Massachusetts Historic Preservation Matching Grants

Massachusetts Historic Preservation Matching Grants

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: 1772 Foundation
Amount: Up to US $10,000
Last Updated: January 12, 2026

Summary

Overview

NOTE: Only invited applicants are accepted to apply for full proposals. Not all letters of inquiry will result in invitations to submit full applications. Preserving American Historical Treasures The 1772 Foundation was named in honor of its first restoration project, Liberty Hall in Union, New Jersey. Built in 1772 by William Livingston, New Jersey’s first elected governor, the residence was home to generations of the Livingston and Kean families, including Stewart Barney Kean, who founded the 1772 Foundation in 1984. Liberty Hall has since been converted into a museum and the Foundation, thanks to Mr. Kean, continues to provide ongoing support for it and many others like it across the country. Upon Mr. Kean's death, in 2002, the Foundation grew from a $2.1 million private foundation to one with over $80 million in assets. In the twenty years since then, the foundation has granted more than $50 million for historic preservation work throughout the United States. After learning of the Kean Family's ties to slavery, the 1772 Foundation has committed to increased funding to racial justice and African American history funding. Massachusetts Historic Preservation Matching Grants The 1772 Foundation has announced that funding in the form of 1:1 matching grants of up to $10,000 will be made available for the following historic preservation projects: exterior painting, finishes and surface restoration, fire detection/lightning protection/security systems, repairs to/restoration of porches, roofs and windows, repairs to foundations and sills, and chimney and masonry repointing. To demonstrate the sustainability of historic sites, applicants maybe required to submit a cyclical maintenance plan, condition assessment, restoration plan or stewardship plan that has been prepared or updated within the last five years. If an appropriate plan does not exist, the Foundation will consider providing support for development of a plan on a case-by-case basis The Foundation will consider the following: Matching grants for exterior painting, finishes and surface restorationMatching grants to install or upgrade fire detection, lightning protection and security systemsMatching grants for repairs to/restoration of porches, roofs and windowsMatching grants for structural foundation and sill repair/replacementMatching grants for chimney and masonry repointing

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. To be eligible to apply, organizations must have IRS determination of 501(c)(3) IRS status.Organizations also must have closed any previously awarded matching grant to be eligible to apply.

Ineligibility

Funding will not be provided for schools or churches.