History Grants

Last updated October 23, 2026

Grantable tracks 786 active history grants in its free grants database, drawn from state and foundation sources and updated daily. 20 of them have a verified open deadline or accept applications on a rolling basis. 476 list an award amount, with a median of $10K.

Grants tracked: 786; from 404 funders
Median award: $10K; middle half $2,500–$25K
Total listed funding: $49.4M; across 476 grants that list an amount
Rolling deadlines: 15; 34 with a published date

On this page: State Foundation · Updated daily

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Grant	Deadline ▲	Amount
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.	~May	$5K – $25K
Frank Waters Award Friends of the Pikes Peak Library District · Foundation ~June · $2K	~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.	~October	$5K – $20K
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…	~February	$2K
Stewardship Award for Modernist Homes Global Heritage Fund · Foundation ~December · Varies WMF's Stewardship Award for Modernist Homes recognizes exemplary conservation work at modernist residences. The award honors homeowners whose thoughtful restoration work preserves a house's unique architectural and historic value.	~December	Varies
Visiting Scholar Grants The Society of the Cincinnati in the State of Virginia · Foundation Not published · Varies Support for visiting scholars at Virginia academic institutions The Virginia Society distributes Visiting Scholar grants to support academic scholars at partner institutions in Virginia.	Not published	Varies
David Center for the American Revolution Short-Term Resident Research Fellowships Grant American Philosophical Society · Foundation Not published · $3K The David Center for the American Revolution at the American Philosophical Society offers short-term resident research fellowships for scholars focused on the American Revolution and Founding Era.	Not published	$3K
James Marston Fitch Mid-Career Fellowship Grant The James Marston Fitch Charitable Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Up to $15K The James Marston Fitch Mid-Career Fellowship offers research grants up to $15,000 for mid-career professionals in fields like historic preservation, architecture, and urban design.	Not published	Up to $15K
Project Grants Vermont Humanities Council · Foundation Not published · $1K – $5K	Not published	$1K – $5K
Jerry Bentley Prize in World History American Historical Association · Foundation Not published · Varies In 2014 the American Historical Association established the Jerry Bentley Prize in World History, awarded annually to the best book in each calendar year in the field of world history.	Not published	Varies
Attingham Scholarship The National Society of the Colonial · Foundation Not published · Varies The NSCDA offers museum professionals employed at NSCDA properties a rare opportunity to study collections and landscapes of historic English country homes at the prestigious Attingham Summer School in Britain.	Not published	Varies
SHSI Iowa History Dissertation Fellowship Grant State Historical Society of Iowa · Foundation Not published · Up to $2K The SHSI Iowa History Dissertation Fellowship supports advanced graduate students engaging in research related to Iowa history.	Not published	Up to $2K
4Culture: Heritage Projects' Grant Program 4Culture · Foundation Not published · $2K – $15K The 4Culture Heritage Projects Grant Program supports initiatives that make history relevant through exhibits, publications, and oral histories in King County, WA.	Not published	$2K – $15K
Community Connection Fund Midwest Electric Inc · Foundation Not published · $250 – $3K A voluntary charitable program administered by Midwest Electric, Inc. that distributes funds to west-central Ohio charities and community projects.	Not published	$250 – $3K
AHC Documentary Film Preproduction and Production Mini-Grants Arkansas Humanities Council · Foundation Not published · Varies HumanitiesAR, under the official name of Arkansas Humanities Council, is a nonprofit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. In spring 2024, we rebranded with HumanitiesAR as our name.	Not published	Varies
Field Trip Travel Grants The Galena Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies This travel grant was created to promote school-age visits to historic sites in Galena and Jo Daviess County. The money can be used for transportation, admission, snacks, and other expenses relating to the field trip.	Not published	Varies
Certified Local Government Program Maryland Historical Trust · State Not published · Varies Local governments must go through a certification process to participate.	Not published	Varies
Berenson Fellowship Grant Villa I Tatti, The Harvard University Center for Italian Renaissance Studies · Foundation Not published · $21K – $31K The Berenson Fellowship, supported by The Lila Wallace – Reader’s Digest Fund, invites scholars to explore 'Italy in the World' through transnational dialogues during the Renaissance (14th-17th century).	Not published	$21K – $31K
Keystone Historic Preservation Planning Grants Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission (PHMC) · Foundation Not published · $5K – $25K The Keystone Historic Preservation Planning Grants provide funding for nonprofit organizations and local governments in Pennsylvania to support projects aimed at preserving and promoting historic resources.	Not published	$5K – $25K
State Historic Preservation Office Grants State Not published · Varies	Not published	Varies
Robert G. Athearn Award Grant Western History Association · Foundation Not published · $500 The Robert G. Athearn Award, administered by the Western History Association, honors a published book on the twentieth-century American West, with consideration for works from the twenty-first century.	Not published	$500
Peter Grant Preservation Fund for Colorado Grant National Trust for Historic Preservation in the United States · Foundation Not published · Varies In 2004, the National Trust received a gift from the Gates Family Foundation in recognition of William W. “Peter” Grant’s outstanding service as a trustee of the Foundation from 1978 to 2003 and to honor his lifelong devotion to historic…	Not published	Varies
Schallek Awards Grant Medieval Academy Of America · Foundation Not published · $5K The Schallek Awards, offered by the Medieval Academy of America in partnership with the Richard III Society-American Branch, provide funding for graduate students conducting research on late medieval England (circa 1350-1500).	Not published	$5K
Blowing Rock Community Foundation Grants Blowing Rock Community Foundat Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies	Not published	Varies

Showing 25–48 of 781

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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much money do history grants award?

Of the 786 history grants Grantable lists as of October 23, 2026, 476 publish an award amount. The median listed award is $10K, and the middle half fall between $2,500 and $25K. 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 (12). In all, 404 funders have at least one active grant in this category.

When are history grants due?

Of 786 grants listed, 15 accept applications on a rolling basis, 34 have a published upcoming deadline, 115 run on a stated cycle (such as annual or quarterly) without a published date, and 622 don't publish a deadline, so check the funder's site. Among dated deadlines, 56% 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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