Preservation Grant Programs
Federal, state and local historic designations for at-risk historic properties open the door to potential grants for restoration or rehabilitation. Grant funds are limited and highly competitive, and only significant historic places with urgent preservation needs are usually awarded these grants. A summary of grant programs follows.
HERE is a document that lists many potential funding sources for historic preservation projects, compiled and maintained by the Texas Historical Commission. It was last updated in March of 2019.
FEDERAL GRANT PROGRAMS
The most significant federal grant program is the Save America’s Treasures grant program. These grants are limited to National Historic Landmarks or buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places at the national level of significance. Grants range from $125,000 to $500,000.
More widely used are Historic Preservation Fund grants, administered through the Texas Historical Commission’s Certified Local Government (CLG) program. These grants are available for historic resource surveys, National Register nominations, local preservation plans, local ordinance development or repairs in CLG communities. Grants range from $2,000 to $30,000. CLGs must meet federal standards with respect to their local preservation regulatory system. A list of CLGs in Texas can be found HERE.
The Preserve America grant program remains authorized by Congress but in recent years has not received any federal funding. This grant program supported preservation planning activities in designated Preserve America communities.
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Abilene, Albany, Alpine, Atlanta, Austin, Bastrop, Belton, Brownsville, Bryan, Calvert, Canton, Canyon, Castroville, Celina, Clarksville, Colorado City, Crosbyton, Cuero, Dallas, Denton, Electra, El Paso, Farmersville, Fredericksburg, Frisco, Galveston, George West, Georgetown, Giddings, Gonzales, Granbury, Grapevine, Harris County, Hearne, Hidalgo, Junius Heights Neighborhood - Dallas, Kendall County, Kerrville, Laredo, Lipscomb County, Llano, Luling, Marshall, Matagorda County, McAllen, McKinney, Mesquite, Milam County, Mineola, Mount Vernon, Nacogdoches, New Braunfels, Odessa, Orange, Palestine, Paris, Pharr, Pilot Point, Pittsburg, Plano, Rio Grande City, Roaring Springs, Rockwall, Sabine County, San Angelo, San Antonio, San Marcos, Seguin, Shiner, Smithville, Taylor, Tyler, Victoria County, Waco, Walker County, Waxahachie, Wimberley, Winnsboro
Some grant funding through the U.S. Department of Agriculture may be available for the rehabilitation of historic structures, particularly those that will be used for community economic development purposes. The National Endowment for the Arts and National Endowment for the Humanities will sometimes have grant opportunities that apply to historic structures being used for the arts or for museum purposes. Visit grants.gov for more information about federal grant opportunities.
STATE GRANT PROGRAMS
The Texas Historical Commission’s Texas Preservation Trust Fund supports historic site acquisition, survey, restoration, preservation, planning and heritage education relating to historic architecture and archaeological sites. These are competitive grants that can provide up to $30,000 in funding.
Preservation Texas played a leading role in the establishment of the Texas Historic Courthouse Preservation program. Since 1999, 74 historic county courthouses have received full restoration grants and another 29 have received emergency or planning grants (2022). The competitive program is administered by the Texas Historical Commission.
NONPROFIT AND FOUNDATION GRANT PROGRAMS
Some nonprofit organizations and foundations offer grant opportunities that have been utilized to save endangered places in Texas.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation offers grants through its Preservation Fund; additional grant programs for historic African-American places and for Sacred Places have recently been initiated.
The Texas Historical Foundation provides grants of up to $5,000 that have been used for restoration projects. The Summerlee Foundation based in Dallas has also provided extensive grant funding for preservation projects across Texas. Regional community foundations are also an important source of donor-directed grants that might be available for historic preservation projects.
Historic structures in railroad communities have benefited from grants by the BNSF Railway Foundation (BNSFFoundation.org) or the Union Pacific Foundation depending on which rail line operates in the community.
Grants for building materials for small projects have been awarded by the Home Depot; big box building supply stores will sometimes donate materials and equipment with a letter submitted to the store manager.
Financial institutions that serve the community often have grant programs. Some may be directed by local branch managers; others require application to the bank’s national headquarters.
