Category Archives: Historic Preservation

The Mellon Foundation

The Mellon Foundation supports arts and humanities projects around the world. Their goal is to build communities in which imagination and ideas flourish and people can create meaning. Grants are awarded in four core areas each of which is guided by three strategies: Arts and Culture, Higher Learning, Humanities in Place, and Public Knowledge.

Interested applicants may submit an inquiry at any time. If Foundation staff believe the proposed project is a good fit for their priorities, they will invite you to submit a full proposal. Do not submit to more than one core area.

Eligibility

This grant is open to:

501(c)3 nonprofit organizations in the United States
International organizations with their country’s equivalent designation.
Colleges, universities, and other institutions of higher education (Higher Learning)
For-profit organizations or international organizations without a charitable designation at the Foundation’s discretion

Grant Types

Grants may be subject to matching requirements.

Spendable Grants – For a specific project, to be spent in accordance with the timeline and budget in the application
Endowment Grants – Establishes institutional funds with spending limits per the application, grant agreement, and any state laws
General Operating Grants – Supports the grantee’s core operations and overall mission

Core Areas

Arts and Culture

Strategy One – Supporting visionary artists and practitioners and the participatory roles they play across institutions and communities.
Strategy Two – Supporting exceptional organizations and artists that have been historically under-resourced, including the creation, conservation, and preservation of their artwork, histories, collections, and traditions.
Strategy Three – Creating scaffolding for experiments with new economic paradigms and institutional models that center equity and justice and creative problem-solving in arts and culture.

The Foundation works with individual artists, scholars, arts organizations, and conservators to cultivate innovative works of art. They seek to ground the arts in the community as a part of a thriving society and create change by making the arts more equitable.

Higher Learning

Strategy One – Elevating the knowledge that informs more complete and accurate narratives of the human experience and lays the foundation for more just and equitable futures.
Strategy Two – Accelerating the demographic transformation of US academic faculties and institutional leadership to better reflect the population and center humanities expertise.
Strategy Three – Creating equitable broader access to humanities higher learning opportunities.

Colleges, universities, and other institutions of higher education interested in pursuing one or more of these strategies may apply.

Humanities in Place

Strategy One – Keep and Shape Our Places
Strategy Two – Evolve Our Institutions
Strategy Three – Promote Greater Engagement and Understanding

Organizations such as history museums, heritage areas, and the media may apply for funding to promote a more diverse, nuanced view of American life and history. The Foundation is looking for novel approaches that challenge the traditional narrative and tell a more inclusive story about the American experience.

Public Knowledge

Strategy One – Preserving original source materials in all formats, including web-based content, with focus on materials from historically underrepresented cultures and populations.
Strategy Two – Supporting the innovative maintenance and sustainability of technology, tools, and infrastructure for content related to the Foundation’s social justice orientation.
Strategy Three – Creating and strengthening networks for the interdependent sharing of resources, services, and collections.

The Public Knowledge program focuses on the conservation of knowledge through preserving physical and digital records. They seek to increase both access to these resources and the amount of documentation representing marginalized communities. This program is an ideal fit for libraries, archives, and presses.

The Americana Foundation: American Heritage Grant

The Americana Foundation‘s American Heritage Grant supports projects that preserve and promote American heritage to understand place and identity and to celebrate early American artisans.

Applications are accepted on a continual basis and reviewed four times a year. Concept letters, while not required, are highly encouraged to ensure alignment with program priorities. Grant are typically $10,000 – $25,000 for a one year term.

Eligibility

This grant is open to:

501(c)3 nonprofit organizations
Organizations with a fiscal sponsor that is a 501(c)3
Municipal governments

Program Priorities

The American Heritage program is currently prioritizing projects telling a more complete American story by focusing on the perspectives of underrepresented communities, such as people of color and women.

Potential Projects

Potential activities include:

Exhibits
Interactive experiences
Educational programs
Career development opportunities such as internships, apprenticeships, and fellowships

Native American Language Preservation and Maintenance

The Native American Language Preservation and Maintenance grant from the Administration for Native Americans supports community-based projects to ensure the survival and vitality of Native American languages.

