The Norman Y. Mineta Japanese American Confinement Education (JACE) Grants (NOFO Number P25AS00026), administered by the National Park Service (NPS), support large-scale educational projects that focus on educating the public about the historical significance of Japanese American confinement during World War II. This program was established under Public Law 117-328, which amends the Japanese American Confinement Sites Grant Program, to foster awareness and appreciation of the Japanese American experience, ensuring lessons learned from this period are shared with present and future generations. Eligible projects may incorporate various educational formats such as digital media, curricula, exhibits, and public programs to maximize engagement and accessibility.

This program has authorized up to $10 million in total funding for the JACE grants, with individual awards starting at a minimum of $750,000. The specific amount of available funding for each fiscal year depends on appropriations, and typically, one or two projects will be awarded annually. Projects funded under the JACE program should be completed within two to four years, with start dates dependent on NPS finalizing agreements with successful applicants by June 2025. The anticipated project term may vary based on the approved scope of work.

Eligible applicants must be U.S.-based private nonprofit Japanese American organizations. These organizations must demonstrate a mission of promoting understanding and appreciation of U.S. ethnic and cultural diversity by highlighting the Japanese American experience. Applicants must also meet a 2:1 federal to non-federal cost-share requirement, with provisions for a waiver if the applicant can demonstrate an inability to meet this requirement due to financial constraints and if the project’s public benefit strongly outweighs the interest in cost sharing. Applicants must submit a detailed organizational profile that includes their educational experience, mission alignment, and staffing capacity as part of the application.

The application package for the JACE grants requires several components: SF-424 application form, budget (SF-424A), a project narrative, cost-share documentation, and, if applicable, letters of support. Applications should clearly address NPS's review criteria: organizational suitability, project needs and outcomes, work plan, budget, qualified personnel, audience reach, sustainability, community engagement, and organizational size. The application narrative is capped at 12 pages and must follow specific formatting guidelines. Each application must be received by November 14, 2024, at 5 p.m. Mountain Time, and submitted via email or mail; submissions via Grants.gov are not accepted.

Applications are reviewed by a panel of NPS and potentially external experts, who will assess them on the outlined merit criteria. Priority will be given to projects that demonstrate significant educational impact, organizational collaboration, national outreach potential, and projects led by Japanese American organizations with fewer than 100 employees. Applicants may request feedback from the review panel upon request.

Awardees will be notified in late spring 2025. Following the finalization of grant agreements, awardees are required to submit regular financial (SF-425) and performance reports to track progress toward project goals and objectives. All project data and outputs are accessible to NPS for federal use, and recipients must comply with the Department of the Interior’s conflict-of-interest and reporting policies.