Best Grants for Historic Buildings in Guam

Organizations in Guam working on historic preservation, documentation, or research can access funding through Guam Preservation Trust to protect the island’s historic sites, buildings, and cultural heritage. Grants support activities such as historic property documentation, restoration or renovation of historic structures, public interpretation, ethnography and oral history, archival work, and archaeological research.

Guam organizations planning community-benefit projects, including historic preservation efforts, can access funding for eligible initiatives through the Guam Economic Development Authority’s Qualifying Certificate Community Contribution Grant Program. This program offers up to US $25,000 to support projects in areas such as historic preservation, public safety, primary health care, higher education, and economic development across the island.

Congregations planning major preservation or accessibility projects at historic houses of worship in Guam can seek matching grants of US $50,000 - US $500,000 for capital improvements. Grants from Partners for Sacred Places support community-serving, historically significant sacred buildings with structural repairs, ADA upgrades, and renovations that make space usable for outreach.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations serving veterans through art, culture, education, environment, family, or health initiatives in Guam and other U.S. territories can seek funding to launch or expand projects. Impact100 Global Veterans provides up to US $100,000 for programs, including those involving historic preservation or heritage sites important to veterans’ communities.

The Peter H. Brink Leadership Fund, supported by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, aims to enhance the capabilities of preservation organizations through mentoring and organizational development. Grants cover travel and mentor honoraria, fostering collaboration and peer-to-peer learning. Applications are accepted year-round on a rolling basis, prioritizing those who previously applied but did not receive funding. Eligible applicants include Forum members and nonprofit organizations, with a focus on innovative ideas for mentorship opportunities.

Guam historic preservation and cultural institutions caring for collections can access recognition through the Ross Merrill Award, honoring exemplary, long-term preservation and conservation efforts. Presented by the Foundation for Advancement in Conservation, this non-monetary North American award highlights organizations whose conservation planning, professional leadership, and community outreach around historic buildings and cultural property can serve as a model for others.

Public agencies and nonprofit organizations in Guam towns with populations of 10,000 or less can seek funding for historic preservation planning and education projects. Grants from National Trust for Historic Preservation help Guam historic preservation efforts with US $2,500 - US $15,000 for consultant fees, feasibility studies, community forums, and outreach materials in small-town settings.

Public agencies and nonprofit organizations in Guam working on historic interior preservation projects can apply for US $2,500 - US $15,000 to support planning, education, and restoration activities. The National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Cynthia Woods Mitchell Fund can help fund professional expertise, interior restoration plans, conservation plans, furnishings plans, workshops, and related project costs.

Public agencies and nonprofit organizations in Guam working on historic preservation planning, education, or restoration projects can apply for US $2,500 - US $15,000 in matching funds from the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Funding can cover consultant fees, conferences, communications, and some construction costs for designated historic sites, including National Historic Landmarks.

Focused on historic preservation, this program invites Guam public agencies and 501(c)(3) nonprofits to seek US $150,000 for planning and limited capital work on modern buildings designed by Black architects. Funding supports research, conservation plans, feasibility studies, and other planning activities for historic structures that serve the public.

Individual engineers, architects, and other preservation-related professionals in the U.S., including those working with Guam historic buildings, can receive up to US $15,000 for innovative preservation, restoration, or adaptive reuse proposals. James Marston Fitch Charitable Foundation supports projects that advance historic preservation practice and share results through papers, lectures, exhibitions, or similar dissemination.

Historic preservation organizations in Guam that are dues-paying members of the National Preservation Partners Network can access funding for advocacy, capacity building, or climate-related projects. The National Trust for Historic Preservation offers up to US $10,000 for eligible project expenses such as staff time, consultants, training, research, and outreach to strengthen preservation efforts.

Historic preservation organizations, public agencies, and entities representing historic Black churches can seek US $50,000 - US $500,000 for capital projects, planning, programming, endowments, and capacity-building for Black houses of worship, including in Guam. Focused on historic preservation, the National Trust for Historic Preservation supports stewardship of significant Black religious buildings and related structures.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations working on farming, agriculture, or historic preservation of farms, barns, equipment, or natural resources in Guam and across the U.S. may be eligible for project-based support. Community Foundation of Elkhart County’s Mishler Brown Fund considers requests sized to match the scope of proposed preservation or agriculture-related projects.

Historic preservation nonprofits in Guam can apply for support to run educational, historical, and preservation programs that improve quality of life. Valley Foundation provides U.S. 501(c)(3) organizations with grants for work that benefits residents and communities, and Guam-based groups with relevant historic building projects may be eligible.

Historic preservation and other charitable organizations, plus local governments, can access funding through the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians for projects in education, health, public safety, housing, the arts, environment, and cultural and historic preservation. Native American organizations across the U.S., including those serving Guam, may be eligible if they meet the fund’s criteria.

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.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations and public agencies in Guam can apply for IBMA Foundation project grants of US $1,000 - US $2,500 to support bluegrass-related arts, education, literary, or history preservation projects. Historic building stewards may be eligible when projects focus on bluegrass music and related cultural or educational activities.

Historic preservation organizations in Guam seeking support for Confederate and Southern heritage projects can apply for funding to preserve or restore artifacts, buildings, monuments, cemeteries, and other historic sites. The Order of the Southern Cross typically assists projects that already have about half of their total funding secured and aims to help applicants complete their preservation work.

College-bound or current students in history, museum studies, historic preservation, archives, library science, archaeology, anthropology, art or architectural history, or traditional trades can apply for the Jay A. Graybeal Scholarship, awarding US $1,000. Students in Guam pursuing these fields may be eligible through the Community Foundation of Carroll County.

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.

The Americana Foundation's American Heritage Grant aims to support projects that broaden inclusivity in early American art and narratives, especially for underrepresented groups. Recognizing the historical significance of Americana, the foundation prioritizes initiatives that promote understanding and appreciation of America's diverse heritage. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations and municipal entities. The foundation encourages innovative projects that reinterpret early American material culture, fostering a deeper connection to the past for future generations.

The John Ben Snow Memorial Trust Grant supports educational programs and initiatives that assist individuals demonstrating financial need. Founded in 1975, it prioritizes funding for organizations that enhance educational opportunities, arts, culture, and community initiatives, particularly for youth and disadvantaged populations. The Trust encourages proposals from 501(c)(3) organizations, with grants typically ranging from $10,000 to $20,000. It also considers limited proposals in disabilities, environmental protection, and historic preservation, focusing on educational impact.

The James Marston Fitch Mid-Career Fellowship offers research grants up to $15,000 for mid-career professionals in fields like historic preservation, architecture, and urban design. Applicants must demonstrate a commitment to innovative research and a clear dissemination plan. The fellowship encourages impactful projects that contribute significantly to the field, ensuring that only qualified individuals can apply, as it does not fund organizational projects or dissertation research.

The Richard L. Blinder Award, presented biennially by the James Marston Fitch Charitable Foundation, recognizes architects and professionals in historic preservation for innovative proposals that advance architectural preservation in the U.S. The award encourages originality, whether through real projects or polemical exercises. With a funding limit of $15,000, recipients must demonstrate a need for their study and a realistic dissemination plan within 24 months, contributing to the preservation community.

The GRAMMY Museum Grants Program supports scientific research projects focused on the impact of music on the human condition. With a maximum award of $20,000, it funds initiatives that explore music's effects on mood, cognition, and healing, as well as its role in the well-being of music professionals. Grants aim to advance the preservation of music heritage and foster innovative research methodologies, prioritizing projects with broad public accessibility.