Applications are due by May 20, 2024 at 11:59 PM ET. ANA expects to make 4 awards, for which the minimum request amount is $100,000. The maximum is $300,000 over 12 months, $600,000 over 24 months, or $900,000 over 36 months. There is a match requirement of 20% of the total project cost in non-federal cash or in kind donations.

Eligibility

This grant is open to:

Photo by Gabriela Custódio da Silva: https://www.pexels.com/photo/photo-of-two-native-americans-playing-woodwind-instruments-2539269/

Federally recognized Native American tribes
Incorporated non-federally recognized tribes
Incorporated state-recognized tribes
Consortia of tribes
Incorporated, community-based nonprofit Native American organizations
Native Community Development Financial Institutions
Alaska Native villages and/or nonprofit village consortia
Nonprofit Native organizations in Alaska with village-specific projects
Incorporated nonprofit Alaska Native multipurpose, community-based organizations
Nonprofit Alaska Native Regional Corporations/Associations in Alaska with village specific projects
Nonprofit Alaska Native community entities or tribal governing bodies
Public and nonprofit private agencies serving Native Hawaiians
National or regional incorporated, nonprofit, Native American organizations with Native American, community-specific objectives
Public and nonprofit private agencies serving Native peoples from Guam, American Samoa, or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
Tribal Colleges and Universities; and colleges and universities located in Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa, or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands that serve Native American Pacific Islanders

Applicants who are not federally or state recognized tribes, Alaska Native village governments, or public government agencies in a US territory must provide documentation that a majority of their board members are members of Native American communities served by ANA and the project. They must belong to one or more of the following:

Members of federally or state-recognized tribes
Individuals recognized by members of an eligible Native American community as having a cultural relationship with that community
Individuals considered to be Native American as defined in 45 CFR §1336.10 and Native American Pacific Islanders as defined in Section 815 of the Native American Programs Act (NAPA)

Potential Projects

Potential projects under this grant include:

Native American Language Revitalization

Teaching one or more Native languages to increase fluency and proficiency
Offering training or certification programs for teachers of Native American languages
Developing instructional materials for language revitalization programs

Intergenerational Native American Language Projects

Bringing Native youth and Elders together to engage in the sharing of language skills.

Interpretation and Translation

Training Native individuals to act as interpreters and translators of Native languages.

Technology, Transcription, and Language Materials

Creating and disseminating materials for establishing or enhancing a Native American language program
Training Native Americans to work on television, radio, or podcast programs recorded in a Native American language
Compiling, transcribing, and analyzing oral testimony to preserve a Native American language
Developing language learning apps or technological tools to preserve a Native American language

Helping Communities Celebrate and Preserve Their History

Since 2006, the William G. Pomeroy Foundation has funded over 1,800 historic signs in 46 states through their initiative “Helping Communities Celebrate and Preserve Their History.”

The Foundation has six signature programs for historic markers. Each program has its own guidelines and deadline, discussed below. The grants provide all the costs for the marker, pole, and shipping, but applicants are responsible for installation.

Applications are only accepted online, via the Foundation’s Grant Portal.

Eligibility

All historic marker programs are open to:

Nonprofit academic institutions
Local, state, and federal government entities
501(c)3 nonprofit organizations

Certain programs are only available in specific states, as noted below.

Hungry for History

The Hungry for History program is open nationwide for signs that tell the story of foods that are special to a place or region. Eligible submissions must:

Have been created locally before 1970
Have historic significance outside the region
Be a ready-to-eat dish with at least 2 ingredients
Still be eaten
Not include brand names

Applications are accepted on a continual basis, but a Letter of Intent is required.

Legends and Lore

The Legends and Lore program supports signage that celebrates local myths, folktales, and holidays in Alabama, Connecticut, Idaho, Louisiana, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Vermont and West Virginia.

Subjects must be based on popular legends that contribute to cultural tourism. Family legends, factual events, and literary material are not eligible. Primary source documentation is not required.

Applications for Round One will open on March 11, 2024 are due by April 29. Round Two will open on August 26 with a deadline of October 14.

National Register Signage

The National Register of Historic Places is a list of places designated worthy of historic preservation. The Register operates under the National Parks Service, but does not provide any funding for signage. The William G. Pomerory Foundation helps to make sure these places are recognized by furnishing those funds.

