Connecticut Trust For Historic Preservation (Preservation Connecticut)

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $242,387 (2024 grants)
Success Rate: 21-31% (varies by program)
Decision Time: 5-6 months typical
Grant Range: $1,213 - $15,000
Geographic Focus: Connecticut statewide
Total Assets: $2,772,949

Contact Details

Main Contact: Stefon Danczuk, Field Service and Program Coordinator
Email: sdanczuk@preservationct.org

Address: Hamden, CT

Technical Assistance: Circuit Riders available for pre-application site visits and consultation

Overview

Connecticut Trust For Historic Preservation, operating as Preservation Connecticut since 2019, was established by special acts of the Connecticut State Legislature in 1975 and 1985. With total assets of $2.8 million and annual revenue of $6.2 million (fiscal year 2024), the organization serves as Connecticut's statewide historic preservation advocacy and support organization. Led by Executive Director Jane Montanaro since 2005, Preservation Connecticut operates multiple grant programs, a preservation easements program protecting 39 properties, and a unique Circuit Riders technical assistance program. Since 2003, the organization has helped distribute over $9 million in matching grants to local governments, nonprofit organizations, and private property owners. In 2024, the organization was awarded a Four-Star rating from Charity Navigator with a 98.11% program expense ratio. The organization maintains a team of eight dedicated staff members with expertise in architecture, architectural history, historic preservation, and related fields.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The 1772 Foundation Historic Preservation Partnership Grants

Amount: Up to $10,000
Match Required: 1:1 matching funds
Eligibility: Non-profits (501c3) only, excluding churches, schools, and municipalities
Application Method: Annual cycle through Connecticut Humanities Grants Portal
2025 Awards: $136,818 distributed to 17 organizations from 80 applications

Maintenance & Repair Grants for Religious Properties

Amount: Up to $15,000
Match Required: 1:1 matching funds
Eligibility: 501c3 religious organizations with buildings on State or National Register of Historic Places
Application Method: Annual cycle
Status: Allocated $130,000 to 12 historic sacred sites in 2025; not available for 2025-2026 cycle

Historic Restoration Fund (HRF) - Partnership with CT SHPO

Amount: Varies
Eligibility: Non-profits (501c3, 501c13) and municipalities with buildings on State or National Register of Historic Places
Purpose: Maintenance and repair of historic building fabric and character-defining features
Application Method: Multi-stage process through portal.ct.gov

Technical Assistance Consultancies (TACs)

Cost: Free
Eligibility: Organizations with building-related needs
Purpose: Immediate assistance for safety concerns, second opinions, technical questions

Priority Areas

Eligible Project Types:

Exterior painting, finishes, and surface restoration
Fire detection, lightning protection, and security systems
Porch, roof, and window repairs/restoration
Structural foundation and sill repair/replacement
Chimney and masonry repointing
Professional condition assessments
Code compliance improvements

Priority Considerations:

Buildings listed on State or National Register of Historic Places
Projects in underserved communities receive additional consideration
First-time grants in a community receive additional consideration
Projects demonstrating urgent, documented maintenance needs
Organizations demonstrating fiscal and administrative capability

What They Don't Fund

Work already completed or in progress (reimbursement not available)
Projects at properties not listed on State or National Register (for most programs)
Schools and municipalities (for 1772 Foundation grants)
Churches (for 1772 Foundation grants, though eligible for Religious Properties grants)

Governance and Leadership

Executive Leadership

Jane Montanaro – Executive Director (with organization since 2005)
Oversees strategic direction, daily operations, mission achievement, and manages staff, programs, and finances in collaboration with the Board of Trustees. Previously administered over 550 grants totaling more than $5 million.

Christopher Wigren – Deputy Director and Connecticut Preservation News Editor
Leads the preservation easements program (protecting 39 properties) and survey projects; gives architectural history presentations and authored a book about Connecticut architecture.

Mike Forino, PhD – Director of Preservation and Partnerships
Manages the field service team, Circuit Riders, and preservation staff; oversees grant programs, surveys, and special projects while cultivating partnerships.

Jordan Sorensen – Director of Strategic Initiatives and Operations
Ensures organizational activities align with brand and strategic plans; leads planning and monitoring of strategic projects and business operations.

