Best Grants for Historic Preservation in Colorado

The National Trust Preservation Funds provide grants ranging from $2,500 to $5,000 to support local preservation projects and ongoing work. These funds aim to enhance community engagement in preservation, foster technical expertise, and stimulate financial participation from the private sector. Eligible applicants include public agencies and nonprofit organizations focused on planning and education efforts related to preservation. The program is particularly interested in initiatives that reach new audiences and further the preservation movement.

The Colorado Plateau Foundation offers the CPF Rapid Response Grant to support Native-led organizations addressing urgent needs in the Colorado Plateau region. Grants of up to $10,000 are available at any time, separate from the annual grant cycle. The foundation focuses on four priority areas: water protection, sacred place preservation, language preservation, and sustainable agriculture. Since 2012, it has invested over $1.2 million in more than 60 initiatives to empower Native communities.

The Colorado Plateau Foundation (CPF) provides capacity-building grants ranging from $1,000 to $25,000 to Native-led organizations on the Colorado Plateau. Their mission is to enhance the work of these organizations by addressing key issues such as water protection, sacred landscape preservation, language revitalization, and sustainable agriculture. Since its founding in 2012, CPF has allocated over $1.2 million to support more than 60 initiatives, fostering community resilience and cultural preservation.

The State Historical Fund's Planning Grant, offered by History Colorado, supports public entities and nonprofit organizations in Colorado to develop planning documents essential for future preservation projects. This grant fosters collaboration with experienced consultants familiar with the Secretary of Interior's Standards. Eligible applicants include state agencies, local governments, and certified nonprofits. The funding aims to enhance historical preservation efforts, ensuring that critical planning is completed to facilitate successful project execution.

The State Historical Fund's Noncompetitive Micro Grant, administered by History Colorado, supports grassroots preservation projects across the state. It offers flexible application timing for smaller-scale initiatives, including internships, workshops, and small physical projects. Eligible applicants include public entities and nonprofit organizations based in Colorado. This grant aims to foster community engagement and enhance access to historical resources, ensuring that the state's rich heritage is preserved for future generations.

The State Historical Fund offers grants for Historic Structure Assessments in Colorado, aimed at evaluating the physical condition of historic buildings. These assessments must be conducted by qualified architects or structural engineers and are crucial for making informed restoration decisions. Eligible applicants include public entities and nonprofit organizations in Colorado. Grants help ensure compliance with preservation standards and facilitate future restoration efforts. While assessments are recommended, they are not mandatory prior to applying for physical work grants.

The State Historical Fund: Emergency Grants provide crucial funding for immediate stabilization efforts when historic resources face imminent risk of damage due to unforeseen events like natural disasters. Administered by History Colorado, these grants support public entities and certified nonprofit organizations in Colorado. Timely application within three months of the incident is essential for eligibility. This program plays a vital role in preserving the state's rich cultural heritage and ensuring that significant sites are safeguarded from further harm.

The State Historical Fund: Archaeological Assessment Grant, managed by History Colorado, supports essential archaeological data collection and analysis. This funding enables projects that establish a foundation for site preservation and interpretation. Eligible applicants include public entities and nonprofit organizations within Colorado, while federal agencies and for-profit entities may partner with eligible nonprofits. This grant aims to enhance the understanding of Colorado's rich archaeological heritage through targeted assessments.

The Southwest Intervention Fund, managed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, supports preservation efforts of traditional cultures across Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, West Texas, and Utah. Grants ranging from $2,500 to $10,000 are available for local partners, nonprofits, and government agencies to address emergency threats and promote preservation planning. Eligible projects include archaeological site surveys, public awareness workshops, and legal assistance for cultural resource management, ensuring the protection of vital historic sites.

The Peter Grant Preservation Fund for Colorado, established by the National Trust, honors William W. Grant's dedication to historic preservation. Grants support the preservation of historic places in Colorado, requiring a one-to-one match from applicants. Eligible organizations include public agencies and nonprofits, with funds usable for various preservation activities. The fund aims to enhance Colorado's historic sites for future generations, adapting to current economic conditions and allowing both cash and in-kind contributions.

State Historical Fund: Preservation Trades Workforce Grant Program

The Colorado State Historical Fund (SHF) is pleased to announce the Preservation Trades Workforce Grant Program. This competitive grant supports projects that recruit, train, and prepare people for careers in Colorado's preservation trades. Through apprenticeships, internships, and hands-on learning, the program will strengthen Colorado's preservation workforce while expanding access to career opportunities for underserved communities.

