Historical Resource Development Program Grant

Historical Resource Development Program Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: State Historical Society of Iowa
Amount: Up to US $50,000
Last Updated: March 23, 2026

Summary

The Historical Resource Development Program Annual Grant supports the preservation, conservation, and education of Iowa's historical resources. Established by the Code of Iowa, it offers funding to nonprofit corporations, governmental units, and individuals, with a focus on projects that enhance economic and cultural development. While grants can reach $100,000, applicants are encouraged to request up to $50,000. Key priorities include projects involving trained professionals and documentary collections with significant historical value.

Overview

Historical Resource Development Program Annual Grant The Historical Resource Development Program (HRDP) is established in the Code of Iowa, Chapter 303.16. Administrative rules for the program are found in Iowa Administrative Code 223—49. The following items apply to all projects funded through the Historical Resource Development Program. The Resource Enhancement and Protection/Historical Resource Development Program (REAP/HRDP) is funded by the Resource Enhancement and Protection Act (REAP). The purpose of the grants programs is to provide funds to preserve, conserve, interpret, enhance, and educate the public about the historical resources of Iowa. All projects must involve Iowa’s historical resources. Non-residents may apply if the project resource is located in Iowa. All projects involving personal property must, upon request, document a legal relationship to the property and/or owner agreement to the project. Funded projects will encourage and support the economic and cultural health and development of the state and the communities in which the resources are located. Funding While requests up to $100,000 are eligible, applicants are encouraged to consider requests not exceeding $50,000 due to the amount of funding available and the high demand for these funds. All Resource Enhancement and Protection/Historical Resource Development Program projects include both grant funds and matching funds. The match ratio varies depending upon the type of applicant. For every grant dollar awarded, the grantee is responsible for matching funds, as follows: All non-profit corporations, units of government, and American Indian tribes – fifty cents, of which at least twenty-five cents must be in cash. Individuals – seventy-five cents, of which at least fifty cents must be in cash. Businesses – one dollar, of which at least seventy-five cents must be in cash.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. The following entities are eligible to receive Historical Resource Development Program grants:Nonprofit corporations Governmental units Traditional tribal societies and governments of recognized resident American Indian tribes in Iowa Individuals Private corporations and businessesThe following broad project types can be funded with Historical Resource Development Program grants:Acquisition and development of historical resources Preservation and conservation of historical resources Interpretation of historical resources Professional training and educational programs on the acquisition, development, preservation, conservation and interpretation of historical resourcesAll funded projects must fall within one of the following grant categories.Instructions for each category are linked below:Documentary Collections Historic Preservation MuseumsAll projects must comply with certain nationally-accepted professional standards. Applicants must demonstrate knowledge of, and intention and ability to adhere to the professional standards that pertain to the grant category to which they are applying.Every project in the Historic Preservation category must involve a trained professional in a discipline appropriate to the project scope.Match Requirements:Applicants are not required to have their match dollars in hand at the time of application, but the match dollars must be available, as appropriate, so that the project can be completed within the contract period. Final grant reimbursement will not be made until all required match has been spent. Grant awards to combined applicants shall use the least favorable match ratio. Thus, for example, a private business and a non-profit organization could be co-applicants on a project, but the project would be required to use the business match ratio. Please use only whole dollar amounts for your budget figures. All costs must represent expenditures that are necessary to the accomplishment of the grant objectives and are outlined in the budget. Make sure that each cost in your budget represents an expense that is needed to support the proposed grant activity.All expenditures (including grant dollars, cash match and in-kind match) must be made during the contract period.FICA and unemployment taxes are eligible expenses. Costs of producing any required reports and products are eligible grant expenses. Mileage costs should be calculated at 50 cents per mile.Applications should include relevant job descriptions and professional credentials if the grant project utilizes the skills of a trained professional.

Ineligibility

The restrictions are:Grant funds shall not be used to support public relations or marketing expenses. The Resource Enhancement and Protection/Historical Resource Development Program shall not award grants to be used for goods or services obtained outside the state, unless the grantee demonstrates that it is neither feasible nor prudent to obtain the goods or services within the state. Any applicant who receives a direct or indirect appropriation from the Legislature for a project or portion of a project is ineligible for a Historical Resource Development Program grant for that same project during the fiscal year for which the appropriation is made. The "project" includes any related activities, such as construction, restoration, supplies, equipment, consulting, or other services. No appropriated state funds shall be used by a grantee to match the grantee’s historical resource development program grant. An applicant shall not apply for or use any program funds for the purpose of re-granting. HRDP grant funds designated for the project cannot be used to pay the grantee, members of the grantee's family, or members of the grantee's board. All government, nonprofit corporation, or Indian tribe applicants shall demonstrate that the historical resource is accessible to the public no less than an average of 16 hours per week or shall provide a statement concerning actions to be taken in the forthcoming 36 months after the grant award to provide the above-specified accessibility of the funded project to the public, unless access is restricted by specific federal or state code. Archaeological sites that are part of funded projects are not required by this program to be accessible to the public. Public engagement via the internet can count toward this public access requirement. The web content must be directly connected to the historical resources that are the subject of this project and the project itself. All private corporations, businesses, and individual applicants shall demonstrate that the historical resources which benefit from being acquired, developed or preserved, or the portions of the historical resource so benefited, shall be accessible to the public no less than an average of 96 hours per year or shall provide a statement concerning actions to be taken in the forthcoming 36 months after the grant award to provide the above-specified accessibility of the funded project to the public, unless access is restricted by specific federal or state code. Archaeological sites that are part of funded projects are not required by this program to be accessible to the public. Public engagement via the internet can count toward this public access requirement. The web content must be directly connected to the historical resources that are the subject of this project and the project itself. An applicant may not submit more than one application in any single category in any grant cycle. Only one eligible application per grant category from a single applicant will be reviewed. An applicant may not submit more than two applications in any grant cycle. A second grant application must be submitted in a different category than the first. Applicants funded in two consecutive fiscal years in the same grant category are not eligible to receive funding in the same grant category during the next fiscal year. Not more than twenty percent of the grant funds allocated in a fiscal year shall be given to or received by state agencies and institutions, or their representatives or agents. Not more than one hundred thousand dollars or ten percent of the annual appropriation, whichever is more, shall be granted to any single recipient or its agent within a single fiscal year. Not more than one hundred thousand dollars or twenty percent of the annual appropriation, whichever is more, shall be granted to recipients within a single county in any given grant cycle.Match Ineligibility:Indirect expenses (overhead) cannot be used as cash match, in-kind match, or grant expense. Overhead includes items such as, but not limited to, rent and utilities.Grant projects cannot begin before the grantee receives a fully-signed contract. Expenses incurred prior to the contract start date cannot be included in a project.The costs of preparing the grant application are not eligible grant expenses. Lobbying is not an eligible grant expense. Public relations and marketing are not eligible grant expenses.