History Grants
Last updated November 12, 2026
Grantable tracks 784 active history grants in its free grants database, drawn from federal, state and foundation sources and updated daily. 17 of them have a verified open deadline or accept applications on a rolling basis. 472 list an award amount, with a median of $10K.
- Grants tracked
- 784
- from 401 funders
- Median award
- $10K
- middle half $2,500–$30K
- Total listed funding
- $49.8M
- across 472 grants that list an amount
- Rolling deadlines
- 15
- 30 with a published date
On this page: Federal State Foundation · Updated daily
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| ★ | Grant |
|---|---|
| Appalachian Forest Grants Program (Major Grants) Appalachian Forest Heritage Area Inc · Foundation ~November · $3K – $20K | |
| Lois W. Newman Essay Award American Historical Print Collections Society · Foundation ~December · $750 | |
| Ewell L. Newman Book Award American Historical Print Collections Society · Foundation ~December · $2K | |
| Collections Stewardship National Endowment for the Humanities · Federal Dec 15, 2026 · $50K – $500K The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Division of Collections & Infrastructure is accepting applications for Collections Stewardship, a program to advance the preservation and availability of physical and digital collections… | |
| Cost Share Grant The Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona Inc · Foundation Rolling · $2K – $10K Grant program supporting Route 66 community improvements and historic preservation projects with required matching funds from applicants. | |
| Scholarship for American History or Related Field National Society United States Daughters of 1812 · Foundation ~December · Up to $2K The National Society United States Daughters of 1812 works to commemorate and recognize the heroic deeds and historical events of the civil, military and naval personnel who aided the American cause during the War of 1812. | |
| Secondary School Essay Contest Historic Boulder Inc · Foundation ~December · $100 – $300 To showcase the writing, creative and research skills of secondary school students in Boulder Valley Schools using essay themes drawn from Boulder history. | |
| Historic Preservation Grant Program (HPGP) Methuen Festival of Trees Inc · Foundation ~January · Up to $10K | |
| Community Project Grants - Major Grants New Hampshire Humanities Council · Foundation ~January · Up to $10K New Hampshire Humanities Community Project Grants provide grant funds to support public humanities programs across New Hampshire. Major Grants provide up to $10,000 in funds. | |
| Major Grants Maine Humanities Council · Foundation ~January · $2K – $8K The Major Grants program supports larger, more substantial humanities projects across Maine. Award amounts range from $2,001 to $7,500. | |
| Icicle Fund Community Grants Icicle Fund · Foundation Jan 29, 2027 · $3K – $35K The Icicle Fund Community Grants support nonprofit organizations in North Central Washington that promote the arts, history, and environmental stewardship. | |
| Heritage Grants National Railway Historical Society Inc · Foundation ~January · Varies | |
| State Grants (Maryland Heritage Areas Authority) Anacostia Trails Heritage Area Inc · Foundation ~January · Varies Grants supporting projects involving historical, cultural, or natural resources, sites, events, or facilities with a heritage tourism component. | |
| Outstanding Railroad Historic Preservation Award National Railway Historical Society Inc · Foundation ~January · Varies To recognize and honor a North American common-carrier railroad for a historically significant preservation project | |
| Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grant Program - CPI Rural Colorado Subgrant Program Colorado Preservation Inc · Foundation ~February · $600K The Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grants program fosters economic development in rural communities through the rehabilitation of historic buildings. | |
| National Trust Preservation Fund (NTPF) Grants Historical Society Funding · State Feb 1, 2027 · $250K – $500K Competitive matching grants intended to encourage preservation at the local level by providing seed money for preservation projects. | |
| Louis J. Appell, Jr., Preservation Fund for Central Pennsylvania Grant National Trust for Historic Preservation in the United States · Foundation ~February · $5K – $15K The Louis J. Appell, Jr., Preservation Fund for Central Pennsylvania supports local preservation efforts by funding maintenance and restoration of historic places in specific Pennsylvania counties. | |
| Livonia Community Foundation - Non-Profit Grants Livonia Community Foundation Inc · Foundation ~March · Varies The Foundation supports programs that align with its mission: | |
| Watson-Brown Foundation Grant Watson-Brown Foundation Inc · Foundation ~April · US $33,000 The Watson-Brown Foundation Grant supports organizations dedicated to preserving the history and culture of the South. | |
| Historic Alexandria Preservation Fund Grant Historic Alexandria Foundation · Foundation ~May · Up to $5K The Historic Alexandria Foundation administers the Historic Alexandria Preservation Fund to support preservation, conservation, and historical research projects in Alexandria. | |
