Appalachian Forest Grants Program (Major Grants)
Funding Amount
$3,000 - $20,000
Deadline
Expected ~November
Based on past cycles
Grant Type
Foundation
Deadline history & next window
- Cycle
- Annual
- Current deadline
- November 30, 2026
- Tracked since
- April 2026
Deadlines typically fall in: November
Source: the cycle recorded on this listing. Confirm dates with the funder.
Overview
Appalachian Forest Grants Program
Geographic Scope: 18 counties within the Appalachian Forest National Heritage Area, including Allegany County (MD), Garrett County (MD), Barbour County (WV), Braxton County (WV), Grant County (WV), Greenbrier County (WV), Hampshire County (WV), Hardy County (WV), Mineral County (WV), Morgan County (WV), Nicholas County (WV), Pendleton County (WV), Pocahontas County (WV), Preston County (WV), Randolph County (WV), Tucker County (WV), Upshur County (WV), and Webster County (WV).
Eligible Applicants: Government and non-profit organizations that are AFNHA partners
Focus Areas:
- Preservation projects
- Interpretation and heritage education
- Tourism development
- Collections management
- America250 stories
- Indigenous Appalachia projects
- Forest heritage themes: Forest Abundance, Crucible of Isolation, the Logging Boom Builds the Nation, the Resilient Forest
Funding Source: National Park Service Heritage Partnership Program
Expected Outcomes: Projects are expected to produce matching and leveraged funds in local communities (2024 awards generated $265,000 in additional leveraged funds)
Contact:
- Address: PO Box 1206, Elkins, WV 26241
- Phone: (304) 636-6182
- Email: afnha@afnha.org
Background: AFNHA is a member of the National Heritage Area System and has awarded grants for two years (2023-2024, with 2025 cycle just completed). Past awards supported projects including heritage preservation, trail development, museum enhancements, and indigenous history documentation.
How to Apply
Application Process
Current Status: The 2025 AF Grant Program is no longer accepting applications. Applications will reopen for the 2026 cycle in Fall 2026.
General Requirements (based on past cycles):
- Projects must support AFNHA goals and relate to designated forest heritage themes
- Projects should align with AFNHA Core Values (see Management Plan at www.appalachianforestnha.org/management-planning)
- Applicants must be AFNHA partner organizations
Portal Access: Current active grantees may access their grant portal for ongoing administration of funded projects.
For More Information: Check the AF Grants Program page for updates on 2026 application opening and procedures.
What Appalachian Forest Heritage Area Inc actually gave
Source: IRS Form 990, 2024
- Grants in 2024
- 12
- Total given
- $101K
- Median grant
- $8,941
- Range
- $5,421–$14K
- By dollars: West Virginia 77%, Maryland 23%. Top recipient cities: Elkins, WV; Frostburg, MD; Mathia, WV.
- 0% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Example grants
Evergreen Heritage Center Foundation Inc · Frostburg, MD
The purpose of this project is to develop displays and interpretive signage for an…
$14K
Hardy County Convention and Visitors Bureau · Mathia, WV
Working with designers, installers, a writer, and continuing our work with consultants…
$10K
High Rocks Educational Corporation · Hillsboro, WV
We need to restore and repair two buildings on Historic Main Street. We are seeking…
$10K
Passages of the W Potomac Heritage Area · Cumberland, MD
The PWPHA would like to add augmented reality sites to the app. These sites would all…
$10K
Woodlands Development Group · Elkins, WV
The rehabilitated Tygart Hotel will have it's walls covered with original art created…
$10K
Focus Areas & Funding Uses
Fields of Work
- Nonprofits
- Environmental conservation
- History
- Humanities
Categories
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