This competitive grant advances the 2030 State Preservation Plan, especially::

• Goal 4: Educate & Train – Growing the skills and leadership of preservation advocates and preparing the next generation of professionals
• Objective C: Focusing on workforce development through training, certification, and partnerships

Eligible Projects and Program Focus:

• Projects must address workforce development challenges in the preservation field and focus on underserved communities across Colorado. 
• This grant prioritizes projects that train and employ people in preservation trades through apprenticeships, internships, and hands-on learning.
• This grant is focused on workforce development for preservation trades, with an emphasis on jobs and job readiness. This grant is not focused on general education or academic degree programs.
• Other key aspects of this grant include: Expanding career pathways for historically underrepresented communities, succession planning for legacy craftspeople, and building preservation capacity in rural and underserved areas.

The GFF Capital Grants by the Gates Family Foundation support capital projects for nonprofit organizations in Colorado, emphasizing community needs and sustainable development. With a focus on enhancing public resources and addressing historical inequities, the foundation prioritizes projects that foster education, environmental protection, and community development. Eligible applicants must be 501(c)(3) organizations, demonstrating strong community support and effective management. Capital grants are not given for general operating expenses, loans, or projects already completed.

State Historical Fund: Survey Plan Grants

Survey plan grants create a comprehensive document to help communities assess the current state of their survey documentation and make informed decisions regarding future architectural survey projects. This planning document is strictly related to survey and does not cover topics generally included in a larger historic preservation plan. Survey plans are often developed for entire municipalities, communities, or neighborhoods, however, they are not intended for single properties.

The survey plan evaluates previous survey work, identifies appropriate historic contexts, identifies current survey needs, and prioritizes recommendations for future survey projects. Survey plan grants require completion of a limited reconnaissance survey and incorporate public involvement to introduce the project and share results.

Survey plans should be completed by consultants that are experienced and familiar with survey and planning projects. The selected consultant should be knowledgeable in applying the Secretary of Interior's Standards for Identification and Evaluation.

Request Amount:

• Up to $20,000.

Cash Match:

• 10% for all applicants

The State Historical Fund, managed by History Colorado, supports significant preservation projects across Colorado, funded by gaming tax revenue. Established in 1990, it has awarded 4,743 grants totaling over $315 million. The Competitive General Grant, available twice annually, requires a cash match and funds requests ranging from $50,001 to $250,000. It aims to benefit historic resources and communities, particularly focusing on BIPOC projects.

The State Historical Fund: Competitive Mini Grant, administered by History Colorado, supports heritage preservation projects that demonstrate public benefit across Colorado. Established through a constitutional amendment in 1990, the fund has awarded over $315 million through nearly 4,800 grants. This program prioritizes projects that meet established historic preservation standards, offering financial support for various eligible initiatives, including those benefiting BIPOC communities, while maintaining stringent guidelines on ineligible expenses.

The CCCF: Fall Community Grants support local organizations in Chaffee, Custer, Fremont, and Lake Counties, offering two funding options totaling $50,800. Eligible applicants include 501c3, 501c4, or 501c6 organizations, focusing on health, human services, and community development. The average grant awarded in 2023 was $1,600, aimed at fostering community vitality and resilience through diverse initiatives.

Conserving Black Modernism Grant Program

The African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund (AACHAF), a program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, has launched the Conserving Black Modernism grant program through funding from and a partnership with the Getty Foundation’s Keeping it Modern initiative. The Conserving Black Modernism grant program is designed to empower and equip preservationists and stewards with funding and technical support to preserve the material heritage, innovation, and legacy of modern architectural sites designed by Black architects.

Integrated into the Action Fund’s existing National Grant Program, the Conserving Black Modernism grant program will support non-profits and municipalities to steward 16 historic assets of modern architecture through funding, technical assistance, public awareness, and education. The program will support eligible project planning activities and seeks to develop future-looking plans that model and strengthen stewardship, interpretation, and asset management. This program aims to increase recognition of Black architects and their artistic expressions as well as diversify the meaning of American modern architecture and design. The Action Fund invites proposals from a broad pool of applicants who steward these places for public benefit and access.

Grants made from Conserving Black Modernism will total $150,000 each. Funding will be flexible and can support planning activities, limited capital improvements, and indirect costs. Funding ratios will be balanced to support and prioritize comprehensive project planning needs. For example, a $150,000 project planning grant with 10% indirect can be allocated to advance a full-scale building evaluation and preservation plan. The grant period for this type of project will be 12 months.

Conserving Black Modernism grants can also support projects consisting of a mix of project planning and limited capital improvements. Funding ratios will be balanced to prioritize project planning. For example, an applicant may propose a project which allocates $90,000 for planning activities, $45,000 for capital expenses, and $15,000 for indirect expenses. The grant period for this type of project will be 18 months.

