Historic Preservation Grants & Restoration Funding Opportunities

There are many grant opportunities available to preserve historic buildings and restore culturally and historically significant landmarks. We’ve compiled this list as a resource to help identify potential funding for your preservation, restoration, or rehabilitation project. Additional grant programs and award opportunities may be available based on location, building type, and specific preservation needs.

Federal Grants & Tax Incentives

These programs provide nationwide funding, tax credits, and financial incentives for historic preservation projects.

Historic Preservation Fund (HPF)

• Description: Managed by the National Park Service (NPS), this fund provides matching grants for restoration, planning, and preservation projects.
• More Info: http://www.nps.gov/subjects/historicpreservationfund

Federal Historic Tax Credit (HTC)

• Description: Owners of income-generating historic buildings may qualify for a 20% tax credit on qualified rehabilitation expenses.
• More Info: http://www.nps.gov/tps/tax-incentives.htm

Save America’s Treasures Grant

• Description: Provides funding for the preservation of nationally significant historic properties, monuments, and collections.
• More Info: http://www.nps.gov/subjects/historicpreservationfund/save-americas-treasures-grants.htm

Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grants

• Description: Supports rehabilitation of historic buildings in rural communities to promote economic development.
• More Info: http://www.nps.gov/subjects/historicpreservationfund/paul-bruhn-historic-revitalization-grants-program.htm

American Battlefield Protection Program (ABPP)

• Description: Provides grants for the preservation and interpretation of significant American battlefield sites.
• More Info: http://www.nps.gov/subjects/battlefields

State & Regional Historic & Cultural Preservation Grants

Many state and municipal agencies offer grants, tax incentives, and low-interest loans for historic preservation, facade restoration, and cultural heritage projects. Below are some state-specific opportunities:

Minnesota

1. Minnesota Historical Society Legacy Grants

   • Description: Provides grants for properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Minnesota.
   • More Info: http://www.mnhs.org/preservation/legacy-grants
     
     

2. Certified Local Government (CLG) Grants (Minnesota)

   • Description: Administered through the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), these grants support local preservation projects, planning, and education initiatives.
   • More Info: http://www.nps.gov/subjects/clg/grants.htm
     
     

3. State Capital Projects Grants-in-Aid (Minnesota)

   • Description: Provides funding for the preservation of publicly owned historic properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
   • More Info: http://www.mnhs.org/preservation/state-capital
     
     

4. Minnesota Main Street Revitalization Program

   • Description: Offers grants and loans for revitalizing historic commercial buildings and main street development.
   • More Info: http://www.mn.gov/deed/business/financing-business/main-street-revitalization
     
     

5. Minnesota Historical Society Cultural Heritage Grants

   • Description: Offers grants to preserve historic sites, artifacts, and documents related to Minnesota’s diverse cultural history.
   • More Info: http://www.mnhs.org/preservation

Wisconsin

1. Wisconsin Historic Preservation Tax Credit

   • Description: Provides a 20% state tax credit for the rehabilitation of income-producing historic buildings.
   • More Info: http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Article/CS15331
     
     

2. Wisconsin Historic Preservation Fund Subgrants

   • Description: Administered by Wisconsin’s SHPO, this program funds surveying, preservation planning, and National Register nominations.
   • More Info: http://www.wisconsinhistory.org
     
     

3. Wisconsin Historical Society Historic Preservation Grants

   • Description: Offers funding for preservation and rehabilitation of historic buildings across Wisconsin.
   • More Info: http://www.wisconsinhistory.org
     
     

4. Wisconsin Humanities Cultural Preservation Fund

   • Description: Supports projects that interpret and preserve the cultural history of Wisconsin communities, including immigrant and Indigenous heritage sites.
   • More Info: http://www.wisconsinhumanities.org

Iowa

1. Iowa Historic Resource Development Program (HRDP) Grants

   • Description: Provides funding for brick-and-mortar restoration, architectural surveys, and historic preservation planning.
   • More Info: http://www.iowaculture.gov/history/grants
     
     

2. Iowa Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) for Downtown Revitalization

   • Description: Provides funding to rehabilitate and preserve historic commercial buildings in Iowa’s downtown districts.
   • More Info: http://www.iowaeconomicdevelopment.com/CDBG
     
