Preservation Funding
A curated list of grants, incentives and financial resources to help protect and revitalize historic places
A curated list of grants, incentives and financial resources to help protect and revitalize historic places
Image: Richards Medical Research Laboratories, Philadelphia, 2020 Pennsylvania Historic Preservation Award
Preserving historic architecture protects more than buildings – it safeguards cultural identity, strengthens communities, and supports a sustainable future.
Historic structures connect us to our past, reduce environmental impact through reuse, and serve as gathering places that drive economic vitality. Modern conservation methods now allow these buildings to be carefully restored, upgraded for energy efficiency, and adapted for contemporary use, ensuring they remain relevant, accessible, and resilient for generations to come.
Limited or uncertain funding can significantly impede the progress of preservation efforts. To help move projects forward, we’re sharing a range of potential funding resources to explore.
Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission (PHMC) grants are dependent on the annual allocation of funds in the state budget. Grant programs are available for nonprofit organizations and local governments. For the most up-to-date information about Commonwealth-sponsored grant funding, guidelines and deadlines, visit the PHMC website.
The Louis J. Appell, Jr., Preservation Fund for Central Pennsylvania is a grant program designed to encourage local preservation, increase public awareness of regional heritage, and assist in stabilizing or repairing historic structures. Managed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, it provides funding for the maintenance, restoration and preservation of historic sites in 21 Central Pennsylvania counties. It supports nonprofits and municipalities with grants for bricks-and-mortar preservation and technical assistance. Grant applications in the range of $5,000 – $15,000 will be accepted.
There are three rounds of grant funding with deadlines of February 1, June 1 and October 1.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Henry A. Jordan, M.D., Preservation Excellence Fund provides funding to deserving organizations demonstrating commitment to the protection of natural and cultural resources in the Mid-Atlantic region.
The endowed fund supports innovative projects and programs in Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. The fund awards funding to programs and activities that:
Applicants can apply for up to $7,500.
National funding opportunities from the National Trust for Historic Preservation include the National Trust Preservation Funds; the Johanna Favrot Fund for Historic Preservation; the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Fund for Historic Interiors, and two loan programs.
The National Trust Preservation Funds includes funds that provide two types of assistance to nonprofit organizations and public agencies: 1) matching grants from $2,500 to $5,000 for preservation planning and educational efforts and 2) intervention funds for preservation emergencies. Matching grant funds may be used to obtain professional expertise in areas such as architecture, archaeology, engineering, preservation planning, land-use planning, and law, as well as to provide preservation education activities to educate the public.
The Johanna Favrot Fund for Historic Preservation provides nonprofit organizations and public agencies grants ranging from $2,500 to $15,000 for projects that contribute to the preservation or the recapture of an authentic sense of place. Individuals and for-profit businesses may apply only if the project for which funding is requested involves a National Historic Landmark. Funds may be used for professional advice, conferences, workshops and education programs.
The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Fund for Historic Interiors provides nonprofit organizations and public agencies grants ranging from $2,500 to $15,000 to assist in the preservation, restoration and interpretation of historic interiors. Individuals and for-profit businesses may apply only if the project for which funding is requested involves a National Historic Landmark. Funds may be used for professional expertise, print and video communications materials, and education programs.
The National Trust Community Investment Corporation (NTCIC) makes equity investments in the rehabilitation of historic properties eligible for the 20 percent federal historic rehabilitation tax credit, and where available, state historic tax credits and the New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC). NTCIC invests in projects that have at least $6 million in total development costs and that generate at least $1.5 million in historic tax credit equity. Tax-exempt nonprofit organizations and public-sector developers may be eligible for an NTCIC equity investment by creating a limited liability partnership. NTCIC has a special interest in those projects with a high community benefit.
NTCIC pays a referral fee to national trust advisors, regional offices, statewide and local partners, and Main Street programs who refer deals that ultimately result in an equity investment by NTCIC.
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The Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grant Program, named in honor of the late preservation leader from Vermont, fosters economic development in rural communities through the rehabilitation of historic buildings in those communities. Administered by the National Park Service, the program provides recipients (referred to as prime grantees) with a single grant that is then regranted in smaller amounts to individual projects (subgrants).
Partners for Sacred Places, founded in 1989, is the only national, non-sectarian, nonprofit organization focused on building the capacity of congregations and communities to preserve and make the most of historic sacred places. They bring together congregations, civic leaders, and communities to find ways to maintain and revitalize America’s older and historic houses of worship. Through consulting, training, grants, and other services, they help sacred places across the country stay vital, adaptable and central to the communities they serve.
The Certified Local Government Program (CLG) is a preservation partnership between local, state and national governments focused on promoting historic preservation at the grassroots level. The program is jointly administered by the National Park Service (NPS) and the State Historic Preservation Offices (SHPOs) in each state, with each local community working through a certification process to become recognized as a Certified Local Government (CLG). CLGs then become an active partner in the Federal Historic Preservation Program and the opportunities it provides.
Grant application deadline is generally mid-January of each year.
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Federal Tax Credits
The historic rehabilitation tax credit is the nation’s largest federal incentive promoting urban and rural revitalization through private investment in reusing historic buildings. The credit allows the owner of a certified historic structure to receive a federal income tax credit equal to 20 percent of the amount spent on qualified rehabilitation costs. There is also a 10 percent credit for older, non-historic buildings. Since it was enacted in 1976, the credit has been widely used as an effective tool for transforming vacant and underutilized buildings into safe, decent and – in many cases – affordable places to live and do business.
The National Park Service’s Introduction to Federal Tax Credits for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings is a series of four guides (downloadable PDF files) designed for small projects and first-time program users.
Barns
Main Street commercial buildings
Rowhouses
Wood frame houses
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Rehabilitation Investment Tax Credits (RITC) are the most widely used historic preservation incentive program. Certain expenses incurred in connection with rehabilitating an old building are eligible for a tax credit. RITCs are available to owners and certain long-term lessors of income-producing properties. There are two rates: 20% for a historic building and 10% for a non-historic building, with different qualifying criteria for each rate.