Battlefield Partners Network

Stay informed about legislation, funding, preservation threats, and other developments that can have an immediate impact on battlefield preservation.

The American Battlefield Trust’s 31st annual Park Day takes place April 24, 2027, bringing volunteers together at battlefields and historic sites across the country for a nationwide day of preservation and stewardship.

Participating sites choose the projects that will make the greatest difference locally — from clearing trails and repairing fences to cleaning monuments, removing invasive vegetation, and preparing historic sites for visitors. The Trust helps amplify those efforts and connect individual projects to a national movement. Bring Park Day to your battlefield or historic site in 2027.

We encourage all Battlefield Partners Network member organizations to support a Park Day site — or sponsor your own event! 

Battlefield preservation takes many forms — from advocacy and fundraising to interpretation, stewardship, and community engagement. Explore resources designed to help battlefield organizations build capacity, make their case, and accomplish more.

Funding Opportunities | Best Practices | Tourism & Economics | Trainings
 

Funding Opportunities

Preserving America Grant Program

Grants up to $15,000 | Deadline is December 15, 2026

This program supports preservation, education, and capacity building initiatives for historical sites focused on early American history. Grant requests must focus on restoration projects, educational programs and interpretive initiatives, or strategies that increase visibility and community engagement. Learn more: https://www.americanacorner.com/grants

NEH Public Humanities Projects

Grants up to $75,000 (planning); $100,000 (implementation); or $500,000 (eligible projects) | Deadline is December 16, 2026

Grants support substantive public humanities projects, including permanent, temporary, or traveling exhibitions; long-term interpretation at historic sites; and public lectures and discussion forums. Planning grants (for exhibitions or historic places) are up to $75,000, over up to 24 months. Implementation grants are up to $100,000 for a single-site temporary exhibition and up to $500,000 for other eligible projects, over 12 to 48 months. Physical improvements such as restoration are not eligible, and projects should involve several partners and scholars. Projects must begin between November 1, 2027 and March 1, 2028. Grant decisions expected in July 2027. A live Q&A session is scheduled for November 10, 2026 at 2:00pm ET. Learn more: https://www.neh.gov/grants/public/public-humanities-projects

Peter H. Brink Leadership Fund

Grants up to $2,500 | Applcations accepted on a rolling basis

Grants support mentoring and peer-to-peer learning that strengthen the leadership and effectiveness of preservation organizations. Funds reimburse mentor travel and honoraria for work on fundraising, real estate, advocacy, board development, or organizational management. Learn more: https://savingplaces.org/brink-fund

Best Practices

Boots on the Ground: A Manual for Battlefield Friends Groups (2023)

This user-friendly analysis from the Walker Collaborative, supported by matching grant funding from the National Park Service’s American Battlefield Protection Program, discloses best practices for “friends groups” — typically volunteer-driven, non-profit entities that offer support to their associated battlefield park.  
 

Tourism & Economics  

Battlefields Mean Business

NPS-managed historic battlefield parks across the U.S. attracted 20.3 million visits in 2024, supporting more than 15,000 jobs, $1.5 billion in direct visitor spending, and $2.2 billion in total economic output. The numbers confirm what we have long believed — America’s battlefields aren’t just history. They’re economic engines.

Learn more about this fascinating topic or read the full technical report. 
 

Trainings

Historic Trades Trainings

Historic battlefields across America are home to structures that require specialized skills to preserve – from dry stone walls to historic farmhouses. The Campaign for Historic Trades, a national workforce development initiative from our partners at Preservation Maryland, offers hands-on workshops to help train the people who care for these resources. For more information about hosting a workshop or connecting to training opportunities in your area, visit https://historictrades.org.
 

Military Staff Rides

Military “staff rides” are an immersive learning technique that places soldiers on the ground where important events took place, asking them to consider and analyze the decisions of their predecessors. If your park or historic site has hosted or will host staff rides or other events with members of the military, please let us know!

Join the Battlefield Partners Network

Discover conferences, seminars, programs, and special events hosted by the American Battlefield Trust and organizations throughout the Battlefield Partners Network.

Battlefield preservation is powered by local organizations, dedicated volunteers, creative partnerships, and years of persistent work. These stories highlight what Battlefield Partners Network members are accomplishing — and offer ideas and inspiration for preservationists everywhere.

Have an achievement, case study, or news to share with the BPN community? Reach out to Christine Grubbs, our Partner Engagement Specialist, at cgrubbs@battlefields.org.