Specific Planning Grant Resources from the Preservation Alliance

The N.H. Preservation Alliance funds planning grants for building assessments or re-use studies

This two-tiered grant program offers Mini-Grants (up to $500) and Preservation Assessment Grants (up to $4,500). Mini-grants are useful for smaller projects or for second opinions. They are typically not acceptable studies if your group is hoping to apply to LCHIP for more than $25,000.

Historic Building Assessment with Preservation Guidelines is a comprehensive report that documents the history, evolution, character-defining features, and existing conditions of a building and uses this information to identify the building needs and preservation priorities. A Historic Building Assessment is required when applying for Land & Community Heritage Investment Program (LCHIP) funding of $25,000 or greater. Questions? Contact Beverly Thomas at bt@nhpreservation.org.

Larger studies (in the $10,000-$50,000 range) should reach out to LCHIP, which can offer matching grants to cover the cost of these more in-depth studies.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation also offers some emergency planning money if your building has suffered from a damaging event.

The N.H Preservation Alliance and The 1772 Foundation offer competitive grants to New Hampshire non-profits.

Grants over the last four years have supported 58 rehabilitation and restoration projects for a variety of community landmark buildings throughout the state.

Letters of Inquiry for the 2025 grant round are due January 6, 2025.

Historic Preservation Funding Resources

New Hampshire Based Grant Opportunities

  • New Hampshire Preservation Alliance Small Grants Program: NHPA offers matching grants to assist non-profit organizations in hiring a consultant to assist many different aspects of preservation planning. See the above information on our Preservation Services Grant Program.

  • 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 $20,000 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.  Letters of Intent for the 2023 grant round are due by May 5, 2023. Full Applications are due June 23, 2023.

  • 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.

  • NH Charitable Foundation and its Regional Divisions “The New Hampshire Charitable … matches community needs or problems with philanthropic resources, and turns them all into opportunities for effective social action.” Through their regional divisions, NHCF offers a variety of grants, and lists Resources for Nonprofits on their website.

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

  • The New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority is the state's housing advocacy agency, and has funding sources, including federal and state loans and grants, to support housing programs and projects.

  • NH State Council on the Arts The Arts Council supports the efforts of arts and non-arts organizations and individual artists through a variety of grants.   They have three main grant categories: arts organizations, individual artists, and arts partners (schools, state agencies, community nonprofits, history & farm museums, municipalities, health care providers, and nursing homes).

  • The New Hampshire Coastal Program offers matching grants for technical assistance, planning/management, and construction/acquisition. NH’s 17 coastal cities and towns, the Rockingham and Strafford Regional Planning Commissions, state agencies, and non-profit organizations are eligible.

  • New Hampshire's Transportation Enhancement Act supports projects that preserve the historic culture of the transportation system. Project categories include: facilities, safety and education for bicyclists and pedestrians; easement acquisition for scenic or historic sites; scenic or historic highway programs (including tourist and welcome centers); rehabilitation and operation of historic transportation buildings or facilities (i.e. railroads and canals); environmental mitigation to address highway-created water pollution and establishing transportation museums. Citizens Guide - Transportation Enhancement.

National and Federal Grant Opportunities

  • 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. Specific funding programs of the National Trust include Hart Family Fund for Small Towns, which assists towns with populations of fewer than 5,000 people with preservation and revitalization initiatives, Johanna Favrot Grants for preservation planning, and Cynthia Woods Mitchell Fund for Historic Interiors.

  • Preserve America The "Preserve America" initiative is a special program of recognition and grants developed by the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation and First Lady Laura Bush. Awards are made once a year.

  • The Community Development Block Grant program, administered by NH CDFA, 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.

  • USDA Rural Development offers a variety of grant and loan programs. Community Facilities Program funds support public safety, health care, cultural, educational and public buildings. The REAP Grant Program will provide grants for energy audits and renewable energy development assistance, and also provides funds to agricultural producers and rural small businesses to purchase and install renewable energy systems and make energy efficiency improvements; NH office: (603) 223-6045.

  • 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.  They partner with the Foundation of the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works, Inc. to offer Conservation Assessment Grants. 

  • 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.