| Elsie & William Viles Foundation Grant Elsie & William Viles Foundation · Foundation ~May · $5K – $25K The Elsie & William Viles Foundation Grant supports charitable organizations, prioritizing those in Maine's Capital Region. Established in 1990, the foundation continues the philanthropic legacy of William and Elsie Viles. | |
| Frank Waters Award Friends of the Pikes Peak Library District · Foundation ~June · $2K | |
| Morton-Kelly Charitable Trust Grant Morton-Kelly Charitable Trust · Foundation ~October · $5K – $20K The Morton-Kelly Charitable Trust, established in 1988, focuses on enhancing community connections through arts, culture, and environmental initiatives in Maine. | |
| Robert W. Prichard Prize Historical Society of the Episcopal Church · Foundation ~February · $2K The Robert W. Prichard Prize recognizes an outstanding Ph.D., Th.D., or D.Phil. dissertation which considers the history of the Episcopal Church (including 17th and 18th century British colonies which became the United States) as well as… |
Showing 1–24 of 779
History grants by the numbers
How deadlines work
- Rolling or ongoing
- 15 2%
- Upcoming date published
- 30 4%
- Stated cycle, no date yet
- 115 15%
- No deadline published
- 624 80%
When dated deadlines fall
Share of the 30 grants with a published date, by quarter.
Funders with the most active history grants
- American Historical Association 38 active
- Western History Association 24 active
- National Trust for Historic Preservation in the United States 20 active
- The Newberry Library 16 active
- Maryland Historical Trust 13 active
- Arkansas Humanities Council 9 active
401 funders have at least one active grant in this category.
Source: Grantable's grants database, compiled from funder websites, Grants.gov and state grant portals. Figures cover all 784 active history grants (with a deadline today or later, or none published) as of November 12, 2026, and refresh daily. Award amounts are each grant's listed maximum; 1 listed amounts over $10M are left out, since they're usually program-wide totals rather than single awards.
About history grants
History grants support research, preservation, public programming, documentary projects, and the work of historical societies, archives, and historic sites. The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) is the largest federal funder of historical scholarship and public history, and the Mellon Foundation supports archives, preservation, and humanities research. State humanities councils and private foundations provide additional project, preservation, and interpretation grants.
A long list is the starting point, not the shortlist. Our grant prospecting guide shows how to narrow history grants down to the funders most likely to say yes, using their giving records.
History Grants by state
Browse history grants available to organizations in 17 states.
Want new funders like these found for you every week?
This page is a snapshot. Funders change, and a list stops being true the day it's made. A grants department keeps looking for you, and tells you when it finds something that fits — with the grant history it reasoned from attached.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much money do history grants award?
Of the 784 history grants Grantable lists as of November 12, 2026, 472 publish an award amount. The median listed award is $10K, and the middle half fall between $2,500 and $30K. The largest is $10M. Amounts are each grant's stated maximum, so a typical award can be smaller.
Which funders offer the most history grants?
By number of active listings, the leading funders are American Historical Association (38), Western History Association (24), National Trust for Historic Preservation in the United States (20), The Newberry Library (16), and Maryland Historical Trust (13). In all, 401 funders have at least one active grant in this category.
When are history grants due?
Of 784 grants listed, 15 accept applications on a rolling basis, 30 have a published upcoming deadline, 115 run on a stated cycle (such as annual or quarterly) without a published date, and 624 don't publish a deadline, so check the funder's site. Among dated deadlines, 47% fall in October–December.
What grants are available for history projects?
History organizations and scholars can pursue funding for research, archival preservation, digitization, public exhibitions, documentary media, historic site interpretation, and educational programming. The NEH supports many of these through its divisions for public programs, preservation, and research, and state humanities councils fund local history projects and community programming.
Who funds history and preservation work?
The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) is the central federal funder of historical research and public history, and the Mellon Foundation is a major private supporter of archives, preservation, and humanities scholarship. State humanities councils re-grant federal and state funds to local historical societies, and private foundations and corporate programs support preservation and interpretation projects.
Can historical societies and individuals both apply?
Yes. Many NEH and foundation programs fund nonprofit organizations such as historical societies, museums, archives, and universities, while other NEH programs award fellowships and stipends directly to individual scholars. Independent historians without an institutional affiliation can often apply for fellowships directly or partner with a nonprofit or fiscal sponsor for organizational grants.
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