt of the funding source utilized as a match for any project costs, please reach out to AFNHA to discuss the matter.
• AFNHA grant awards are not eligible to be used as a Match to any other Federal project by the Grantee.
• Any “Other Federal Funds,” including support by National Service Members (AmeriCorps) used on the project, should be reported as “Leveraged Funds” to the project in the application and subsequent interim reporting. Not as Match
• Up to 20% of the Grant Award may be expended for paid Personnel time and is eligible as a Direct Cost to the grant. The remaining eligible paid Personnel time may be used as CASH MATCH. All Personnel costs must be appropriately documented and specific for duties directly relevant to the project.

• Personnel are statutory employees of the organization only. Contracted staff receiving 1099s at year end are considered Contracted and should be categorized as such in the application budget.
• Documentation of personnel time must show the full hourly wage of the staff, their time working directly on the project, and their time as a whole for the organization during the reporting period. It must be signed by the staff and their Supervisor. A sample template for documenting time will be available.

• Equipment purchases are not allowable expenses for grant or match. Equipment is defined as a substantial durable asset meant to have a service life of more than one year and includes computers, furniture, automobiles, machinery such as HVAC, office equipment, etc. with a value of $10,000 or more.
• Food, Alcohol, or Entertainment for any purpose are not eligible as match or grant expense.
• Consultants, Scholars, or other Contracted Services paid specifically for this project may be grant-eligible.
• Described expenses should be specific, not vague or miscellaneous. Tell us what you expect - you can make budget changes during the project if things change.
• Donated value of supplies and project time may also count as a match if eligible and documented correctly in the terms of the Grant Agreement and this NOFO.
• Indirect costs are eligible expenses for the Grant and Match shares.  Indirect Costs are the share of general expenses by the organization that cannot be directly tied to the cost of a specific project or program but support the organization, like utilities and rent. If your organization has a  Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA) with a federal agency, please submit your current NICRA with the application budget. If you don’t have a NICRA use the De Minimis Rate (Currently 15% of Modified Total Direct Cost Rate) For indirect portion of Grant revenue request  multiply your grant request (subtotal without indirect) by your NICRA rate or the de minimis rate (15%) to get allowable expenses allocable to add to the grant budget. For the indirect portion of match , multiply your cash match subtotal (without indirect) and add to your cash match total.  Do not include in-kind expenses for indirect match calculations. Indirect expense  amounts do not need to be documented with receipts or other supporting documentation.
• Marketing or promotion of the Organization generally, or general tourism paid advertising, is not an eligible expense. Promotion of the grant project, a promotional product that also includes interpretation of the story the site tells, or if the promotion is an integral part of the larger project, may be allowable.
• General volunteer time may be documented as In-kind Match only and at an hourly rate of no more than $30.00 per hour for WV and $34.00 per hour for MD, as established by AFNHA’s internal policy and in alignment with published rates by independentsector.org, unless the volunteer is providing professional services to the project. If professional volunteer services are expected to be utilized by the project as in-kind services contributed, then the applicant must submit a formal request to AFNHA before services are rendered to establish a volunteer rate higher than our standard rates. At a minimum, the request should include the type of service being utilized, the name of the professional donating said services, and describe how/why said professional rate was established. The request should also include published fee schedules of the professional and/or a professional resume.  

• Documenting volunteer time: Timesheets recording all time contributed by volunteers directly to the project must be kept and signed by the volunteer contemporaneously with the dates of service. Alternate documenting strategies may be employed with prior approval from AFNHA, such as a set stipend for professional scholar services. Failure to implement adequate documentation of volunteer time will void the value for the purposes of match.

Review Criteria:

Staff Review - Applications will be reviewed by staff upon submission to establish basic eligibility requirements and make any clarifications needed by the applicant.

Grant Committee Review - Grant committee is made up of select partners, staff, and AFNHA Board Members. Partial awards may be made. Clarification round may be available as needed for applicants to clarify portions of the application for the benefit of the committee. See Application Instructions for more information on how grants are reviewed.

For more information, or questions, please email grants@afnha.org