Since time immemorial, people have settled along the saltwater shores of what is today Washington State, supported by the rich maritime resources for food, shelter, inspiration, trade, and transportation. Today, Washington’s shores continue to serve as home to many vibrant maritime cultures. To support those who celebrate, maintain, and share our state’s water-based stories and resources, the Maritime Washington National Heritage Area is pleased to offer the Maritime Washington Grant Program.
In our 2026 cycle, the Maritime Washington Grant Program will support projects and programs that interpret our state’s maritime heritage.
- 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.
- Maritime heritage: We define “maritime heritage” broadly as the history and connection that people have with the marine environment. It includes tangible and intangible resources and encompasses cultural, historical, and natural resources.
The goal of this year’s grant round is to fund work that shares stories from, increases visibility of, and encourages public engagement with Washington’s maritime heritage—past, present, and future. If your organization has a project that helps connect the public with our water-based places and stories through interpretation, we encourage you to learn more and apply!
Nonprofit organizations, local governments, Tribes, regional educational institutions, and other entities that support our region’s maritime heritage are all eligible and can apply for up to $15,000 each.
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 upfront, and Maritime Washington will reimburse you for project-related costs. If needed, reimbursement can be split into two phases: one midway through the project, and the final upon completion of work. Maritime Washington can only reimburse expenses incurred by the grantee after the grant contract has been signed by both parties (anticipated July 2026).
Matching Requirement: There is a required 1:1 minimum match of all grant funds received from the Maritime Washington Grant Program. A few additional details:
- Match can be demonstrated through direct expenses (which can include staff time) and/or donation/in-kind resources (which can include volunteer time).
- Matching funds may not have a federal source.
- Grantees are allowed to retroactively count as match any cash or in-kind expenses directly related to the project from October 1, 2025, or later.
- If total project costs exceed the minimum 1:1 match, grantees will allow the Maritime Washington National Heritage Area to use all non-federal project expenses (cash or in-kind) as project match.
Budget worksheet: All applicants must complete a budget worksheet and include it in their application, which can be downloaded here. Please note that there is an example budget on the second tab of this worksheet.
Eligible Projects
Eligible projects should strengthen, maintain, and/or share maritime heritage in Washington and must support at least one of Maritime Washington’s goals:
- Build a network of cross-sector partners dedicated to advancing and honoring Washington’s maritime cultures.
- Provide support and resources for communities and Tribes working to enhance and share maritime heritage.
- Share diverse stories and increase visibility of Washington’s maritime heritage, past and present.
- Encourage sustainable experiences of maritime heritage for residents and visitors alike.
- Preserve our region’s unique maritime identity, resources, and lifeways.
The 2026 grant round is open specifically to projects and programs that interpret Washington’s maritime heritage. Eligible projects may include but are not limited to:
- Museum exhibits
- Interpretive signage
- Collateral such as flyers, maps, brochures, etc.
- Limited podcast and video series
- Murals and public art
- Development of interpretive webpages
- Tours
- Services of a self-selected interpretive planner to develop an interpretive plan
- Educational events and public programs
- Books aimed at the general public
Activities and expenses that are not eligible for funding from the Maritime Washington Grant Program include:
- Capital projects
- Lobbying
- Conferences and staff training
- Operational expenses
- Marketing expenses unrelated to an interpretive project
- Nominations to the National Register of Historic Places
Additional considerations:
- Staff Time: You can (and should!) include staff time directly related to the implementation of your proposed project as part of your grant request. You can include it either as part of your grant request or as a form of cash match.
- Compliance: As the source of this grant funding is the federal government, all funds covered by the grant amount and all funds used as match must conform to the guidelines laid out in the United States Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 200.
- Historic structures: If your project impacts a historic resource in any way, it will be subject to additional staff/governmental review before work can proceed. Reach out to program staff with any questions.
- Ground disturbance: Projects that result in ground disturbance (e.g., any new digging) may also be subject to additional requirements and staff/governmental review. Reach out to program staff with any questions.
Eligible Applicant Organizations/Entities
The Maritime Washington National Heritage Area includes 3,000 miles of Washington State’s saltwater shoreline from Grays Harbor County to the Canadian border, extending one-quarter mile inland from the mean high tide line. Applicants do not need to be located within the quarter-mile boundary of the National Heritage Area, but the project for which they are applying should be directly connected to Washington’s maritime heritage and/or resources located within the bounds of the National Heritage Area. If your project’s connection to this area is not immediately evident, we encourage you to make it very clear in your application.