     

3. Iowa Cultural Heritage Project Grants

   • Description: Provides funding for historic sites, museums, and cultural programs focused on Iowa’s diverse ethnic communities.
   • More Info: http://www.iowaculture.gov

South Dakota

1. South Dakota Deadwood Fund Grant

   • Description: Provides funding for historic preservation projects statewide, including façade restoration and structural stabilization.
   • More Info: http://www.history.sd.gov/preservation
     
     

2. South Dakota Historic Preservation Statewide Grants

   • Description: Funds surveys, preservation planning, and National Register nominations.
   • More Info: http://www.history.sd.gov/preservation
     
     

3. South Dakota Native American Cultural Preservation Grants

   • Description: Supports tribal preservation projects that restore sacred sites, traditional structures, and historic landscapes.
   • More Info: http://www.sdhistory.org

North Dakota

1. North Dakota Historical Society Historic Preservation Grants

   • Description: Assists with preservation planning and building rehabilitation for properties listed on or eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.
   • More Info: http://www.history.nd.gov/hp/grants.html
     
     

2. North Dakota Cultural Heritage Grant Program

   • Description: Supports the preservation of historic structures, museum collections, and heritage tourism efforts.
   • More Info: http://www.history.nd.gov/grants
     
     

3. North Dakota Heritage & Cultural Grant Program

   • Description: Offers grants for projects that preserve historically significant sites, documents, and artifacts related to Indigenous and immigrant communities.
   • More Info: http://www.history.nd.gov

Oklahoma

• Oklahoma Certified Local Government (CLG) Grants
  
  • Description: Provides funding for preservation projects, including surveys, National Register nominations, and architectural assessments.
  • More Info: http://www.okhistory.org/shpo/grants

Nonprofit & Historical Society Grants

In addition to government programs, private organizations, historical societies, and preservation funds offer financial support for restoration and conservation projects.

National Nonprofit Preservation Grants

1. National Trust for Historic Preservation Grants

   • Description: Provides funding for planning, advocacy, and historic preservation projects nationwide.
   • More Info: http://savingplaces.org/grants
     
     

2. Johanna Favrot Fund for Historic Preservation

   • Description: Supports projects that maintain or recapture a site’s historic character.
   • More Info: http://savingplaces.org/grants
     
     

3. Cynthia Woods Mitchell Fund for Historic Interiors

   • Description: Provides funding for the preservation and restoration of historic interiors.
   • More Info: http://savingplaces.org/grants
     
     

4. Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Historic Preservation Grants

   • Description: Funds projects focused on the restoration of historic sites, structures, and landmarks.
   • More Info: http://www.dar.org/grants

Midwest & Regional Preservation Funds

1. Jeffris Family Foundation Grants (Midwest)

   • Description: Focuses on historic preservation projects in small towns across the Midwest, including Minnesota.
   • More Info: http://www.jeffrisfoundation.org
     
     

2. Indiana Landmarks Grant Programs

   • Description: Provides grants for structural assessments and preservation planning for historic properties.
   • More Info: http://www.indianalandmarks.org/grants
     
     

3. Landmarks Illinois Preservation Heritage Fund Grants

   • Description: Offers financial assistance for the rehabilitation of historic buildings across Illinois.
   • More Info: http://www.landmarks.org/resources/financial-resources/

Heritage & Cultural Preservation Grants

1. African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund

   • Description: The largest national preservation effort dedicated to Black historic sites, funding restoration and interpretation projects.
   • More Info: http://savingplaces.org/african-american-cultural-heritage
     
     

2. Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) Grants

   • Description: Provides assistance to Tribes, Native Hawaiian organizations, and museums for historic preservation and repatriation projects.
   • More Info: http://www.nps.gov/nagpra/grants
     
     

3. Underrepresented Community Grants

   • Description: Supports nominating historic sites associated with underrepresented communities to the National Register of Historic Places.
   • More Info: http://www.nps.gov/subjects/historicpreservationfund

Historic Theaters & Performance Spaces

1. League of Historic American Theatres (LHAT)

   • Description: Provides resources, networking, and support for the preservation, restoration, and sustainable operation of historic theaters across the U.S.
   • Eligible Applicants: Theater owners, nonprofits, arts organizations, and preservation advocates.
   • More Info: League of Historic American Theatres

Cultural & Community-Specific Preservation Grants

These grants support projects that document, restore, and interpret sites associated with historically underrepresented groups, including African American, Indigenous, and immigrant communities. Additional cultural grants may be listed in the regional and state-specific grant opportunities above.

