Grants & Funding

New Hampshire Preservation Alliance Grants

Preservation Services Grant Program: The New Hampshire Preservation Alliance provides small matching grants to assist non-profit organizations in hiring a consultant to assist many different aspects of preservation planning.  Click for an overview of the program and an application  (PDF).  Applicants are advised to schedule a visit with the Field Services Representative, Maggie Stier, before submitting an application.  Contact the Project Director Beverly Thomas at bt@nhpreservation.org with questions or call (603) 224-2281. 

Barn Assessment Grant Program: The New Hampshire Preservation Alliance's Historic Barn Assesment Grant Program offers matching funds for the hiring of a barn restoration professional to assess your old barn and prepare an in-depth report.  The assessment can include everything from recommendations on how to stabilize the structure to long term revitalization planning; general maintenance, budgeting, general upkeep and even analyzing reuse strategies. Grants are offered competitively and limited to barns and other agricultural outbuildings within New Hampshire that are at least 50 years old, or of exceptional significance. Additional consideration is given to barns still in agricultural use. For applications click here, or for more information, email the Project Director, (please include your full mailing address), or call (603) 224-2281.

New Opportunities through our Shared Field Service Program and the Northeast Regional Office of the National Trust for Historic Preservation:

African American Preservation Fund Grant - In an effort to assist African American preservation organizations across the region (New England, Delaware, New Jersey, New York and Pennsyvania) and to support the preservation mission and goals of these organizations, the National Trust for Historic Preservation's Northeast Office is making available a special one-time grant for nonprofit organizations and public agencies involved with preserving places of importance to African American history.  The Northeast Office  African Preservation Fund grant is designed to provide money for a variety of preservation projects including planning, education and outreach.  Funds may be used to professional expertise in areas such as architecture, archeology, engineering, preservation planning, land-use planning fundraising, organizational development and law as well as activities to educate the public.  Guidelines and the application are the same for the Preservation Fund grant. Funds are not available to support bricks and mortar restoration costs. Regionally competitive, awards will range between $1,000 and $5,000 with the average award being $2,500; the deadline to submit an application is June 1st. Please contact Brent Leggs, Program Assistant at 617-523-0885 x 34 or brent_leggs@nthp.org. We encourage applicants to contact Brent to discuss your project, even those that are considered ineligible per the Preservation Fund guidelines.

Diversity Scholarship Program  this program currentlyprovides financial assistance to approximately 60 community leaders and students from diverse backgrounds to attend the National Preservation Conference. Through educational sessions, informal conversation, and special events, participants strengthen their commitment to preserving historic places and revitalizing communities, and discover a supportive network to help in their endeavors.  This year, the Scholarship Program is expanding its definition of eligibility to include preservationists from diverse racial, ethnic, socio-economic and religious backgrounds.  In addition, it seeks individuals who are working on projects that have a diversity component, including those working on sites with a relationship to sports, the military, sexual orientation, industrial facilities and cultural landscapes. The Trust hopes this broader definition of eligibility will help regions that have been challenged in the past to find candidates for conference scholarships.  The deadline for completed applications is Friday, June 1, 2007. For more information, visit this link www.nationaltrust.org/scholarships/diversity_scholarship.html

New Hampshire Grants

Moose Plate Grants: The Conservation License Plate Program provides funds to supplement existing efforts to preserve New Hampshire resources, from scenic lands and wildlife to historic sites. Grants of up to $10,000 are made available to state and county agencies, towns and cities and non-profit organizations that operate or manage publicly owned and accessible historic properties and historic or archaeological artifacts. The NH Division of Historical Resources, (603) 271-3483, manages this grant program.

NH Land and Community Heritage Investment Program (LCHIP): provides matching grants to public entities (other than state agencies) and non-profit organizations, to help communities acquire and preserve natural, cultural and historical resources. 

Hart Family Fund for Small Towns
In Bill Hart's honor, a fund will eventually total at least $500,000. The purpose of the Hart Family Fund for Small Towns is to assist small town preservation and revitalization initiatives around the country, with a focus on towns with populations of 5,000 or less. National Trust for Historic Preservation, Northeast Regional Office, Seven Faneuil Hall Marketplace, Boston, MA 02109. Telephone: 617-523-0885 nero@nthp.org

Public Service of New Hampshire
Community development grants avail­able in the PSNH service territory on a rolling basis throughout the year for historic preservation and more. Public Service of New Hampshire Doris Burke, Community Development Mgr. 603-634-2442  PSNH, 780 North Commercial St. Manchester, NH 03101 www.prospernh.com (select "PSNH advantage").

The New Hampshire Coastal Program offers matching grants for technical assistance, planning/management, and construction/acquisition. New Hampshire's 17 coastal cities and towns, the Rockingham and Strafford Regional Planning Commissions, state agencies, and non-profit organizations are all eligible for funding. Recipient's portion of the matching funds can be as non-Federal cash or in-kind services.  For more information, contact the Coastal Program Office, 152 Court Street, Portsmouth, NH 03801 (603)431-9366 or call the Office of State Planning in Concord (603)271-2155.

