In addition to the grants offered through Maine Preservation, grants for rehabilitation of historic properties may be available for your project from other organizations.
Maine-Based Resources
The Maine Historic Preservation Commission (MHPC) offers several grants and assists with administering several others on behalf of the National Park Service. Contact the MHPC to learn about the following programs:
Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) Grants are one-to-one matching grants for architectural or archaeological survey or development or pre-development projects. Grants range between $5,000 and $24,995. Eligible properties must be listed in the National Register of Historic Places and eligible applicants are limited to state agencies, county governments, municipal governments, educational institutions, and private non-profit institutions as defined by the Internal Revenue Service. The source of the funds is the Federal HPF and applications are generally available in the late winter. All HPF Grants are governed by the rules and regulations in the National Park Service Historic Preservation Fund Grant Manual (PDF).
Certified Local Government (CLG) Grants CLG grants are also funded by the Federal HPF and carry many of the same requirements as the HPF grants with two important distinctions: eligible applicants are limited to the CLG certified communities in Maine and a 40% match is required rather than a 50% match. Applications are generally available in January.
New Century Community Grants As state program funds are available, the Commission makes matching grants to eligible non-profit and community based organizations for the restoration or preservation of historic properties listed in the Register.
History of Equal Rights Grant Program (HER) The HER Grant Program will preserve sites related to the struggle to achieve the ideal of equal rights in America. HER Grants are administered by the National Park Service and will fund a broad range of preservation projects for historic sites. They are awarded through a competitive process and do not require a non-Federal match.
African American Civil Rights Grant Program (AACR) The AACR Grant Program will document, interpret, and preserve sites telling the full story of the long struggle for African American civil rights. The National Park Service administers the grant program and will fund a broad range of preservation projects including survey and inventory, National Register nominations, oral histories and more.
Maritime Heritage Grants The Grants Program is administered by the National Maritime Heritage Program (NMHP) of the National Park Service in partnership with the Maritime Administration (MarAd). It provides funding for education and preservation projects designed to preserve historic maritime resources and to increase public awareness and appreciation for the maritime heritage of the United States. All grants awarded must be matched on a 1-to-1 basis with non-Federal assets.
Save America’s Treasures (SAT) Grants SAT grants provide preservation and/or conservation assistance to nationally significant historic properties and collections. Grants are awarded through a competitive process and require a dollar-for-dollar, non-Federal match. The subject property must be a National Historic Landmark or listed in the Register at the national level of significance.
The Belvedere Historic Preservation and Energy Efficiency Grant Program invests in the preservation and restoration of historic buildings in Maine. Grants from this fund focus on capital investments in historic buildings that serve as civic, cultural, or economic hubs for communities. The program also supports efforts to preserve documents, artifacts, and books as well as record keeping such as digitizing collections and creating exhibits. Learn more about this grant program here.
Davis Family Foundation supports education, health, and arts and cultural initiatives. Applications are accepted four times per year.
Morton-Kelly Charitable Trust issues grants to support conservation, preservation, culture, and education in Maine. Awards are made once per year and applications are due by October 1.
The Betterment Fund focuses on education, health, conservation, and community support and prioritizes projects in the Western Mountains region of Maine. Applications are accepted two times per year.
National Resources
National Trust for Historic Preservation provides grants primarily for planning and education projects.
Partners for Sacred Places provides grants for 1) the planning and execution of urgent capital projects at historic churches that are valued for their cultural importance as well as their role in providing human services, strengthening communities, and revitalizing neighborhoods and 2) training, capacity-building and technical assistance to ensure that grant-funded projects are successfully planned and implemented.
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) provides low interest direct loans and grants through its Community Facilities Program to develop essential community facilities, which are defined as facilities that provide an essential service to a primarily rural, local community, and do not include private, commercial, or business undertakings. Some examples include medical clinics, town halls, community centers, transitional housing, police & fire stations, museums, libraries, school, and community food hubs.
