National Trust Preservation Funds Grant

National Trust Preservation Funds Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: National Trust for Historic Preservation
Amount: US $2,500 - US $5,000
Last Updated: January 13, 2026

Summary

The National Trust Preservation Funds provide grants ranging from $2,500 to $5,000 to support local preservation projects and ongoing work. These funds aim to enhance community engagement in preservation, foster technical expertise, and stimulate financial participation from the private sector. Eligible applicants include public agencies and nonprofit organizations focused on planning and education efforts related to preservation. The program is particularly interested in initiatives that reach new audiences and further the preservation movement.

Overview

Guidelines Grants from National Trust Preservation Funds (NTPF) are intended to encourage preservation at the local level by supporting on-going preservation work and by providing seed money for preservation projects. These grants help stimulate public discussion, enable local groups to gain the technical expertise needed for preservation projects, introduce the public to preservation concepts and techniques, and encourage financial participation by the private sector. A small grant at the right time can go a long way and is often the catalyst that inspires a community to take action on a preservation project. Grants generally start at $2,500 and range up to $5,000. Eligible Activities National Trust Preservation Fund grants are awarded for planning activities and education efforts focused on preservation. Grant funds can be used to launch new initiatives or to provide additional support to on-going efforts. Planning: Supporting existing staff (nonprofit applicants only) or obtaining professional expertise in areas such as architecture, archaeology, engineering, preservation planning, land-use planning, and law. Eligible planning activities include, but are not limited to: Hiring a preservation architect or landscape architect, or funding existing staff with expertise in these areas, to produce a historic structure report or historic landscape master plan.Hiring a preservation planner, or funding existing staff with expertise in this area, to produce design guidelines for a historic district.Hiring a real estate development consultant, or funding existing staff with expertise in this area, to produce an economic feasibility study for the reuse of a threatened structure.Sponsoring a community forum to develop a shared vision for the future of a historic neighborhood.Organizational capacity building activities such as hiring fundraising consultants, conducting board training, etc. Education and Outreach: Support for preservation education activities aimed at the public. The National Trust is particularly interested in programs aimed at reaching new audiences. Funding will be provided to projects that employ innovative techniques and formats aimed at introducing new audiences to the preservation movement, whether that be through education programming or conference sessions.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Applicants must be either a public agency, 501(c) (3), or other nonprofit organization to be considered eligible. Applicants that have received previous National Trust financial assistance are eligible provided that all grant requirements are current.For this grant round, the National Trust Preservation Funds grant program has dedicated funding to award in the following states:Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland (Annapolis only), Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Washington, and Washington, D.C.If your project is located in a state not listed above, we encourage you to contact us to discuss other National Trust grant opportunities that might be available.Only Organizational Level Preservation Leadership Forum Members, Main Street America Community Members, and Main Street America General Members are eligible to receive funding from the National Trust Preservation Fund.Organizations do not need to have an active Forum membership to apply for a grant, but selected grantees will be required to become members prior to the release of funds. To learn more about Forum and to join today, visit our website.Grant Conditions:Applicants must be capable of matching the grant amount on a one-to-one basis. Both cash and in-kind donations count toward the one-to-one required match.The required match can come from private or public sources, from income earned from registration fees or sales, or from fundraising activities. In-kind donations of labor, materials or services will also be considered eligible for meeting the matching requirement.Matching funds must be used to fund eligible expenses.Eligible Expenses:Nonprofit applicants may include staff salaries for staff members directly working on the funded projectFees for consultant servicesSpeaker fees/faculty costs for educational programs and conference sessionsMailing costs for distribution of materialsThe development of materials for education and outreach campaignsMaterials and services such as printing, photographs, telephone, and supplies. With the exception of publications projects, these costs may not exceed 10 percent of the project budget.No more than three grants will be awarded in any two-year period to a single grantee. Only one grant will be awarded per organization in any grant round. Only one grant will be awarded for a particular project phase.

Ineligibility

Grants or matching funds cannot be used directly or indirectly to influence a member of Congress to favor or oppose any legislation or appropriation.Other funding from the National Trust may not be used to match an NTPF grant.Ineligible Activities:Building or other construction activitiesAcademic researchAcquisition of real property or objectsGeneral support for conferencesIneligible Expenses:Organizational overhead costsCatering, food and beverage, entertainmentConstruction or other capital improvement costsAcquisition of real property or objectsExpenses incurred prior to application date