New Hampshire's Transportation Enhancement Act: provides funds and selects projects that preserve the historic culture or enhance the operation of the transportation system. Project categories include: facilities, safety and educational activities for bicyclists and pedestrians; acquisition of easements for scenic or historic sites; scenic or historic highway programs (including tourist and welcome centers); landscaping, beautification, historic preservation; rehabilitation and operation of historic transportation buildings, structures or facilities (including historic railroad facilities and canals); preservation of abandoned railway corridors (including the conversion for use as bike and pedestrian paths); control and removal of outdoor advertising; archaeological planning and research; environmental mitigation to address highway created water pollution and establishing transportation museums.

The Winthrop L. Carter Fund for Historic Preservation of the Greater Portsmouth Community Foundation supports the preservation or restoration of historic structures and artifacts in the GPCF region. For more information, and to determine whether your community is in the foundations region, contact the Greater Portsmouth Community Foundation, Unit 2B, Nobles Island, 500 Market Street, Portsmouth, NH 03801 (603) 430-9182; FAX 603-431-6268).

The Downtown Initiative is a three-year initiative to encourage downtown redevelopment by providing financial support and incentives to encourage reinvestment into New Hampshire's downtowns through extensive renovations to multi-use structures that contain commercial or retail spaces on the ground floor and residential units on the upper floors. The Downtown Initiative will focus on renovation of underutilized properties that are integral to a community's downtown commercial center. The Downtown Initiative is targeted at communities throughout the state that have a plan for their downtowns. The goal is to create new housing units across the housing market in the form of market-rate rental units, affordable first home condominiums, and subsidized rental units.

The New Hampshire Community Development Finance Authority (CDFA) provides financial and technical assistance to community development corporations, worker cooperatives, and certain municipal entities. The Authority is unable to assist for-profit businesses directly, but can work through a for-profits nonprofit partner. CDFA funds major community development projects primarily with the Community Development Investment (Tax Credit) Program. It has proven to be a major source of support for affordable housing and economic development.

The Community Development Block Grant program, administered by the Community Development Finance Authority, provides federal funds to communities for housing, economic development, and public facilities for low- and moderate-income people. Feasibility Grants are available for project planning (including feasibility studies, surveys, and professional architectural and engineering services). Implementation grants provide substantial funding for construction and rehabilitation work. For more information, contact Patrick Herlihy, Community Development Block Grants, 14 Dixon Avenue, Suite 102, Concord, NH 03301 (603) 226-2170.

The Cultural Facilities Grant program of the NH State Council on the Arts provides matching grants for planning and capital projects to New Hampshire non-profit organizations with cultural facilities and historic preservation projects that facilitate arts programming. Facilities must meet minimum standards for a barrier-free entrance before organizations may apply for a grant for any need other than to assist them in meeting the barrier-free standard. For more information, contact Assistant Director Yvonne Fried (603) 271-0791.

Preservation Services Fund of the National Trust for Historic Preservation provides small grants for technical studies, historic structures reports, fundraising assistance, architectural/engineering plans, and other non-construction activities. The Trust's regional office staff can explain the program requirements and the application procedures, and may also be able to suggest other sources for assistance, including National Trust grants for preserving historic buildings. For more information, contact Cristina Prochilo at the Northeast Regional Office, National Trust for Historic Preservation, 7 Faneuil Hall Marketplace, 5th Floor, Boston, MA 02109 (617)523-0885.

Save America's Treasures
Those seeking major funds for preser­vation and/or conservation work on historic districts or structures listed on the National Register of Historic Places should consider this program. Grants require a non-Federal match of cash, donated services, or use of equipment. Applications are due February 1, 2005. Save America's Treasures Heritage Preservation Services, National Park Service 1201 "Eye" Street, NW, 6th Floor (ORG. 2255) Washington, D.C. 20005 202-513-7270,ext.6 www.saveamericastreasures.org/funding.htm

The 1772 Foundation
This relatively new initiative focuses on historic preservation, especially build­ings related to farming, industrial development, transportation and un­usual historical structures. Grants of $15,000-$50,000 are made to non­profit organizations throughout the US. Letters of inquiry e-mailed to inquiries@1772foundation.org are con­sidered throughout the year. www.1772foundation.org

Advisory Council on Historic Preservation
See "Sources of Financial Assistance for Historic Preservation Projects" at www.achp.gov/funding.html.  The "Preserve America" initiative is a special program of recognition and grants developed by this Council and First Lady Laura Bush.
Advisory Council on Historic Preservation 1100 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 809 Old Post Office Bldg, Washington, DC 20004 202-606-8503 www.achp.gov/preserveamerica.html

The Kresge Foundation makes large capital grants to acquire real estate and provide construction work for new buildings as well as preservation and rehabilitation work.

The Small Business Administration doesn't target assistance to historic preservation projects; but some of its grants, loans, business development or business management programs may assist the property owners overall enterprise, and as a by-product also help achieve their historic preservation goals.

The American Association for State & Local History has a variety of programs and services (including consultant grants) for member organizations.

The Institute of Museum & Library Services funds a broad range of museum and library projects

The National Endowment for the Arts promotes excellence in design fields and has a variety of grant programs, but it does not fund capital construction.

The National Endowment for the Humanities has a broad range of grant programs to support projects in the humanities but does not fund capital construction.

Our thanks to the NH Division of Historical Resources for compiling this information.