This program is available in all 50 states and applications are accepted year round. A copy of the National Register designation letter must be provided.

Historic Transportation Canals

The Hist oric Transportation program is available nationwide for signs that commemorate transportation related events that occurred before 1945.Primary source documentation is required.

The 2024 round of applications will open March 15. Letters of Intent will be due by April 12 and full applications by May 17.

Hometown Heritage

The Hometown Heritage program is available in every state but New York. It provides signage for local history events in states that lack their own historic signage program or that don’t qualify for their state program. Events must have occurred in 1924 or earlier.

Applications are accepted on a continual basis, but a Letter of Intent is required.

New York State

The New York State Historic Marker Grant Program commemorates historic people, places, and events that occurred in New York from 1683-1923. Primary source documentation is required. Deadlines are scheduled by region based on the Association for Public Historians of New York State.

Save America’s Treasures: Collections Grant

The Save America’s Treasures program was created in 1998 to honor America’s cultural resources as the new millennium approached. Since that time, they have granted over $300 million in funding to historic sites and collections of national significance. This grant is a joint program of the National Park Service, the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Grant applications fall under one of two categories:

Preservation – For National Historic Landmarks or sites listed in the National Register of Historic Places
Collections – For sets of historic pieces such as artifacts, documents, sculptures, and other art collections of national significance

The Collections Grant program expects to make approximately 50 awards in 2024 for a total of $26.5 million. Requests may be between $25,000 and $750,000 and require a 1:1 match of non-federal funds. Applications are due through Grants.gov by December 19, 2023 at 11:59 PM ET.

Eligibility

This grant is open to:

Units of state, county, city, or special district government
Independent school districts
Public and State colleges, universities, and other post-secondary education institutions
Private colleges, universities, and other post-secondary education institutions
Native American Tribes, both Federally recognized or unrecognized
Nonprofits with or without 501(c)3 status
Federal agencies, except the National Park Service

Eligible Costs

Grant funds may be spent on

Conservation of collections
Production of a sign for the project
Training or reporting associated with the project
Costs to administer the project
Audits and required financial requests

Grant funds may not be spent on

Purchasing collections or property
New construction
Reconstruction of historic properties
Long-term maintenance
Moving historic properties or work on properties that are no longer eligible for the National Register because they’ve been moved
Any work completed before the grant agreement is signed
Lobbying or advocacy
Endowments, cash reserves, or fundraising
Administrative costs over 25%

Application Requirements

Applications should include:

Letter of Owner Consent if the collection owner and applicant are not the same person or entity
Photos of the collection showing current conditions and how it’s at risk
Letters of support from partners and committed matching funds

Save America’s Treasures: Preservation Grant

Grant applications fall under one of two categories:

Preservation – For National Historic Landmarks or sites listed in the National Register of Historic Places
Collections – For sets of historic pieces such as artifacts, documents, sculptures, and other art collections of national significance

The Preservation Grant program expects to make approximately 55 awards in 2024 for a total of $26.5 million. Requests may be between $125,000 and $750,000 and require a 1:1 match of non-federal funds. Applications are due through Grants.gov by December 19, 2023 at 11:59 PM ET.

Eligibility

This grant is open to:

Units of state, county, city, or special district government
Independent school districts
Public and State colleges, universities, and other post-secondary education institutions
Private colleges, universities, and other post-secondary education institutions
Native American Tribes, both Federally recognized or unrecognized
Nonprofits with or without 501(c)3 status
Federal agencies, except the National Park Service

Eligible Costs

Grant funds may be spent on:

Property rehabilitation
Production of a sign for the project
Training or reporting associated with the project
Costs to administer the project
Establishing/administering a property easement or covenant
Audits and required financial requests

Grant funds may not be spent on:

New construction
Reconstruction of historic properties
Purchasing property
Long-term maintenance
Moving historic properties or work on properties that are no longer eligible for the National Register because they’ve been moved
Any work completed before the grant agreement is signed
Lobbying or advocacy
Endowments, cash reserves, or fundraising
Administrative costs over 25%

Application Requirements

Applications should include:

Letter of Owner Consent if the owner and applicant are not the same person or entity
Photos of the property showing current conditions and how it’s at risk
Letters of support from partners and committed matching funds

Historic Preservation Fund Easement

Award recipients must sign a preservation Covenant/Easement with their State or Tribal Historic Preservation Officer. This certifies their commitment to maintaining the property after the grant period is over. The covenant/easement must be approved by the National Park Service. Minimum term length is dependent on the amount of funding received.

