Heritage Fund Grants
The Heritage Fund, a cooperative effort of Preservation Maryland and the Maryland Historical Trust, provides direct assistance for the protection of historical and cultural resources and promotes innovative demonstration projects that can be successfully replicated to meet Maryland’s historic preservation needs. The Fund is intended to serve the needs of tangible cultural resources in Maryland. Historic sites, buildings, districts, objects, and archaeological resources are all eligible for funding.
The Heritage Fund provides direct assistance for the protection of endangered cultural resources and promotes innovative education projects that can inform best practices across the state. Non-profit organizations and local jurisdictions are eligible to apply. Eligible projects fall into three general categories: education and research, planning and feasibility, and repair and rehabilitation.
If you are applying for a grant Preservation Initiatives Manager, Maria Mougridis remains available by email at mmougridis@presmd.org
Projects eligible for funding
Projects must be located in the state of Maryland
Non-profit organizations and local jurisdictions are eligible to apply.
Stabilization or acquisition of endangered historic properties
Feasibility studies, architectural plans, structural assessments, and historic structure reports
Projects benefiting archaeological resources including curatorial services
Repair and restoration of historic materials
Educational, research, and planning efforts related to resource preservation
Organizational development for local preservation organizations – including but not limited to:
- Board and volunteer development
- Establishing strategic planning goals
- Membership development
- Marketing plans
- Fundraising activities
- Media relations
- Collaborative projects are encouraged
Legal services engaged to protect endangered historic resources – including structures, sites, archaeological resources, or the creation or strengthening of a local preservation ordinance
Specifications
The minimum grant is $1,000 and the maximum grant is $10,000.
Criteria for grant awards
The following criteria will be used by the selection committee to evaluate and select projects for funding, on a competitive basis, that meet the purposes and priorities of the Heritage Fund:
- Relative historical and cultural significance of the resource(s)
- Urgency of the need for financial assistance
- Provision for long-term resource preservation
- Administrative capability of the applicant
- Extent to which the project stimulates or promotes other preservation activities
- Educational value of the project
- Demonstrative and innovative value of the project
- Extent to which the project leverages other sources of financial assistance
- Readiness of the applicant to initiate and complete the project
- Extent to which the project contributes to the equitable geographic distribution of Heritage Fund money across the state
Terms
Funds will be disbursed on a reimbursable basis.
When relevant, all work must comply with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties.
A cash or in-kind match of at least 10% is required.
Any materials or publicity produced in relation to the project must include the following citation: “Funding for this project was provided in part by Preservation Maryland and the Maryland Historical Trust.” Copies of the materials should be submitted to Preservation Maryland.
Grant award recipients may apply for the same project or site one year after the award date.
Projects must be completed within one year of grant approval.
Award recipients must submit a brief recap of their project and at least two photos of completed bricks and mortar projects or alternate forms of documentation for other projects.
How to Apply
FY24 applications will open fall 2023
Interested parties should contact Preservation Maryland to discuss the proposed project before submitting an application. Open the online application and review the questions on the application form. We encourage you to craft your long-form answers into a separate document before beginning and copy and paste them into the form. Gather all required supplementary materials in a digital format. Individual files may not exceed 10 MB. Please resize your attachments to accommodate this limit. Complete the online application and attach supplementary material.
Required supplementary materials include:
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- Organization’s latest financial statement or audit
- IRS determination letter of tax-exempt status
- Project budget including all project expenses and in-hand or pledged funding
- Relevant guiding documents, plans, estimates, and proposals from contractors or consultants
- Minimum of one letter of support or endorsement from a local elected official
- Minimum of two representative photographs of the project
- If the nominator and property owner are different, a letter of support from the property owner
Upon receipt of a completed application, staff will conduct a review and determine if any additional information is needed. Applicants will be notified about grant decisions 8-10 weeks after the grant deadline.
Next Deadline: Friday, March 31, 2023
News & Updates
The Heritage Fund grant program has provided vital funds for preservation projects across Maryland for decades. Before announcing the FY23 recipients in the coming weeks, Preservation Maryland is again sharing the progress of a past Heritage Fund project. Washington County Historical Trust’s Saylor House, a c. 1800 stone structure that played an important role in the Antietam Fish Company, one of America’s first documented fish conservation and stocking companies in the 1820s, has recently seen restoration of its kitchen, breezeway, and the stairs.
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The FY23 Heritage Fund grant cycle is currently open. As you prepare your application, read more about the success of three past-awarded projects from across the state.
Non-profit organizations and local jurisdictions are eligible to apply. Eligible projects fall into three general categories: education and research, planning and feasibility, and repair and rehabilitation. The minimum grant is $1,000 and the maximum grant is $10,000. Application deadline is March 31, 2023.
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The Heritage Fund, a cooperative effort of Preservation Maryland and the Maryland Historical Trust, is now accepting applications. The Fund provides direct assistance for the protection of historical and cultural resources and promotes innovative demonstration projects that can be successfully replicated to meet Maryland’s historic preservation needs. The Fund is intended to serve the needs of tangible cultural resources in Maryland. Historic sites, buildings, districts, objects, and archaeological resources are all eligible for funding.
Continue Reading
The Heritage Fund, a cooperative effort of Preservation Maryland and the Maryland Historical Trust, provides direct assistance for the protection of historical and cultural resources and promotes innovative demonstration projects that can be successfully replicated to meet Maryland’s historic preservation needs.
Continue Reading
City residents, preservation proponents and rail enthusiasts alike gathered in Brunswick on April 2, 2022 to watch the culmination of ten years of advocacy, determination, and planning. On that very crisp and sunny morning, the historic West Brunswick Tower—an early-20th century two-story frame structure from which Baltimore & Ohio Railroad workers ensured the safe movement of trains—was moved by Wolfe House & Building Movers about 100 feet up the rail yard banks to a new location out of harm’s way.
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The Heritage Fund, a cooperative effort of Preservation Maryland and the Maryland Historical Trust, provides direct assistance for the protection of historical and cultural resources and promotes innovative demonstration projects that can be successfully replicated to meet Maryland’s historic preservation needs. The Fund is intended to serve the needs of tangible cultural resources in Maryland. Historic sites, buildings, districts, objects, and archaeological resources are all eligible for funding. Preservation Maryland is pleased to announce the Fall 2021 Heritage Fund recipients.
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In 2021 Preservation Maryland celebrated our 90th anniversary and tackled some of our largest initiatives yet, working to preserve the state’s unique and irreplaceable heritage while concurrently creating a more just, equitable, and sustainable future. Through strategic programming we have used the best of our past to solve some of today’s biggest issues, including climate change, affordable housing, and workforce development. Read on for programming highlights – and some of our biggest victories – in 2021.
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Preservation Maryland, in partnership with the Maryland Historical Trust, is happy to announce the spring round of Heritage Fund recipients. For over 20 years the Heritage Fund, administered by Preservation Maryland, has provided vital funds for preservation projects across the state.
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Historic structures require significant repair and upkeep – but with routine maintenance the time and expense associated with those repairs can be substantially reduced. Equally important as maintaining the structure is making sure that those repairs are safe for historic buildings. Often, preservation-safe repairs cost the same or slightly more but can save property owners in the long-run. These preservation best practices are not a comprehensive or complete guide to every issue a property owner will confront but are a jumping off point for your next preservation project.
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Handsell Historic Site, managed by the Nanticoke Historic Preservation Alliance, now has a replica of the broken front door that once stood in the entryway of the home.
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