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
Elizabeth Pinkerton Family & History Happened Here Scholarship Grant Elk Grove Regional Scholarship Foundation · Foundation Not published · $1K The Elizabeth Pinkerton Family & History Happened Here Scholarship, offered by the Elk Grove Regional Scholarship Foundation, awards $1000 to students with a minimum GPA of 3.5.	Not published	$1K
The Valley Foundation Grant The Valley Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The Valley Foundation Grant aims to enhance the quality of life in Santa Clara County and beyond by supporting qualified 501(c)(3) organizations.	Not published	Varies
Publication & Arts Grants Kenai Mountains-Turnagain Arm Nat'l Heritage Corridor Communities Assoc · Foundation Not published · Varies Support publication and artistic projects that recognize, preserve, and interpret the historic, scenic, and natural recreational resources and cultural landscapes of the Kenai Mountains-Turnagain Arm historic transportation corridor.	Not published	Varies
Seherr-Thoss Foundation Grant Seherr-Thoss Charitable Trust · Foundation Not published · Varies The Seherr-Thoss Foundation Grant, established in 1991, primarily supports cultural, educational, health-related, religious, and civic initiatives within the Town of Litchfield, Connecticut.	Not published	Varies
AHC Helen T. Leigh Museum Field Trip Grant Arkansas Humanities Council · Foundation Not published · Up to $500 The AHC Helen T. Leigh Museum Field Trip Grant, offered by the Arkansas Humanities Council (HumanitiesAR), aims to provide schools with funding for guided tours and programming at the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History.	Not published	Up to $500
Internship Opportunities French Heritage Society Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies The French Heritage Society offers internship programs for students and young professionals interested in heritage preservation and related fields.	Not published	Varies
Foundation Grant Award Washington County Visitors Association · Foundation Not published · $20K – $100K Prioritizes projects that will inspire awareness and overnight visitation to Washington County, Oregon, and serve as a platform for cultural and economic growth.	Not published	$20K – $100K
Charles A. Lindbergh Chair in Aerospace History Fellowship Grant Smithsonian Institution · Foundation Not published · Up to $100K The Charles A. Lindbergh Chair in Aerospace History Fellowship is a prestigious 12-month opportunity for senior scholars to advance their research in aerospace history.	Not published	Up to $100K
4Culture Operating Support: Heritage Sustained Support Grant 4Culture · Foundation Not published · Varies The 4Culture Operating Support: Heritage Sustained Support Grant provides essential funding to heritage organizations in King County for two years.	Not published	Varies
Culture and the Arts – Historic Preservation Grants Vermont Division for Historic Preservation · State Not published · Up to $2M Supports work on municipal buildings, historical society buildings, granges, churches, town halls, opera houses, and other historic structures.	Not published	Up to $2M
Claims Conference: Film Grants Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany Inc · Foundation Not published · Up to $85K The Claims Conference offers film grants aimed at projects focused on the Holocaust, ensuring historical accuracy and educational value.	Not published	Up to $85K
Arthur Molella Distinguished Fellowship Grant Smithsonian Institution · Foundation Not published · $35K The Arthur Molella Distinguished Fellowship, endowed by The Lemelson Foundation, supports senior scholars in technology and innovation studies at the Smithsonian Institution.	Not published	$35K
John H. Emery Rail Heritage Trust Grant The Rail Heritage Trust · Foundation Not published · Up to $50K The John H. Emery Rail Heritage Trust Grant aims to preserve the intercity rail passenger experience from 1920 to 1960. This private foundation supports projects that restore historic rail equipment and enhance passenger service.	Not published	Up to $50K
Nathaniel C. Hughes History Club Charles H Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies Free, after-school program for middle and high school students designed to foster a love of history, encourage safe socialization, and teach the stories and values of the Medal of Honor.	Not published	Varies
Maryland Maritime Heritage Grant Program Society for the Preservation of Maryland Antiquities Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies	Not published	Varies
Semiquincentennial Grants Missouri Humanities Council · Foundation Not published · Varies Missouri Humanities is proud to announce a special grant round to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.	Not published	Varies
Endangered Archives Programme: Area Projects Grant British Library · Foundation Not published · Up to £150,000 The Endangered Archives Programme (EAP) supports the digitisation of at-risk archives globally, preserving cultural heritage through generous funding from Arcadia.	Not published	Up to £150,000
Environmental Review of State and Federally Assisted Undertakings Maryland Historical Trust · State Not published · Varies This program completes environmental review of all State and Federally assisted undertakings in conjunction with the assisting agency to avoid and minimize adverse effects to historically and culturally significant properties.	Not published	Varies
Barra Foundation International Fellowships Grant Historical Society of Pennsylvania · Foundation Not published · Up to $4K The Barra Foundation International Fellowships, offered by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, provide four-week research opportunities for foreign scholars focusing on early American history and culture.	Not published	Up to $4K
Michael Kraus Research Grant in American Colonial History American Historical Association · Foundation Not published · Up to $800 The Michael Kraus Research Grant in American Colonial History, offered by the American Historical Association, supports research proposals focused on intercultural aspects of American and European relations.	Not published	Up to $800
National Register of Historic Places Maryland Historical Trust · State Not published · Varies This program recognizes districts, buildings, structures, objects, and sites for their significance in American history, archeology, architecture, engineering, or culture, and identifies them as worthy of preservation.	Not published	Varies
Western History Disability Studies and Disabled Scholar Award Grant Western History Association · Foundation Not published · $1K The Western History Disability Studies and Disabled Scholar Award, funded by Alida Boorn, aims to enhance understanding of disability within the context of North American West history.	Not published	$1K
Amelia Peabody Charitable Fund Capital Grants Amelia Peabody Charitable Fund Trust · Foundation Not published · Varies The Amelia Peabody Charitable Fund is a private foundation making grants exclusively to qualified nonprofit organizations existing and operating in Massachusetts, in the areas of medicine (human and animal), social welfare, visual arts…	Not published	Varies
The Rudolph Ganz Fellowship: Short Term Grant The Newberry Library · Foundation Not published · $6K The Rudolph Ganz Fellowship offers short-term research opportunities for scholars investigating Chicago music history through the Rudolph Ganz Papers.	Not published	$6K

Showing 49–72 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.

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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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