$1 to $50,000 – Covenant/easement not required; minimum five year preservation agreement
$50,001 to $250,000 – Ten year minimum
$250,001 to $500,000 – Fifteen year minimum
$500,001 to $750,000 – Twenty year minimum
$750,001 or more – Twenty five year minimum

Daughters of the American Revolution Historic Preservation Grants

The Daughters of the American Revolution was founded in 1890 to support Historical, Educational, and Patriotic projects. These values still drive their work today with programs such as Historic Preservation Grants.

Awards of up to $10,000 are available for projects that preserve historical resources from any chapter in American history. Applications are accepted August 1st – October 31st of each year.

Eligibility

This grant is open to 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations. All applications must be sponsored by a DAR local chapter or state society.

Allowable Expenses

Grant funds may be used for projects such as:

Restoration of historic buildings
Restoration, rededication, or relocation of historical markers
Cemetery headstone and monument conservation
Preservation of historic artifacts
Digitization or preservation of historic documents

Grant funds may not be spent on:

General operating expenses
Designs or plans
Research
Travel
Fundraising
Exhibits or performances

Application Requirements

All applications must include:

501(c)3 determination letter from the IRS
Sponsorship letter from DAR local chapter or state society
Project manager resume

HOPE VI Main Street Program

The HOPE VI Main Street Program from the HUD Office of Public & Indian Housing awards grants to communities of 50,000 people or fewer to redevelop historic business districts into affordable housing. The goal of the program is to preserve historic resources while stimulating economic development and providing affordable housing.

HUD expects to award approximately $2 million in funding with a maximum request of $1 million. Applications are due through Grants.gov by October 12, 2023 at 11:59 PM ET.

Eligibility

Applicant

This grant is open to:

Municipal governments
County governments
Special district governments

To be eligible, applicants must also:

Have a population of 50,000 or fewer
Not be served by a local or county/parish Public Housing Agency (PHA) OR
Be served by a single PHA that administers more than 100 public housing units within the local government’s jurisdiction, excluding units subsidized by Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers.

Properties

To be eligible, properties must be:

Part of a historic, traditional central business district
Unused and/or obsolete

Properties may be publicly or privately owned.

Matching Requirement

A firmly committed match of at least 5% of the grant request is required and Commitment Letters must be included with the application. The match may be in cash or in-kind property, if the property is publicly owned or owned by a non-profit. Property owned by a for-profit business can not be counted toward the match.

This match requirement is the minimum needed to demonstrate support from the community. Additional leveraged funds and/or in-kind donations will result in more points during the review process.

Allowable Activities

Grant funds may be used for direct costs, such as:

Remodeling commercial property
Rehabilitation of currently uninhabitable housing units
New construction of affordable housing units within the Main Street district
Renovation or new construction of the building envelope or commercial properties below or adjacent to affordable housing
Property acquisition
Architectural or engineering activities, surveys, permits and other planning and implementation costs
Staff training
Accounting and data processing systems

The J.W. Couch Foundation

Jesse W. Couch was a World War II veteran, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. The Foundation established in his name carries on his legacy by investing in projects in Preservation, Education, and Wellness.

They meet twice a year to review submitted applications. The second due date for 2023 is September 15.

Eligibility

This grant is open to:

501(c)3 nonprofit organizations
For profit businesses in the United States working in Preservation, Education, or Wellness

Allowable Expenses

Grant funds may be used for:

General operating support
Specific programming
New product development for social entrepreneurs

Program Areas

Preservation

Eligible applications under Preservation may focus on:

Historic Preservation – conserving historic resources to cultivate the importance of community
Wildlife Conservation – protecting land and water so all life on Earth can thrive
Renewable Energy – expanding solar, wind, hydroelectric, biomass and geothermal power to prevent catastrophic global temperatures
Food Management – reducing emissions from all levels of food production: growing, transporting, and waste disposal
Transportation – transforming the transportation industry to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
Waste Management – shifting consumption to reduce single use products and the need to obtain raw materials