National Cultural & Heritage Preservation Grants

1. African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund

   • Description: The largest preservation initiative dedicated to Black heritage sites, funding restoration, interpretation, and community engagement projects.
   • More Info: http://savingplaces.org/african-american-cultural-heritage
     
     

2. African American Civil Rights Grants

   • Description: Supports projects that document, preserve, and interpret sites associated with the struggle for African American civil rights.
   • More Info: http://www.nps.gov/civil-rights-grants
     
     

3. Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Preservation Grants

   • Description: Provides funding to repair and restore historic buildings on the campuses of HBCUs.
   • More Info: http://www.nps.gov/hbcu-grants
     
     

4. Underrepresented Community Grants

   • Description: Funds projects that identify, document, and nominate historic sites associated with underrepresented communities for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places.
   • More Info: http://www.nps.gov/underrepresented-community-grants
     
     

5. Save America’s Treasures – Cultural Heritage Sites

   • Description: Provides grants for preserving culturally significant landmarks, including sites important to Indigenous, Latino, and immigrant communities.
   • More Info: http://www.nps.gov/save-americas-treasures

Religious, Church & Sacred Site Grants

Many historic churches, synagogues, mosques, and sacred sites qualify for preservation funding through specialized grants. These grants support structural stabilization, restoration, and long-term conservation of significant religious buildings.

National & Faith-Based Religious Preservation Grants

1. National Fund for Sacred Places

   • Description: A program supporting historically significant places of worship with capital grants and technical assistance.
   • More Info: http://www.fundforsacredplaces.org
     
     

2. National Trust for Historic Preservation – Sacred Places Grants

   • Description: Grants for historic religious sites that serve community needs beyond worship.
   • More Info: http://savingplaces.org/grants
     
     

3. Partners for Sacred Places Grant Programs

   • Description: Provides technical assistance and grant funding for preserving religious properties and strengthening congregations.
   • More Info: http://www.sacredplaces.org/grants
     
     

4. Save America’s Treasures Grant

   • Description: A federal grant program funding the restoration of nationally significant historic properties, including churches and sacred buildings.
   • More Info: http://www.nps.gov/subjects/historicpreservationfund/save-americas-treasures-grants.htm
     
     

5. Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Preservation Grants

   • Description: Provides funding for the restoration of historic churches, religious schools, and sacred buildings.
   • More Info: http://www.dar.org/outreach/historic-preservation/dar-historic-preservation-grants

Grants for Black Churches & Underrepresented Religious Sites

• National Trust for Sacred Places – African American Churches Initiative

  • Description: Provides funding and preservation planning to ensure the longevity of historic Black congregations.
  • More Info: http://www.savingplaces.org/african-american-churches
    
    

• African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund – Sacred Places

  • Description: Supports preservation and restoration of historic Black churches and community places of worship.
  • More Info: http://savingplaces.org/african-american-cultural-heritage

Denomination-Specific Church Preservation Grants

1. Catholic Church Preservation Fund

   • Description: Grants available for Catholic churches, cathedrals, and religious properties undergoing restoration.
   • More Info: Contact local Catholic dioceses or state historical societies for funding opportunities.
     
