Best Preservation Grants in Delaware

County and local governments and 501(c)(3) community-based or private nonprofits in Delaware can apply for the Community Reinvestment Fund, a capital grant program for redevelopment, revitalization, and investment projects. Funding from the Delaware General Assembly can support initiatives that enhance economic, cultural, historical, recreational, and preservation-related assets in local communities.

Public agencies and nonprofit organizations in Delaware planning historic preservation or education projects can apply for National Trust for Historic Preservation’s National Trust Preservation Funds, with awards of US $2,500 - US $5,000. Funding supports planning, technical expertise, and outreach to advance local preservation efforts, with a one-to-one cash or in-kind match required.

Historic preservation and related nonprofits in Delaware can seek project-focused grants supporting arts, education, human services, and preservation initiatives. With a mission rooted in community philanthropy, Bank of America Fdn Mc naughton provides 501(c)(3) public charities with US $5,000 - US $40,000, generally for one-year, program-specific funding rather than general operations.

Historic preservation nonprofits and organizations in Delaware and other Mid-Atlantic states can seek funding for planning, education, and outreach projects that protect natural and cultural resources. The National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Henry A. Jordan, M.D., Preservation Excellence Fund offers up to US $7,500 for activities like preservation planning, community forums, and innovative public education efforts.

Grants from The Stewart Huston Charitable Trust help Delaware historic preservation and community organizations fund secular charitable projects within 100 miles of Coatesville, Pennsylvania. Eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofits may seek support for specific projects or operations in areas like community development, cultural heritage, historic preservation, and related civic initiatives that address demonstrated community needs.

The J.W. Couch Foundation Grant focuses on supporting Wildlife Conservation nonprofit organizations that align with their mission of community betterment and environmental protection. The foundation seeks partnerships with organizations that promote animal wellbeing, early childhood education, teacher support, and outdoor activities. Eligible applicants must be registered 501(c)3 nonprofits or for-profit entities aligned with their charitable programs. This grant emphasizes collaboration and community engagement to create lasting impacts.

Delaware historic preservation nonprofits and 501(c)(3) organizations can access funding through the Alma Gibbs Donchian Foundation for community preservation projects and related initiatives. Grants up to US $10,000 primarily support work in Vermont but may also benefit preservation efforts elsewhere that align with priorities like community preservation and fundamental values programming.

Historic preservation nonprofits and public agencies in Delaware can seek funding for peer mentoring and leadership development, including travel reimbursement and mentor honoraria. Focused on organizational capacity-building, the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Peter H. Brink Leadership Fund supports staff and board development, fundraising, advocacy, and management improvements for eligible Forum or Main Street America member organizations.

North American not-for-profit organizations responsible for cultural property and collections care can be nominated for the Ross Merrill Award, honoring exemplary, long-term preservation and conservation work. Administered by the Foundation for Advancement in Conservation, this non-monetary award may recognize Delaware institutions with strong conservation planning, community outreach, and professional stewardship of historic or cultural collections.

Delaware congregations with community-serving historic houses of worship can access funding through the National Fund for Sacred Places, receiving US $50,000 - US $500,000 for major capital preservation projects. Administered by Partners for Sacred Places with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, this national program supports urgent repairs, accessibility improvements, and rehabilitation that respect historic character.

Public agencies and nonprofit organizations planning historic preservation projects in small towns (population 10,000 or less) in Delaware and across the U.S. can seek US $2,500 - US $15,000 for planning and education efforts. Focused on preservation, National Trust for Historic Preservation invites applicants to fund professional consulting, feasibility studies, community forums, and public outreach materials.

Public agencies and nonprofit organizations in Delaware preserving historic interiors can apply for the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Fund, with awards of US $2,500 - US $15,000 for planning, education, and interior restoration projects. Eligible projects include professional consulting, interior restoration plans, conservation plans, furnishings plans, workshops, and bricks-and-mortar interior work, with a required dollar-for-dollar cash match.

Public agencies and nonprofit organizations planning or implementing historic preservation projects in Delaware and nationwide can seek US $2,500 - US $15,000 for planning, education, and bricks-and-mortar work. With a mission to preserve historic environments, the National Trust for Historic Preservation funds consultant services, preservation programs, communications, conferences, and restoration with a required dollar-for-dollar cash match.

Public agencies and 501(c)(3) nonprofits in Delaware preserving modern buildings designed by Black architects can seek US $150,000 planning-focused grants for historic assets. Focused on architectural conservation, the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Conserving Black Modernism program supports research, preservation planning, limited capital improvements, and technical assistance for significant 20th-century sites open for public benefit.

Individual engineers, architects, and other preservation-related professionals in Delaware can seek funding for innovative proposals in historic preservation, restoration, or adaptive reuse of the built environment. The James Marston Fitch Charitable Foundation’s Robert Silman Award offers up to US $15,000 for U.S.-based projects that advance preservation practice and share results with the wider preservation community.

Historic preservation nonprofits in Delaware that are dues-paying members of the National Preservation Partners Network can seek up to US $10,000 to advance advocacy, capacity building, or climate-related preservation projects. The Moe Family Fund for Statewide and Local Partners from the National Trust for Historic Preservation supports innovative, catalytic efforts that strengthen preservation organizations and programs.

