9/11 Memorial Act Grant 2026

The 9/11 Memorial Act Grant Program is administered by the National Park Service within the U.S. Department of the Interior. This program is authorized under the 9/11 Memorial Act and subsequent federal appropriations legislation, and is designed to provide financial assistance to support the continued operation and preservation of memorials located at the sites of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The funding opportunity reflects a federal commitment to honoring the victims of the attacks and ensuring that the memorials remain accessible, secure, and educational for current and future generations. The primary purpose of the grant is to fund activities related to the operation, security, maintenance, preservation, and public accessibility of “covered memorials.” These are defined as memorials located at the World Trade Center and Pentagon sites that commemorate the events and victims of September 11, 2001. Program goals include sustaining or improving memorial operations, preserving memorial grounds, supporting educational programming, ensuring public access, and increasing visitation, particularly among economically disadvantaged populations. Applicants must demonstrate how their proposed activities will produce measurable outputs and outcomes aligned with these goals. Funding is provided through competitive grants, with an estimated total program funding of 4000000 dollars and expected awards ranging from 100000 to 4000000 dollars. The number of awards is anticipated to be between one and three, depending on the applications received and available appropriations. Funds may be used for eligible operational costs, security enhancements, maintenance activities, preservation efforts, and educational initiatives. All costs must be reasonable, allowable, and compliant with federal cost principles. Applicants must also provide detailed budgets and budget narratives outlining all expenditures and cost justifications. A mandatory cost sharing requirement applies to this program. Eligible applicants must provide a non federal match equal to at least one hundred percent of the federal award amount, resulting in a one to one match requirement. Matching contributions may include cash, in kind contributions, or volunteer services, provided they meet federal guidelines. Applicants must document and justify all matching contributions within their application materials, including the SF 424A form and detailed budget documentation. Eligibility for this funding opportunity is highly specific. Applicants must be nonprofit organizations described under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and must be tax exempt under section 501(a). Additionally, the organization must own and or operate a covered memorial located at one of the September 11 attack sites in the United States. This restriction significantly narrows eligibility to a very limited number of entities directly responsible for the management and preservation of these memorials. Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov. Prior to submission, applicants must complete required registrations including obtaining a Unique Entity Identifier and maintaining an active SAM.gov registration. Required application components include the SF 424 application form, budget forms, project narrative, project abstract, detailed budget, and supporting documentation such as audit information and disclosures. The project narrative must address merit review criteria including project need, budget reasonableness, operational impact, preservation and education impact, and visitation outcomes. The application deadline is August 5, 2026 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time. Applications undergo a multi step review process including eligibility screening, merit review, and risk assessment. Projects are scored based on defined criteria, each weighted equally, and final funding decisions consider both merit scores and programmatic priorities. Awards are expected to begin around September 7, 2026, with a project period extending through September 30, 2027. The program is not explicitly stated as recurring, and applicants should not assume future funding cycles without confirmation.

Ensure strong alignment with all five merit criteria; clearly justify budget and demonstrate secured 1:1 match; emphasize measurable outcomes and visitor impact improvements