     

2. United Methodist Church Property Grant Program

   • Description: Assists United Methodist congregations with funding to preserve historic churches.
   • More Info: http://www.gcfa.org
     
     

3. Episcopal Church Building Fund

   • Description: Provides financial assistance for the restoration and preservation of historic Episcopal churches.
   • More Info: Contact the Episcopal Church Building Fund or http://www.ecbf.org
     
     

4. Presbyterian Historical Society Heritage Preservation Grants

   • Description: Offers grants for historic Presbyterian churches seeking restoration and stabilization funding.
   • More Info: http://www.history.pcusa.org
     
     

5. Jewish Heritage Fund Grants

   • Description: Supports the restoration of historic synagogues and Jewish community buildings.
   • More Info: http://www.jewishheritagefund.com

Religious Preservation Tax Incentives

• Historic Preservation Tax Incentives for Religious Properties
  
  • Description: Some state and federal tax credit programs allow churches and religious buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places to qualify for financial assistance.
  • More Info: http://www.nps.gov/tps/tax-incentives.htm

State & Regional Grants for Sacred Site Preservation

Many state historical societies and preservation offices offer grants for religious buildings listed on historic registers. Examples include:

1. Minnesota Historical Society Legacy Grants – Religious Properties

   • Description: Provides grants for Minnesota historic churches and religious landmarks.
   • More Info: http://www.mnhs.org/preservation/legacy-grants
     
     

2. Wisconsin Historic Preservation Fund Subgrants – Sacred Sites

   • Description: Assists historic churches and religious structures in preservation efforts.
   • More Info: http://www.wisconsinhistory.org
     
     

3. South Dakota Historic Preservation Statewide Grants – Religious Sites

   • Description: Offers funding for historic preservation projects, including churches and sacred buildings.
   • More Info: http://www.history.sd.gov/preservation
     
     

4. Iowa Historic Resource Development Program (HRDP) – Religious Buildings

   • Description: Provides grants for the preservation and rehabilitation of historic churches and sacred sites in Iowa.
   • More Info: http://www.iowaculture.gov

Emergency & Disaster Recovery Preservation Grants

Historic buildings and cultural landmarks are particularly vulnerable to natural disasters, severe weather, and unexpected structural failures. These grants provide emergency funding for immediate stabilization, repairs, and long-term resilience planning.

National Emergency & Disaster Recovery Grants

1. National Trust for Historic Preservation – Emergency/Intervention Fund

   • Description: Offers immediate financial assistance for historic properties facing urgent structural threats.
   • More Info: http://savingplaces.org/grants
     
     

2. FEMA Historic Preservation Assistance Grants

   • Description: Provides federal disaster relief funding for repairing historic structures after hurricanes, floods, and other disasters.
   • More Info: http://www.fema.gov/historic-preservation
     
     

3. Save America’s Treasures – Disaster Recovery Grants

   • Description: Focuses on stabilizing and repairing nationally significant historic buildings impacted by disasters.
   • More Info: http://www.nps.gov/preservation-grants
     
     

4. National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) – Disaster Assistance for Cultural Institutions

   • Description: Grants for libraries, museums, archives, and historic sites to recover from floods, fires, and other catastrophic events.
   • More Info: http://www.neh.gov/grants

Regional & State-Specific Disaster Preservation Grants

1. Minnesota Disaster Recovery Grants for Historic Properties

   • Description: Emergency stabilization funding for historic buildings damaged by severe weather or unforeseen structural failures.
   • More Info: http://www.mnhs.org/preservation
     
     

2. Iowa Historic Resource Disaster Recovery Assistance

   • Description: Provides funding for historic preservation projects impacted by natural disasters.
   • More Info: http://www.iowaculture.gov
     
     

3. South Dakota Deadwood Historic Preservation Emergency Fund

   • Description: Offers rapid response funding to stabilize and repair historic buildings in South Dakota’s historic districts.
   • More Info: http://www.sdhistory.org
     
     

4. North Dakota State Historic Preservation Office Emergency Repair Program

   • Description: Assists with urgent stabilization and repairs for historic structures affected by disasters.
   • More Info: http://www.history.nd.gov
     
     

5. Wisconsin Historic Building Disaster Mitigation Fund

   • Description: Offers preservation planning and emergency repair grants for historic buildings affected by natural disasters.
   • More Info: http://www.wisconsinhistory.org

While this list highlights a variety of grants available for historic preservation, there are many more opportunities out there. Grant programs can vary based on location, project type, and specific preservation needs, so it’s important to explore all possibilities. If you have any edits, corrections, or additional grant opportunities to submit, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re happy to keep this list updated to support your preservation efforts.