Preservation Grant Programs
Grant funds are limited and highly competitive. They are typically only awarded to significant historic places with urgent preservation needs. Please be aware that grants are generally only available to nonprofit organizations and public agencies, not private individuals.
Preservation Texas has no grant funding available at this time.
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.
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 offers grants in the $10,000 to $50,000 range for restoration work, architectural planning, archeological investigation, archeology curatorial, preservation planning, resource survey, and heritage education training. Grants are awarded on a one-to-one match basis and paid as reimbursement of eligible expenses incurred during the project.
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). This competitive program is administered by the Texas Historical Commission.
NONPROFIT AND FOUNDATION GRANT PROGRAMS
Some nonprofit organizations and foundations offer grant opportunities that can be utilized to save endangered places in Texas.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation offers grants to nonprofit organizations and public agencies for planning and education projects through the National Trust Preservation Funds grant program. Grants from this fund are generally between $2,500 and $5,000.
The Texas Historical Foundation provides quarterly grants of up to $8,000 and annual grants of up to $25,000 for 501(c)(3) organizations with a project supporting the preservation of and public engagement with Texas history.
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.
