Bisbee Foundation Historic Preservation Grants

The Bisbee Foundation Historic Preservation Grants aim to support nonprofit organizations and for-profit entities in preserving Bisbee's historical and cultural heritage. Grants require a one-to-one match with non-public funds and necessitate detailed project evidence, including funding assurances and architectural estimates. Eligible applicants must demonstrate nonprofit status and provide documentation of historic significance. The foundation emphasizes the importance of maintaining Bisbee's unique architectural and environmental legacy, making it a vital resource for community enrichment.

The Bisbee Foundation is a component fund of the Arizona Community Foundation.
The Bisbee Foundation creates and builds support to assure the continuing success of Bisbee.
The Bisbee Foundation's focus is to play a role in Bisbee's future by working with groups/individuals who are in the arts, humanities, education and historic preservation with goals designed to preserve and enhance:

• Bisbee's unique place in the history of the Southwest
• The contribution made to Bisbee's cultural character by its creative people
• Bisbee's architectural and environmental inheritance
• Historic Preservation Grants

Historic Preservation Grants may be made to nonprofit organizations and entities. Grants must be matched one-to-one with non-public money and/or with in-kind services. Grants may also be made to private for-profit companies for the purpose of historic preservation. They must be matched one-to-one with either private or public funds. In-kind matching is not acceptable for for-profit concerns.
Requirements
Application must be accompanied by evidence that the project will be fully funded if the grant is awarded.
Application must include evidence that the amount requested has been the result of a minimum of two bids or estimates from a registered architect.
If the restored property is sold within three years after receiving an Historic Preservation Grant from The Bisbee Foundation, the organization which received the grant must return the full grant amount to The Bisbee Foundation, plus 4% per annum interest.
Award recipients must file a completion report on all grants received, including a reconciled project budget, in order to qualify for further grants. Reports will be reviewed by the Board of Directors of The Bisbee Foundation for evidence of fulfillment of all requirements before final approval of the report is given.
If the project is a cooperative activity between two or more organizations, the proposal must include letters from the authorized representative of the agencies, along with copies of any agreements or letters of understanding between them.

Eligibility

In order to be eligible for this grant, a nonprofit organization must have the following:Status as a nonprofit corporation in the State of Arizona and tax-exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service with at least a two-year programming history. If an organization does not have nonprofit status it may use a fiscal receiver (umbrella sponsorship) contingent on:Approval of the governing board of the umbrella organizationA written contract executed between the applicant and the umbrella organizationUmbrella organization being fully responsible for all financial commitments related to the applicationNon-discriminatory employment and personnel policiesThe ability to provide the following documents:

• IRS NonProfit status letter if applicable
• Articles of Incorporation
• Bylaws
• Current list of board members and staff
• Current fiscal year budget

Proof of authentication as an historic propertyThe focus of this grant is to restore or preserve historic buildings or sites in Greater Bisbee. Documentation of historic significance is required.

Ineligibility

The following do not qualify for Historic Preservation Grant funding:Organizations receiving more than 50% of their annual budget from a public tax-supported sourceDivisions or departments of government, including colleges, universities, school districtsHistoric Preservation Grants are not awarded for the following:

• Travel outside Arizona
• Debt retirement
• Tuition or refreshment costs
• Salaries beyond the duration of the project
• The establishment or augmentation of endowment funds
• Interior restoration of religious structures