Indiana Landmarks (Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana Inc)

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $3-6 million in grants (varies by year; $6M in 2024, $3.2M in 2025)
• Total Endowment: $67.8 million (as of 2023)
• Grant Range: $250 - $500,000 (depending on program)
• Geographic Focus: Statewide Indiana
• Application Method: Rolling for most programs; fixed deadline for Sacred Places (June 15)
• Organization Type: America's largest private statewide historic preservation organization

Contact Details

Main Office:
Indiana Landmarks Center
1201 Central Avenue
Indianapolis, IN 46202-3204
Phone: 317-639-4534 or 800-450-4534
Website: www.indianalandmarks.org
Email: info@indianalandmarks.org

President & CEO:
Brad M. Ward
Email: bward@indianalandmarks.org

Program-Specific Contacts:

• Sacred Places Indiana: David Frederick, sacredplaces@indianalandmarks.org
• Black Heritage Preservation: Eunice Trotter, etrotter@indianalandmarks.org; Cox Funds: coxfunds@indianalandmarks.org
• Vice President of Preservation Services: Mark Dollase, mdollase@indianalandmarks.org, 317-639-4534

Regional Offices: Indiana Landmarks operates nine regional offices statewide in Indianapolis, South Bend, Richmond, Terre Haute, New Albany, Gary, Aurora, Evansville, Cambridge City, and Wabash. Applicants are encouraged to contact their regional office first.

Overview

Founded in 1960 by a volunteer group of civic and business leaders led by Indianapolis pharmaceutical executive Eli Lilly, the Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana simplified its name to Indiana Landmarks in 2010 during its 50th anniversary. As America's largest private statewide historic preservation organization, Indiana Landmarks operates with a $67.8 million endowment and a 37-member Board of Directors.

The organization's mission is to "revitalize communities, reconnect us to our heritage, and save meaningful places." Indiana Landmarks owns and restores historic buildings, buys and sells vacant and endangered property, and helps Indianans save and restore historic places through grants, loans, advocacy, and education. Through its network of nine regional offices and professional staff, the organization has grown from an all-volunteer force to a comprehensive preservation resource serving communities statewide.

Brad M. Ward became president and CEO in April 2025, succeeding Marsh Davis who led the organization for 36 of its 65 years. In 2024, Indiana Landmarks earned a Four-Star rating from Charity Navigator with a perfect 100% score, reflecting its strong financial health and commitment to accountability.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Sacred Places Indiana Fund (for houses of worship)

• Planning Grants: Up to $25,000
• Capital Grants: Up to $500,000
• Application Deadline: June 15, 2026
• 2025 Awards: $2,835,950 to 25 congregations
• Application Method: Annual competitive process with informational webinar
• Special Features: Emergency grants available; includes stewardship training
• Funding Source: Supported by Lilly Endowment Inc.

Black Heritage Preservation Program

• Restoration/Preservation Grants: $500 - $30,000
• Interpretive Project Grants: $250 - $10,000
• 2025 Awards: 23 grants totaling $266,750
• Application Method: Rolling applications accepted
• Additional Funding: Cox Funds partnership through Central Indiana Community Foundation for African American historic sites

Efroymson Family Endangered Places Grants

• Grant Amount: Up to $4,000 ($5,000 for affiliate organizations)
• Match Requirement: 4:1 ratio (favorable matching - four dollars from Indiana Landmarks matches each local cash dollar)
• Purpose: Architectural/engineering studies, rehabilitation cost analyses, organizational development
• 2025 Awards: 13 grants totaling $41,840
• Application Method: Rolling applications accepted
• Note: Cannot be used for physical restoration work

10 Most Endangered Grants

• Purpose: Rehabilitation studies, stabilization work, reuse exploration for sites on the 10 Most Endangered list
• 2025 Awards: 6 grants totaling $17,000
• Application Method: Rolling applications accepted

Historic Preservation Education Grants (with Indiana Humanities)