Delaware entities stewarding historic Black churches can access funding through the National Trust for Historic Preservation to support preservation-focused capital projects, planning, programming, and organizational capacity. Eligible applicants include historic Black congregations, 501(c)(3) nonprofits, and public agencies, with grants ranging from US $50,000 - US $500,000 for bricks-and-mortar work, endowments, staffing, and interpretive initiatives.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations serving veterans with preservation, education, arts, or wellness projects in Delaware and across the U.S. can seek up to US $100,000 for new or expanding programs. With a mission to empower women to make transformative grants, Impact100 Global Veterans provides large, two-year project awards in defined focus areas.

Historic preservation and conservation nonprofits in Delaware can seek support for projects involving farms, barns, agricultural heritage, or natural resource preservation. Community Foundation of Elkhart County provides U.S. 501(c)(3) organizations with Mishler Brown Fund grants, which may benefit Delaware groups working on agriculture-related historic preservation initiatives.

Historic preservation and related cultural or educational 501(c)(3) organizations in Delaware may be eligible for support from the Valley Foundation, which funds work across the U.S. Focused on improving quality of life, it backs educational, historical, and preservation programs that strengthen communities and safeguard heritage resources.

Nonprofit and local government organizations working on historic preservation, cultural heritage, and related charitable projects can apply for funding from the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians. Focused on preservation and community well-being, the fund supports eligible organizations within its Oregon service area and Native American organizations across the U.S., which may include preservation-focused groups beyond Delaware.

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.

Our Story

The IBMA Foundation was created by the International Bluegrass Music Association in 2007 with a bequest from the Richard Barnhart estate. Mr. Barnhart was a musician from northern Virginia who loved bluegrass and wanted to support educational programs for children. Since the beginning, our goal has been to support bluegrass-music-related educational, literary, artistic and historic preservation activities.

In our early years we produced Discover Bluegrass, an educational video that has been used in thousands of classrooms and libraries around the world. We have hosted dozens of teacher workshops and artist trainings. We created a bluegrass lesson plan competition and provided a network for leaders of after-school bluegrass programs.

Our project grants, which now total $25,000 a year, support bluegrass-related initiatives throughout the world. We also fund Bluegrass in the Schools Mini-grants ($7,000/year) which help schools to hire bluegrass bands for school programs. The Rosenberg Bluegrass Scholar Award recognizes excellence in academic research. Six college scholarships are granted for students working in various areas of the bluegrass music industry. The Arnold Shultz Fund supports increased participation of people of color in bluegrass music with grants that total $30,000/ year. Fletcher Bright Memorial Grants for Young Musicians (age 18 and younger) help young people go to bluegrass music camps and workshops, take lessons, and purchase educational materials.

IBMA  Foundation Project Grants

The IBMA Foundation awards project grants each year, usually in amounts between $1,000 and $2,500. The deadline to apply is December 2, 2024. Projects must align with the Foundation’s mission in one of the following areas

• Arts & culture
• Education
• Literary or academic programs
• History preservation

The Society of the Order of the Southern Cross Grant aims to support charitable projects that preserve and restore Southern heritage artifacts and locations. Eligible projects may include military artifacts, monuments, and historical sites. Organizations typically need to secure 50% of necessary funding before applying. The Order encourages discussions for projects that may not meet standard funding levels, emphasizing their commitment to preserving cultural heritage.

The Community Foundation of Carroll County supports nearly 70 academic, sports, special circumstances, and 4-H scholarships. Search scholarships by name, or sort by application type.

Jay A. Graybeal Scholarship

The purpose of the Jay A. Graybeal Scholarship is to provide scholarships to college bound high school students, or students currently enrolled in undergraduate studies or pursuing post-graduate studies in general history or a specialty area of studies in history to include but not limited to; museum studies, archival management, library science, historic preservation, material culture, American Studies, archaeology, anthropology, art or architectural history or preservation technology; or to students pursuing a recognized certification or apprentice program dedicated to traditional arts, industries, trades or crafts.

The Scholarship amount is $1,000.

National Main Street Center Inc.

Main Street America (MSA) leads an inclusive, impact-driven movement dedicated to reenergizing and strengthening older and historic downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts through place-based economic development and community preservation. We work in collaboration with thousands of local partners and grassroots leaders across the nation who share our commitment to advancing shared prosperity, creating resilient economies, and improving quality of life.

Main Street America was founded in 1980 as the National Main Street Center®, a program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Over the past 40 years the MSA network has helped to generate over $115.27 billion in local reinvestment, rehab 345,801 buildings, create 815,894 new jobs, and start 181,647 new businesses in over 2,000 communities. 

Great American Main Street Awards

Main Street America celebrates communities whose successes serve as a model for comprehensive, preservation-based revitalization efforts in their historic downtowns and commercial corridor districts with the Great American Main Street Awards (GAMSA).

Winners represent the diversity of communities in the Main Street America network — small towns, mid-sized communities, and urban commercial districts from every region in the country — and demonstrate the power of the Main Street Approach™. Since the inception of the Great American Main Street Awards in 1995, 118 Main Street programs have been honored.

Selection Criteria: Semifinalists and winners are selected from a nationwide pool of applicants by a jury of Main Street professionals and leaders in the fields of community and economic development and historic preservation. Criteria for winning GAMSA include: strength of the Main Street program in spurring community transformation, commitment to historic preservation, innovative programming, implementation of cross-sector partnerships, community outreach and stakeholder engagement, and ensuring their downtown districts are for everyone. 

Accolades & Ceremony: Semifinalists are promoted through Main Street America’s digital channels and receive media relations support. Winners also receive a short documentary film, a plaque, communications and media relations support, prominent placement on the Main Street America website for two years, and recognition at the 2027 Main Street Now Conference in Detroit, Michigan.