Hart Family Fund for Small Towns Grant

Hart Family Fund for Small Towns Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: National Trust for Historic Preservation
Amount: US $2,500 - US $15,000
Last Updated: March 04, 2026

Summary

The Hart Family Fund for Small Towns offers grants between $2,500 and $15,000 to support preservation projects in towns with populations of 10,000 or less. These funds aim to encourage local preservation efforts, enhance public discussion, and build technical expertise among community groups. The application process is competitive, with a review period of approximately three months. Eligible applicants include public agencies and nonprofits, with a cash match required. Projects must start within six months of receiving funding.

Overview

About The Preservation Leadership Forum of the National Trust for Historic Preservation is a network of preservation leaders — professionals, students, volunteers, activists, experts — who share the latest ideas, information, and advice, and have access to in-depth preservation resources and training. Hart Family Fund for Small Towns Grants from the Hart Family Fund for Small Towns are intended to encourage preservation at the local level by providing seed money for preservation projects in small towns with populations of 10,000 or less. These grants help stimulate public discussion, enable local groups to gain the technical expertise needed for particular projects, introduce the public to preservation concepts and techniques, and encourage financial participation by the private sector. Grants from the Hart Family Fund for Small Towns generally range from $2,500 to $15,000. The selection process is very competitive. The review process is generally completed within three months of the application deadline, and applicants are notified via email once the review process is complete.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Public agencies and nonprofit organizations in towns with a population of 10,000 or less are eligible. Applicants that have received previous National Trust financial assistance are eligible provided that all grant requirements are current.Hart Family Fund for Small Towns grants are awarded for planning activities and education efforts focused on preservation.Planning: Support for obtaining professional expertise in areas such as architecture, archaeology, engineering, preservation planning, land-use planning, and law. Eligible planning activities include, but are not limited to:Hiring a preservation architect or landscape architect to produce a historic structure report or historic landscape master plan Hiring a preservation planner to produce design guidelines for a historic district Hiring a real estate development consultant to produce an economic feasibility study for the reuse of a threatened structure Sponsoring a community forum to develop a shared vision for the future of a historic neighborhood Education and Outreach: Support for preservation education activities aimed at the public. The National Trust is particularly interested in programs aimed at reaching new audiences. Funding will be provided to projects that:Employ innovative techniques and formats aimed at introducing new audiences to the preservation movementEligible Expenses:Fees for consultant services Speaker fees/faculty costs for educational programs and conference sessions Mailing costs for distribution of materials The development of materials for education and outreach campaigns Materials and services such as printing, photographs, telephone, and supplies. With the exception of publications projects, these costs may not exceed 10 percent of the project budget.Only one grant will be awarded per organization in any grant round. Only one grant will be awarded for a particular project phase.Applicants must be capable of matching the grant amount dollar-for-dollar. A cash match is required and can come from private or public sources, or from income earned from registration fees or fundraising activities.Other conditions include:Any documents or plans for preservation work that result from the project must conform to the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties.At least three (3) competitive bids/quotes must be obtained for any procurement of services that exceed $50,000. This provision applies only to portions of the project supported by the Hart Family Fund for Small TownsConsultants must be approved by the National Trust before grant funds are disbursed.  Board members of the applicant organization cannot serve as consultants unless appropriate conflict of interest procedures are followed and documented.Grant recipients are required to sign a contract agreeing to the conditions of the program.Grant projects must begin within six months of award date. Failure to begin the project in this timeframe may result in the cancellation of the grant and you will need to reapply for funding.Grant recipients must include appropriate acknowledgement of National Trust financial support in all printed materials generated for the project.Within one year from the grant award date, a final report and financial accounting of the expenditure of the grant must be submitted. A final report form will be provided. If the project is not completed in accordance with the contract, the grant funds must be returned. You must be a member of this organization to apply for this award - become a member. Only Organizational Level Forum members or Main Street America members of the National Trust are eligible to apply for funding from the Hart Family Fund for Small Towns.

Ineligibility

Donated materials and services, staff salaries and organizational overhead costs are not eligible sources of a match. Other funding from the National Trust may not be used to match a Hart Fund grant.Grants or matching funds cannot be used directly or indirectly to influence a member of Congress to favor or oppose any legislation or appropriation.Ineligible Activities:Building or other construction activities Academic research Acquisition of real property or objects Historic resource surveys to create inventories or to list resources in the National Register General support for conferences Organizational capacity building activities unless pre-approved by the National TrustIneligible Expenses:Staff or faculty salaries Organizational overhead costs Catering, food and beverage, entertainment Construction or other capital improvement costs Expenses incurred prior to award date