Board of Trustees

Leadership Officers:

Chair: Caroline Sloat (Thompson)
Vice Chair: Mary Jean Agostini (Berlin & Niantic)
Secretary: Ellen Gould (Southport)
Treasurer: Garry S. Leonard (Madison)

Gubernatorial Appointees:

The Honorable Cathy Osten (Sprague)
Brian Smith (Colchester)

The Board includes 20 additional trustees representing communities across Connecticut, with professionals in finance, strategic consulting, preservation technical services, estate planning, history, architecture, and law. Members include Cristina Aguirre-Ross, Nancy Bullis, Deb Cohen, Nick Fabiani, Edward F. Gerber, John Goodrich, Henry Griggs, John Harrington, Jeffrey Kaufman, Hilary Lewis, Tom Nissley, Priyanka Panjwani, Edith Pestana, Alan Ponanski, James Quinn, Pieter Roos, and Robert Tierney.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

1772 Foundation Grants:

Schedule optional site visit with Circuit Rider (recommended to strengthen application)
Submit Letter of Inquiry through Connecticut Humanities Grants Portal
Letter of Inquiry Deadline: December 5, 2025 (5pm)
Invited applicants prepare full application with two competitive bids required
Final Application Deadline: February 13, 2026
Award Announcement: May 2026

Historic Restoration Fund Grants:

Schedule mandatory 30-minute TEAMs meeting (beginning January 2026)
Letter of Intent Due: End of March 2026
Notification of Invitation: May 2026
Attend mandatory pre-application workshop (mid-June 2026)
Full Application Due: End of October 2026

Maintenance & Repair Grants for Religious Properties:

Annual cycle (currently not available for 2025-2026)
Applications accepted through portal when funding available

Technical Assistance Consultancies:

Contact Stefon Danczuk at sdanczuk@preservationct.org
Rolling basis for emergency assistance

Decision Timeline

1772 Foundation Grants: Approximately 5 months from Letter of Inquiry to award announcement
Historic Restoration Fund: Approximately 9 months from initial TEAMs meeting to final application
Applications reviewed by CT SHPO and Preservation Connecticut Circuit Riders

Success Rates

1772 Foundation Grants (2025):

80 applications received requesting over $690,000
17 organizations funded totaling $136,818
Success rate: 21.25%

Maintenance & Repair Grants (2024):

52 applications received demonstrating $400,000+ in capital repair needs
16 historic places funded totaling $134,000
Success rate: 30.8%

Maintenance & Repair Grants (Earlier cycle):

23 applications requesting over $210,000
15 projects funded totaling $109,600
Success rate: 65.2%

Success rates vary significantly by year and program depending on funding availability.

Reapplication Policy

Unsuccessful applicants are welcome to apply in subsequent years without restrictions or waiting periods. Preservation Connecticut encourages organizations to reapply and offers consultation through Circuit Riders to strengthen future applications.

Application Success Factors

Funder-Specific Strategies

1. Engage Circuit Riders Early Preservation Connecticut explicitly recommends scheduling a site visit with a Circuit Rider before applying to strengthen your submission's competitiveness. This free technical assistance helps identify appropriate preservation approaches and demonstrates organizational seriousness.

2. Demonstrate Fiscal and Administrative Capability For Historic Restoration Fund grants, successful applicants must include:

Authorization to apply by the board or governing body
Legal opinion confirming the organization may place required preservation restriction on the parcel
Documentation of funding available to complete the project in its entirety

3. Obtain Competitive Bids For 1772 Foundation grants, the final application process requires "procuring two competitive bids for the project's scope of work." Plan ahead to secure multiple qualified contractors.

4. Focus on Character-Defining Features All grant programs emphasize "maintenance and repair of historic building fabric and character-defining features." Applications should focus on preserving historically significant elements rather than modern additions.

5. Document Urgent Need Recent successful applications showed "urgent, documented maintenance needs with clear cost assessments." Organizations demonstrating critical structural issues or code compliance needs appear most competitive.

6. Meet Registration Requirements Ensure your property is listed on the State or National Register of Historic Places before applying. Most programs have this as an absolute requirement.

7. Projects Recently Funded Recent 2025 grant recipients included:

Hill-Stead Museum ($10,000): Exterior painting of historic museum
Finnish American Heritage Society ($10,000): Roof replacement at Finnish Hall
Merwinsville Hotel Restoration ($10,000): Exterior painting
Hartford Spanish Seventh Day Church ($15,000): Roof replacement
St. Luke's-St. Paul's Episcopal Church ($15,000): Condition assessment
Bolton Congregational Church ($8,000): Paint and carpentry

Awards ranged from $1,213 to $15,000, with larger projects typically receiving maximum awards.

8. Underserved Communities Prioritized "Additional points will be given to first time grants in a community and projects in underserved communities." Organizations in communities without previous Preservation Connecticut grants have a competitive advantage.

9. Do Not Apply for Work in Progress "This grant will not reimburse work that is already completed or in progress." Only apply for future work with clear project timelines.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Success rates are competitive (21-31%), so engaging Circuit Riders for pre-application technical assistance significantly strengthens applications
Matching funds are required for all grant programs (1:1 match), so ensure funding is secured before applying
State or National Register listing is mandatory for most programs; complete this designation process before applying
Two competitive bids required for 1772 Foundation final applications; start contractor outreach early
Underserved communities and first-time applicants receive priority consideration; emphasize this status if applicable
Do not apply for work already started; only future projects are eligible
Multi-stage application processes require patience; typical timeline from initial inquiry to award is 5-9 months

References

All information accessed December 2025