THE CHALLENGE COST SHARE PROGRAM :

The principal purpose of this agreement is to select one up to three organizations to serve as a national partner to help conduct the NPS¿s Challenge Cost Share program. The national partner organization(s) will be collaborators in projects and required to leverage funds to contribute to local Challenge Cost Share projects. The projects will support a public purpose by working with NPS parks and programs. The national partners will provide financial and other forms of support for locally generated projects endorsed by NPS sites and program leads, which address the strategic priorities of the NPS. The projects will promote the public purpose of conservation and recreation, environmental stewardship, education, and engaging diverse youth participants. Locally generated projects will be endorsed by NPS and shared with the national partner, as well as those projects that the partner proposes. NPS will make the final selection of projects with the counsel of the national partner.

The national partners can apply based on their credentials to support one or more of the identified themes. Thematic categories will evolve but will retain a focus on connecting people to the outdoors, youth engagement and urban outreach.

The Challenge Cost Share program is designed to support a public purpose and will provide a benefit to the national partner (s) and an incidental benefit to NPS. The national partner will build national awareness of the organization and its association with NPS; grow relationships with locally based organizations and parks; participate in a rich array of projects with broad public benefit; receive exposure to leadership of NPS at the national and regional levels; and receive reimbursement for administrative costs as the indirect billing.

NPS will gain an incidental benefit from building new partnerships and support for the NPS mission by; leveraging support beyond appropriated dollars; support projects which serve parks and programs; and promote bold innovation and broad new initiatives.
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