Education

Eligible applications under Education may focus on:

Early Childhood Education – creative approaches to education such as life skills, project based learning, and increased outdoor time
21st Century Education – teaching essential skills for modern times, such as critical thinking, collaboration, oral and written communication, and entrepreneurship
Teachers – investing in teachers

Wellness

Eligible applications under Wellness may focus on:

Mental Health – assisting people struggling with depression, anxiety, PTSD, etc.
Digital Wellbeing – promoting a more balanced approach to technology use
Get Outside – promoting the health benefits of outdoor activities

National Endowment for the Humanities: Public Humanities Projects

The National Endowment for the Humanities Public Humanities Projects funds programs that bring the humanities to the general public. Although they must engage with humanities scholarship, they are intended to reach a broad audience outside the classroom setting. Project topics can focus on international, national, regional, or local issues, but the project must take place in the United States. Local issues should also make connections to wider historical events or themes.

Applications are due through Grants.gov by August 9, 2023 at 11:59 PM ET or January 11, 2024 at 11:59 PM ET. Applicants have the option of submitting a draft for review by July 5 or November 29, 2023. No cost match is required.

Eligibility

This grant is open to:

501(c)3 nonprofit organizations
Accredited colleges/universities
State or local government entities
Federally recognized Tribes.

Organizations may submit more than one application, but they must be for distinctly separate projects.

Grant Types

Planning

Planning grants are typically for $40,000 or less. These funds are for projects in the beginning stages that require more development. This might include research, preliminary designs, or meetings with scholars, experts, and stakeholders. Planning grants may have a performance period of up to 24 months.

Permanent or traveling exhibitions that have the potential to reach a particularly wide audience may qualify for an award of $75,000. This additional funding is reserved for complex, ambitious projects that involve multiple institutions, incorporate a diverse array of formats, and/or include numerous locations.

Implementation

Implementation grants range from $50,000 to $400,000, depending on the program category, with performance periods of 12 – 48 months. The funds are for projects in the final stages of preparation before their public debut. Grant activities may include final research, design, and installation. When writing your application, be sure to include the minimum exhibition time for your program time in the performance period.

The applicant organization is not required to complete a Planning grant before applying for an Implementation grant.

Program Categories

Exhibitions

Three types of exhibitions are supported in this category.

Permanent exhibits that will be on display in one location for at least three years. The maximum award is $400,000.
Temporary exhibits that will be on display in one location for at least two months. The maximum award is $100,000.
Traveling exhibits that will be on display in at least two locations in the United States. The maximum award is $400,000.

Exhibitions in all three categories must be open to the public admission-free for at least twenty hours a month during the performance period.

Historic Places

Funds in this category are for historic sites, houses, and districts hosting a program for at least three years. Such programs can include exhibits, guided tours, living history presentations, or a combination. The maximum award is $400,000.

Humanities Discussions

Funds under Humanities Discussions support series of at least 10 public events held over a period of three months to two years. These events may be in-person, virtual, or hybrid and can include programs such as live performances, lectures, symposia, or reading/discussion programs. The goal of the program should be to engage the audience with the humanities topic and inspire discussion and analysis.

Humanities Discussions are not eligible for Planning grants. The average award is $250,000. Larger awards, up to $400,000, are reserved for more extensive projects that include more programs and/or a greater geographical reach.

Eligible Expenses

Grant funds may be used for

Research, including travel expenses
Exhibition design and production
Supplementary materials design and production (brochures, discussion guides, etc.)
Project specific training for docents and other project personnel
Publicity
Evaluation of program impact

Additional Opportunities

Implementation grant applicants are also eligible for the following.

Chair’s Special Award

Projects that explore the humanities in innovative ways and expect to reach a wide, national audience, may apply for a Chair’s Special Award of up to $1 million. This award is rare, however, with only one recipient in a typical year. Winning projects usually feature collaboration between multiple partners and the use of an array of different formats.

Positions in Public Humanities

Funding is also available for a full time Humanities scholar to work on your project and at least three other public programs. This must be a new, full time, entry level position for a recent Masters or PhD graduate. You may request up to $50,000 for a one year position or up to $100,000 for two years.