The Mississippi Delta National Heritage Area (MDNHA) has announced the opening of the 2025-26 Cultural Heritage Grants cycle.
These grants offer up to $25,000 in funding for projects that preserve, celebrate and share the unique cultural heritage of the Mississippi Delta.
“The Cultural Heritage Grants are important to our local communities because they empower them to preserve and share the stories, traditions and voices that define the Mississippi Delta,” said MDNHA board Chairman Stephanie Patton. “These grants help us celebrate our unique history, support local artists and cultural leaders, and ensure that future generations understand and value the rich heritage that makes this region so special.”
Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, local governments, and federally recognized Native American tribes located in or directly serving the 18-county MDNHA region.
Projects must align with at least one of MDNHA’s five cultural heritage themes: The River and The Land, The Blues, Freedom, Creativity Beyond Cotton, and Diverse Communities. Additionally, projects should contribute to MDNHA’s goals, such as engaging local communities, preserving historic and natural resources, building regional partnerships and supporting sustainable economic development.
All grant applications require a minimum 1:1 non-federal cash or in-kind match. Proposed activities should be scheduled between Oct. 1, 2025, and Sept. 30, 2026.
The application deadline is 11:59 p.m. CST on Sunday, June 30, 2025.
Interested applicants can access the application portal and additional resources, including grant-writing tutorials and application guides, at www.msdeltaheritage.com/grants.
For information or assistance, contact MDNHA at grants@msdeltaheritage.com.
The MDNHA is a federally designated region that recognizes the Mississippi Delta’s unique cultural and historical significance. MDNHA supports initiatives that preserve and promote the region’s heritage, fostering pride and economic development through cultural tourism and community engagement. Since its launch in 2016, the MDNHA has awarded over $1 million to support cultural heritage projects across the 18-county region.
The MDNHA includes 18 counties that contain land located in the alluvial floodplain of the Mississippi Delta: Bolivar, Carroll, Coahoma, DeSoto, Holmes, Humphreys, Issaquena, Leflore, Panola, Quitman, Sharkey, Sunflower, Tallahatchie, Tate, Tunica, Warren, Washington and Yazoo.
