The Maritime Washington National Heritage Area is pleased to offer the Maritime Washington Grant Program, with the mission of supporting work that strengthens, maintains, and shares maritime heritage. The 2026 grant round will focus on interpretation, education, and storytelling about maritime heritage in Washington.
This program will award funds to the nonprofit organizations, local governments, Tribes, regional educational institutions, and other entities that support our region’s maritime heritage for a wide range of interpretive projects related to Washington’s water-based cultures, stories, and resources. We encourage you to learn more about eligible projects and organizations, scoring criteria, and program requirements in our Program Guide and FAQs.
The application for this grant will be open from March 4 through April 24, 2026. All applicants will be notified by the end of June. Grant contracts will be drafted in July.
Key Dates
April 1, 2026, 4:00 pm: Office hours with grant program administrators (Register here)
April 24, 2026, 5:00 pm: Application period closes
June 2026: All applicants notified
July 2026: Grant contracts prepared for grant recipients; Grant-supported project work and reimbursable expenses may commence once contracts are signed by both parties.
January 31, 2027: Progress reports due for grantees
July 30, 2027: Grant-supported projects completed
Key Eligibility
For more information on eligibility requirements for the Maritime Washington Grant Program, be sure to check out our Program Guide.
What is Interpretation?
To borrow a definition from Washington State Parks, interpretation is “a communication process that provides opportunities for visitors to connect emotionally and intellectually with the world around them in meaningful ways.” This can include everything from exhibits and signage, to walking tours and educational programs, to webpages and podcasts—as well as all the work that goes into planning for these activities. If you have a project that will help share Washington’s saltwater stories and/or connect the public with our shores, we encourage you to watch the video below and learn more about eligibility in our Program Guide.
Grant Funding & Match Requirements
Maximum Grant Request: $15,000
Total Grantable Dollars Available: $100,000
Payment: These funds are reimbursement grants, meaning that you will pay for work on your project up front and Maritime Washington will reimburse you for project-related costs.
Matching Requirement: There is a required 1:1 match of non-federal funding and/or in-kind resources (including staff time) for these grant funds.
The mission of the Maritime Washington National Heritage Area is to support a network that strengthens the maritime community and connects people with the stories, experiences, resources, and cultures of our state’s saltwater shores and waterways. The Maritime Washington Grant Program is one of the ways we’re working to achieve this mission. To learn more how Maritime Washington supports our saltwater shores, please explore our website: www.maritimewa.org/who-we-are.