Loans and Tax Incentive Opportunities 

  • Federal Rehabilitation Tax Credit: Federal law provides a federal income tax credit equal to 20% of the cost of rehabilitating a historic building for commercial use. To qualify a property must be a certified historic structure—that is, on the National Register of Historic Places or contributing to a registered historic district. Work must meet the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation. Apply through the NH Division of Historical Resources.  In addition, the National Park Service's website offers helpful information on this tax credit.

  • Downtown Tax Incentive, RSA 79 E: Once this law is adopted by a municipality’s legislative body, a property owner who wants to substantially rehabilitate a downtown or village center building may apply to the local governing body for a period of temporary tax relief.  The law is structured to encourage both rehabilitation of downtown structures and housing in the downtown area. The temporary tax relief consists of a finite period during which the property tax on the structure will not increase as a result of its substantial rehabilitation.  In exchange for the relief, the property owner grants a covenant ensuring the continuation of the public benefit during the period of the tax relief.  An example of New Hampshire towns currently using this program are Berlin, Concord, Hooksett, Lisbon, Manchester and Pittsfield. Learn more about 79 E here.

  • National Trust Community Investment Corporation: The National Trust Community Investment Corporation, the for-profit subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, makes equity investments in the rehabilitation of historic properties eligible for the 20 percent federal historic rehabilitation tax credit, and where available, state historic tax credits and the New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC).  NTCIC invests in projects that have at least $6.0 million in total development costs and that generate at least $1.5 million in historic tax credit equity.  Smaller deals will be referred to the Small Deal Fund for equity investment consideration. Tax-exempt nonprofit organizations and public-sector developers may be eligible for an NTCIC equity investment by creating a limited liability partnership.  NTCIC has a special interest in those projects with a high community benefit.

NOTE: Some communities have their own grant programs (i.e. Main Street Façade Improvement Grants). Check with your municipality to see if local funds might be available for your project.

Private and Corporate Grant Opportunities

  • Eversource: Community development grants avail­able in the Eversource service territory on a rolling basis throughout the year for historic preservation and more.    

  • Mascoma Savings Bank Foundation provides capital funding to not-for-profit organizations within Mascoma Bank’s market area that will contribute to the long-term benefit of its communities. The Bank serves the Connecticut River Valley of Vermont and New Hampshire from Keene to Lancaster; the I-89 corridor from Burlington to New London; and Portland, Maine.

  • The Kresge Foundation is a private, national foundation that works to expand opportunities in America’s cities through grantmaking and social investing in arts and culture, education, environment, health, human services and community development, nationally and in Detroit, Memphis and New Orleans. In collaboration with our partners, we help create pathways for people with low incomes to improve their life circumstances and join the economic mainstream.

  • Community Heart & Soul is a resident-driven process that engages the entire population of a town in identifying what they love most about their community, what future they want for it, and how to achieve it. Developed and field-tested over a decade in partnership with over 100 small cities and towns across America, Community Heart & Soul is a proven process for engaging a community in shaping its future.

Other Resources and Funding 

In addition to the two tax credit programs, there are other sources of funding that may be useful in restoring or preserving income-producing properties. You may also be able to find assistance at the local level by contacting your local preservation commission and your local planning, community development, or housing offices. 

Depending on the proposed or intended use of a building, there may be other sources of financial support, including: 

Several incentives are available to encourage investment in privately-held historic properties. Many successful rehabilitation projects include a partnership between a private, for-profit developer and a municipal or nonprofit agency that has access to grant funding or other resources. Examine the specific goals and requirements of these programs.

Specific technical information is available from these organizations:

The Alliance’s Field Service Program can advise you on how to get the best information about appropriate treatment options, consultants and contractors and share examples of similar successes or best-practice models. We also offer training, networking, and conference opportunities. Our goal is to support your commitment to preservation activity within your community by helping you access to the best tools and techniques.

Additional Resources 

Looking for additional guidance? We’re here to help! 

The New Hampshire Preservation Alliance’s Field Service program helps historic property owners throughout the state. Reach out to us with any questions, ideas for co-sponsored programs, or just to give us an update on your historic project. We’d love to hear from you! Fill out the form below to be connected to one of our Field Service team members or give us a call (603) 224-2281.

 
 
 

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