Social Media and Digital Vistor-Centric Engagement at Joshua Tree National Park | P18AS00105

Opportunity Information: Apply for P18AS00105

The grant opportunity titled "Social Media and Digital Visitor-Centric Engagement at Joshua Tree National Park" (Funding Opportunity Number P18AS00105) is a National Park Service (NPS), Department of the Interior notice describing a planned cooperative effort to strengthen how Joshua Tree National Park communicates with the public through social media and other digital channels. The central aim is to protect park resources and improve visitor safety by engaging people before they arrive, especially as visitation has more than doubled in a three-year period. The project is built around the idea that consistent, proactive digital outreach can shape visitor expectations, reduce harmful behavior, and create an ongoing two-way conversation between the park and the public.

The project goals focus on promoting collaborative discussions about resource protection and visitor safety while also improving public understanding of Joshua Tree's natural, cultural, historic, recreational, and rescue-related realities. A notable element is a youth-focused workforce component: the project is intended to give youth opportunities to learn about the environment by spending time working on projects inside the park. In practical terms, the work centers on developing a sustained digital presence that can deliver timely safety messages, explain how heavy visitation affects both resources and visitor experience, and provide the public with a clearer way to engage directly with the park.

The core staffing model described includes one Social Media Lead and at least two Social Media Technicians. Their responsibilities are framed as a mix of strategy, content production, analysis, and operational support. On the analytical side, they are expected to review social media data and user feedback to identify trends, evaluate what content is working, and recommend improvements. On the creative side, they will produce original content such as photos, videos, graphics, and audio products like podcasts. They also support other park divisions by researching and drafting audience-centered messages and engagement prompts for Interpretation, Education, and Science and Resource Stewardship efforts. Another important function is assisting Visitor and Resource Protection during search and rescue incidents by helping disseminate information quickly and clearly through digital platforms.

The project objectives translate these activities into specific outcomes that NPS and the partner organization intend to achieve together. These include increasing public awareness of safety risks and the practical limitations visitors may face during peak visitation, improving the park's ability to detect and respond to negative behaviors that appear on social media, and expanding public understanding of resource protection issues overall. The opportunity emphasizes ongoing, consistent two-way communication, meaning the park is not only broadcasting announcements but also actively engaging with questions, concerns, and feedback from visitors and surrounding communities. It also calls for producing digital media that is Section 508 compliant, which means the resulting videos, photos, and audio-related materials should meet federal accessibility requirements so they can be used broadly on the park website and within education programs. Finally, the project includes a deliverable focused on organization and long-term value: properly cataloging and archiving photo and video files so they can be reused for public information and media needs.

Administratively, this is listed as a discretionary funding opportunity under the Natural Resources activity category (CFDA 15.931) using a cooperative agreement funding instrument. The eligible applicant category shown is 501(c)(3) nonprofits other than institutions of higher education. However, the posting explicitly states "NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD" and clarifies that it is not a request for applications. Instead, it serves as public notice that NPS intended to fund the project through an existing cooperative agreement with the Great Basin Institute (GBI), identified as Cooperative Agreement P15AC00050. The opportunity shows an award ceiling of $1,075,000 and an expected number of awards of 1, with the notice created May 30, 2018 and an original closing date of June 18, 2018, reflecting that it functioned as a formal notice rather than an open competition.

• The Department of the Interior, National Park Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Social Media and Digital Vistor-Centric Engagement at Joshua Tree National Park" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.931.
• This funding opportunity was created on May 30, 2018.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 18, 2018 NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD. This is NOT a request for application. This funding announcement is to provide public notice that the NPS will fund the following project under an existing Cooperative Agreement with Great Basin Inst. P15AC00050. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,075,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.

Apply for P18AS00105

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: