Best Preservation Grants in Maine

Qualified 501(c)(3) organizations working on historic preservation and related services in Maine and beyond can seek project funding, primarily for work conducted in Utah. David Kelby Johnson Memorial Foundation provides U.S. nonprofits with US $5,000 - US $100,000 for initiatives in historic preservation, sight and eye care, children’s services, elder advocacy, environmental conservation, and drunk driving prevention.

Historic preservation nonprofits and public agencies in Maine that are Organizational Level Forum or Main Street America members can apply for National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Peter H. Brink Leadership Fund, awarding up to US $2,500 for travel and mentor honoraria. Funding supports peer mentoring to strengthen fundraising, real estate, advocacy, board development, and organizational capacity.

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.

Maine historic preservation organizations that are dues-paying members of the National Preservation Partners Network can access funding through the Moe Family Fund for Statewide and Local Partners to support advocacy, capacity building, or climate change projects. Grants from the National Trust for Historic Preservation provide up to US $10,000 with a required one-to-one match for eligible project expenses.

Historic preservation nonprofits and community organizations in Maine can seek up to US $10,000 for tangible, long-lasting projects such as building restoration, document digitization, artifact conservation, markers, and cemetery monument work. Grants from National Society Daughters of the American Revolution require local DAR chapter sponsorship and secured matching funds, and may favor Colonial-through-Federal period projects.

Educational, medical, and cultural/arts 501(c)(3) organizations serving Maine can seek project-specific support to improve learning, healthcare, or cultural experiences and preservation. Davis Family Foundation prioritizes innovative, evidence-based, and non-recurring projects that benefit Maine residents, including initiatives that preserve important cultural and historic elements of Maine and expand access for year-round communities.

Maine 501(c)(3) organizations that own or hold long-term leases on historic sites can apply for matching grants supporting exterior preservation work. The 1772 Foundation, partnering with Maine Preservation, offers up to US $10,000 for projects like painting, roof, window, porch, structural, masonry, and safety system upgrades, with required maintenance and conditions plans.

The Betterment Fund Grant provides financial support ranging from $10,000 to $35,000 annually, aimed at enhancing education, health, conservation, and community support in Maine. The fund prioritizes systemic community initiatives that address essential human needs while favoring projects with a proven track record in grant management. Special attention is given to projects in the Western Mountains region, although broader applications that meet their criteria may also be considered.

Nonprofit and charitable organizations working on food security, water conservation, or community initiatives in Maine can seek project support through the Mosaic Company Foundation. With a mission to help the world grow the food it needs, Mosaic provides grants to 501(c)(3) and equivalent organizations in North America where it operates, which may include preservation-related efforts.

501(c)(3) nonprofits in Maine communities where Penn National Gaming operates can apply for Penn National Gaming Foundation grants to support community development, education, human services, cultural programs, health, and veteran and military support. Maine organizations working on local historic or community preservation within these focus areas may be eligible.

Environmental and conservation nonprofits working on multi-state or national projects in the U.S., including Maine, can seek funding for climate, clean water, toxics, and waste initiatives. Grants from Roy A Hunt Foundation help organizations implement project management, outreach, applied research, and policy-oriented innovations that may benefit preservation-focused groups with environmental components. Awards range from US $25,000 - US $75,000.

Eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofits, faith institutions, and public entities in Maine can apply for Sam L. Cohen Foundation grants up to Up to US $50,000 to support arts, education, civic, health, and Jewish cultural programs. Projects in Cumberland and York Counties that strengthen communities and may include preservation-related work could be competitive.

Eligible 501(c)(3), 501(c)(7), government, and other nonprofit organizations in Maine can seek up to US $10,000 to support off-road trail development, maintenance, safety education, and land access projects. The Polaris Foundation provides funding for U.S. and Canadian groups, which may benefit Maine organizations preserving and managing outdoor trail resources.

The Annual Grant supports organizations enhancing the Peaks Island community by reducing economic barriers, improving medical and social services, and providing educational access. Eligible projects include capacity-building, general support, and specific project grants. Applications must be submitted online by 11:59 pm on March 1st, or the next business day if that date falls on a weekend or holiday. Clear financial documentation is required to ensure transparency and accountability in funding.

