With three options, find the best fit.
Since 2019, the National Aviation Heritage Alliance has awarded $259,576.60 through the subgrant program and more than $260,000 in a special project fund supporting the Heritage Area. In 2024, the National Aviation Heritage Alliance anticipates awarding up to $325,000 in three distinct grant programs, a significant increase.
1. Large Grant Fund
This fund awards grants above $5,000 with a recommended maximum of $75,000. The grants are a sub-award of federal dollars to be used as an economic catalyst advancing the National Aviation Heritage Area. The grants are available for a variety of activities including, but not limited to planning, consultation, interpretation, workshops, events, preservation, collections, exhibits, aircraft maintenance/preservation, marketing & promotion, and wayfinding & signage. All projects must support the mission of the National Aviation Heritage Area which is: to preserve and develop the assets of the National Aviation Heritage Area and to promote aviation heritage and the future of aerospace.
Each application will be scored against five weighted criteria:
- Aligns with the Mission of NAHA: what is the benefit of the project to NAHA?
- Justification: what is the rationale for and significance of the project?
- Feasibility: does the application demonstrate an understanding of the personnel, material, budget, and timelines required to successfully execute the project?
- Matching funds: while 1:1 is required, a higher ratio of matching funds is desired.
- Other: of particular interest to the National Aviation Heritage Alliance is a project that
- advances our region’s community identity with aviation heritage and/or the aviation industry;
- is regional or multi-county in scope;
- includes active partnership between multiple organizations;
- was vetted through the Dayton Development Coalition’s PDAC process;
- is documented in a larger community or regional master plan;
- and/or leverages substantial non-federal match from partner participants and/or other grantors.
Download the Full Grant Instructions Here
Download the Large Grant Budget Worksheet Here
Download the Grant Application Here (for planning purposes only)
The deadline was on March 1, 2024.
2. Small Grant Fund
This fund awards grants up to $5,000 of federal dollars to be used as an economic catalyst advancing the National Aviation Heritage Area. The grants are available for a variety of activities including, but not limited to planning, consultation, interpretation, workshops, events, preservation, collections, exhibits, aircraft maintenance/preservation, marketing & promotion, and wayfinding & signage. All projects must support the mission of the National Aviation Heritage Area which is: to preserve and develop the assets of the National Aviation Heritage Area and promote aviation heritage and the future of aerospace.
Download Small Grant Instructions Here
Download Budget Worksheet Here
Rolling deadlines with committee review in January, March, and July 2024
3. Heritage Area Aviation Organizations
This fund awards grants up to $5,000 to eligible organizations located inside the legislative boundaries of the National Aviation Heritage Area whose primary mission is aviation heritage or contains significant aviation heritage assets. This grant is similar to the Small Grant opportunity. If an organization is eligible for the Heritage Area Aviation Organization Grant Opportunity, it is not eligible for the Small Grant opportunity. Those eligible organizations are:
Air Camp
Armstrong Air & Space Museum
Aviation Trail, Inc.
Carillon Historical Park – Wright Brothers National Museum & Hawthorn Hill
CenterPoint Energy Dayton Air Show
Champaign Aviation Museum
Grimes Flying Lab Foundation
National Aviation Hall of Fame
National Museum of the United States Air Force/Air Force Museum Foundation
Ohio History Connection
WACO Air Museum
Woodland Cemetery & Arboretum
Wright B Flyer, Inc.
Wright Image Group
Wright State University Libraries’ Special Collections & Archives