All applicants must be located within one of the 13 counties within the Maritime Washington National Heritage Area: San Juan, Whatcom, Skagit, Island, Snohomish, King, Pierce, Thurston, Mason, Kitsap, Jefferson, Clallam, or Grays Harbor. A note for potential King County applicants: Lake Union is included within the National Heritage Area boundaries, but Lake Washington is not.
Eligible organizations include:
- Tribal governments
- Nonprofit organizations
- Educational institutions
- City, port, county, or state governments and agencies
- Chambers of Commerce
- Main Street organizations
- National Park units within the National Heritage Area (please note that matching funds must come from non-federal sources)
- Community groups with confirmed fiscal sponsorship
- For-profit organizations explicitly connected to maritime heritage or history
Ineligible applicants include:
- For-profit organizations not explicitly connect to maritime heritage or history
- Individuals
- Religious organizations
Note: If your organization/institution is not a Tribal entity nor Native-led and your proposed project includes interpretation of Native peoples or stories, you are strongly encouraged to describe in the application your existing partnerships with Tribal entities or your plan to authentically cultivate relationships with Tribal entities as part of your proposed project. We encourage grantees to be realistic about the time needed to develop meaningful relationships with Tribal partners.
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 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
Scoring Criteria
Applications will be read by a Review Committee comprised of members of Maritime Washington’s Advisory Board, Tribal Working Group, and/or other stakeholders. The Review Committee will score all applications on the following criteria:
- Relevance: Does the proposed project interpret maritime heritage in Washington State? Does it significantly contribute to the field of maritime heritage in Washington?
- Partnerships and Community Support: Does the proposed project leverage partnerships, particularly those that encourage cross-sector collaboration? Does it have significant resident and/or community support, including volunteer engagement?
- Feasibility: To what extent is the proposed project and organization ready to proceed based on the details provided in the application, including: budget, design, timeline, personnel, and previous experience of this organization? What other funding sources and in-kind donations/resources have been identified and leveraged for the 1:1 match requirement of this grant program?
- Public Benefit: How easily accessible or visible is the proposed project to the public? Does the project engage residents and visitors with maritime heritage? Will it impact a larger number of residents/visitors OR have a deep impact on a smaller but underserved population?
- New Stories: Does the proposed project tell a new, fresh, or otherwise under-appreciated maritime story? Are individuals involved in the design and execution of the proposed project members of the identity, community, or culture the proposed project aims to center?
- Strategy: Does the proposed project carry out an element of an established strategic plan or, even better, an interpretive plan? Is it part of a long-term organizational goal rather than a one-off activity? What is the proposed plan for maintaining (or even growing) the impact of the project into the future?
- Impact on Grantee Organization: Is this funding timely for the proposed project? Is the proposed project addressing a current organizational or community need? Will this funding move the needle on achieving an organizational need or goal?
Terms and Conditions
All recipients of the Maritime Washington Grant Program will be required to:
- Acknowledge the Maritime Washington National Heritage Area on the project site (or in an agreed-upon format if the project is not site-specific) and all public-facing materials related to the project.
- Report periodically to Maritime Washington on the implementation of the projects and local impact via an online form provided to grantees upon award selection. This reporting will include:
- Progress Report: Every six months throughout the life of the grant, recipients will complete a progress report in which they will describe project progress and work status, including photographs of work underway.
- Completion Report: After the conclusion of the project, recipients will complete a final report in which they will describe project results. Recipients will also be asked to provide an accounting of project costs, including proofs of payment for all expenses. If grantees would like to request a midway project reimbursement, they will fill out a similar report including results, expenses, and proofs of payment to date.
- Reflection Report: Sixty (60) days after project completion, recipients will provide a reflection report in the form of an interview, article, photo essay, or presentation to demonstrate lessons learned for the benefit of the Maritime Washington partner network. (Format and timeline will be discussed upon award selection.)
Non-performance:
- Recipients will have until July 30, 2027, to complete their grant-supported projects.
- Funds will be paid as reimbursement only after recipients submit receipts, invoices, and other proof of dollars spent on project-related expenses.
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.