Maine 501(c)(3) charities, local governments, Tribal and religious organizations can seek funding for basic needs, humane animal care, health care, public media, or environmental projects. Grants from Doree Taylor Charitable Foundation help Maine organizations, especially in Boothbay Harbor, Southport, and Brunswick, with program, general operating, and occasional capital support that may also benefit preservation-related efforts.

Publishers, infrastructure providers, and other non-commercial organizations worldwide can seek €7,500 - €15,000 to build capacity for open access scholarly books and related infrastructure, including projects in Maine. Focused on open access publishing, Open Book Collective invites initiatives that strengthen distribution, preservation, and community-led networks for OA books and infrastructures.

The Maine Recreational Trails Program (RTP) Grants support the development and maintenance of recreational trails for both motorized and non-motorized uses. Funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation, RTP grants cover up to 80% of project costs, with a focus on enhancing trail access, safety, and environmental education. Eligible applicants include non-profits, municipalities, and state agencies. The program aims to foster diverse trail use, promote tourism, and ensure accessibility for all users, including those with disabilities.

Maine rural or tribal governments, nonprofits, and planning or university partners with communities under 50,000 residents can receive up to US $6,000 plus intensive design assistance to tackle local design challenges. Focused on rural development and creative placemaking, the Citizens’ Institute on Rural Design supports projects that may include historic preservation and adaptive reuse of community buildings.

Language activists and researchers working on endangered language documentation or revitalization in Maine and worldwide can apply for Endangered Language Fund’s Language Legacies Grants, awarding up to US $2,000 for fieldwork, consultant fees, equipment, travel, and related costs. Projects must involve languages at risk of disappearing within one or two generations.

The John Sage Foundation supports projects that enhance the relationship between people and the natural environment, primarily in Maine. Since its inception in 1992, it has funded various initiatives, including land acquisition, water testing, and environmental education. The foundation is open to funding a range of projects but may concentrate its resources on a single entity in a grant cycle. Notably, it does not support political advocacy efforts.

Maine 501(c)(3) organizations seeking support for historic preservation, open space conservation, animal welfare, education, or Maine history and culture can apply for donations up to US $5,000. The Elsie & William Viles Foundation prioritizes charitable groups in Maine’s Capital Region for these smaller “Donation” requests, which have a separate application process from its larger grants.

Environmental nonprofits focused on conservation and advocacy in Maine can access funding through the Fund for Wild Nature to protect wild species and ecosystems. Eligible applicants are small, tax-exempt organizations in the U.S. or Canada with budgets under $250,000 and no government support; preservation-focused groups working on ecological protection may be competitive.

The Battlefield Preservation Fund Grant aims to support initiatives that preserve battlefields and related historic sites. This funding encourages planning and educational efforts, particularly those that engage new audiences in preservation activities. Eligible applicants include public agencies and nonprofits in specified states. Grants can be used for staff support, consultant fees, and educational materials. Applicants must provide a one-to-one match for funding, ensuring strong community involvement in preservation efforts.

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.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations working on biodiversity and habitat conservation, environmental education, or related advocacy in Maine and beyond can apply for Weeden Foundation grants of US $10,000 - US $30,000. Grants from Weeden Foundation help Maine preservation and conservation groups protect wildlife, habitats, and ecosystems through research, policy work, land acquisition, and education initiatives.

Historic preservation and arts organizations in Maine working on preservation-related projects can apply for funding that typically ranges from US $2,500 - US $10,000. Focus areas for the Adelard and Valeda Roy Foundation include historic preservation, museums, arts and culture access, and education, especially for low-income youth, immigrants, refugees, Indigenous communities, and the elderly.

Historic preservation and conservation-focused nonprofits in Maine can seek project or operating support for arts, culture, historic sites, and environmental initiatives. Morton-Kelly Charitable Trust offers up to US $20,000 for community-based cultural facility improvements, restoration of significant historic structures, and related environmental stewardship and education efforts that deepen connections between people and place.