Grantees can address the building’s priority needs and experience the full cycle of planning, design, and construction. Additional grantee support will include technical assistance, promotion, and conservation management training.

Historic Asset Example Archetypes

While this is not an exhaustive list, we are particularly interested in the following 20th-century property archetypes:

• Buildings Located on HBCU Campuses
• Community and Cultural Centers
• Schools
• Libraries
• Houses and Residences
• Spaces Associated with Sports & Recreation
• Green Book Sites
• Sites associated with Women’s History
• Sites associated with LGBTQ+ History

The Robert Silman Award, presented biennially by the James Marston Fitch Charitable Foundation, recognizes innovative proposals in the preservation, restoration, or adaptive reuse of the built environment. Open to professionals in various design fields, the award encourages originality and practical applications that advance preservation in the U.S. With a funding limit of $15,000, it seeks projects that demonstrate a clear plan for dissemination and positive community impact, especially for underrepresented groups.

The Moe Family Fund for Statewide and Local Partners Grant Program, administered by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, offers grants of up to $10,000 to dues-paying members of the National Preservation Partners Network. This program focuses on strengthening preservation organizations and addressing key issues, including advocacy, capacity building, and climate change initiatives. Eligible projects should demonstrate innovation, potential impact, and a clear budget, while adhering to preservation standards and timelines.

The Preserving Black Churches Grant Program, managed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, aims to support the preservation of historic Black churches. Grants range from $50,000 to $500,000 and fund various projects, including restoration, capacity building, and community engagement. The program encourages applications from active and non-active congregations, nonprofits, and public agencies, emphasizing the importance of these churches in their communities. This initiative seeks to strengthen heritage and foster cultural connections.

Roche Corporate Donations and Philanthropy (CDP) focuses on impactful projects that foster sustainable development, engage employees, and leverage Roche's expertise. Their philanthropic efforts prioritize humanitarian, educational, environmental, and cultural initiatives, aiming to build stronger communities and support innovative projects. Eligibility is limited to local organizations, while ineligible projects include those with political or religious ties. The foundation strives to create a positive societal impact through collaboration and strategic partnerships.

The Impact100 Global Veterans Awards empower women to make a significant difference by awarding grants up to $100,000 to nonprofits that serve veterans. Focus areas include art and culture, education, health and wellness, environment, and family initiatives, promoting the well-being and support of veterans across the United States. Eligible organizations must meet specific criteria, including tax-exempt status, and are encouraged to submit proposals that utilize funds effectively within two years.

The Mishler Brown Fund Grant, managed by the Community Foundation of Elkhart County, supports nonprofits dedicated to agriculture and historic preservation. Applications are accepted annually from October 1 to December 31, with funds awarded in January. Organizations must have a 501(c)(3) status but do not need to be located in Elkhart County. The fund honors Helen Mishler's legacy by preserving farming heritage, including her family's historic homestead.

The Valley Foundation Grant aims to enhance the quality of life in Santa Clara County and beyond by supporting qualified 501(c)(3) organizations. Focused on educational, historical, and preservation initiatives, the Foundation provides essential funding to groups dedicated to societal improvement. By fostering partnerships with like-minded entities, The Valley Foundation strives to create lasting positive change through its grant-making efforts.

The Siletz Tribal Charitable Contribution Fund, established by the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, has distributed over $16.3 million in grants since 1999. It supports charitable organizations and local governments in eleven Oregon counties, as well as Native American initiatives across the U.S. The fund prioritizes education, health, public safety, addiction prevention, housing, arts, and environmental preservation, ensuring the Tribe's commitment to community support and cultural heritage.

The Alvah H. and Wyline P. Chapman Foundation offers grants to support charitable, educational, and community-focused initiatives, primarily in Florida and Georgia. Eligible applicants must be IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) organizations. The foundation prioritizes projects that address children's welfare, education, multicultural understanding, substance abuse prevention, and homelessness. Grants typically do not exceed $15,000, and proposals must be endorsed by a Foundation Director. Interested parties should submit a Letter of Inquiry for consideration.

The David Kelby Johnson Memorial Foundation offers grants to 501(c)(3) organizations focused on sight preservation, children's services, and environmental conservation, primarily in Utah. Established in memory of David Kelby Johnson, who tragically lost his life at a young age, the foundation aims to honor his legacy by supporting impactful charitable initiatives. Grants range from $5,000 to $100,000, with a commitment to improving communities both locally and globally.