• Grant Amount: Up to $3,000
• Application Deadlines: February 28 and September 30, 2026
• Project Start Dates: April 15 (round 1) and November 15 (round 2)
• 2025 Awards: 11 projects totaling $27,907
• Eligible Projects: Lectures, workshops, exhibits, digital productions, heritage tourism programs, educational publications

Marion County Historic Preservation Fund (with Indianapolis Foundation)

• Grant Range: $1,000 - $10,000
• Average Grant: $5,000
• 2025 Awards: $42,000 to 8 projects
• Application Method: Year-round applications, considered monthly
• Geographic Focus: Marion County only

Legal Defense Grants

• Coverage: 80% of legal counsel costs
• Maximum: $2,000
• Purpose: Preserving historic structures through legal means

Historic Fraternal Lodges Grants

• Purpose: Supports historic fraternal lodges either in active use or no longer functioning

Loan Programs

Endangered Places Loans

• Maximum: $100,000
• Terms: Low-interest for first 3 years
• Requirement: Protective covenant on property
• Application Method: Through regional offices

Endangered Places Acquisitions

• Indiana Landmarks purchases endangered buildings and resells them with protective covenants

Priority Areas

• Buildings listed in or eligible for State or National Registers of Historic Places
• Endangered structures requiring immediate intervention
• Projects following Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation
• Properties at least 50 years old (general historic eligibility)
• Projects demonstrating community impact and heritage value

What They Don't Fund

• Physical restoration work (with limited exceptions through Sacred Places Indiana capital grants)
• Most grants focus on planning, studies, organizational development, and consulting services rather than construction
• Projects outside Indiana
• Properties less than 50 years old (generally)

Governance and Leadership

Board Officers (terms ending September 2025):

• Honorary Chair: Hon. Randall T. Shepard, Indianapolis
• Chair: Gregory S. Fehribach, Indianapolis
• Vice Chair: Hilary Barnes, Indianapolis
• Secretary: Emily J. Harrison, Attica
• Assistant Secretary: Thomas H. Engle, Indianapolis
• Treasurer: Ralph G. Nowak, Indianapolis
• Past Chair: Doris Anne Sadler, Indianapolis
• Secretary Emerita: Judy A. O'Bannon, Indianapolis

A 37-member Board of Directors governs Indiana Landmarks, with members serving three-year terms following their election at the annual membership meeting.

Brad M. Ward, President & CEO (started April 7, 2025): Ward called his position "a dream job beyond comparison," stating: "Returning to Indiana to lead the largest and arguably most respected private statewide preservation organization in the country is a dream job beyond comparison." He emphasizes that preservation "is a tool for how we grow as a community, how we thrive economically, how we develop and actively reutilizing these buildings is what's most critical."

Marsh Davis, Former President & CEO (retired April 2025 after 36 years): Davis positioned Indiana Landmarks as "a problem-solver" and emphasized: "We've expanded the definition of what's worth preserving, and we are leading by example in committing to diversity in our work." His advice to preservationists: "Keep at it. You are not only relevant to our City's future, you are critical to its success as a livable place."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

General Process:
Indiana Landmarks keeps paperwork to a minimum. Application forms are easy to complete and may be submitted at any time unless otherwise noted. Your first stop should be the Indiana Landmarks regional office that serves your county. Contact information for regional offices is available at www.indianalandmarks.org or by calling 317-639-4534.

Program-Specific Processes:

Sacred Places Indiana:

• Applications accepted through June 15, 2026
• Free informational webinar offered (check website for dates)
• Site visits may be requested to assess architectural integrity and congregation readiness
• Two-stage process: Planning grants, then capital grants

Historic Preservation Education Grants:

• Fixed deadlines: February 28 and September 30
• Approximately 1.5 months from deadline to project start date

Marion County Grants:

• Applications accepted year-round
• Considered on a monthly basis

Most Other Programs:

• Rolling applications accepted as needs arise
• Contact regional office to begin process

Eligibility Requirements:

To qualify for most Indiana Landmarks grants and loans, organizations must:

• Be registered as a nonprofit corporation in the state of Indiana
• Be classified by or have applied to the IRS for status as a 501(c)(3) public charity
• Be enrolled as a nonprofit member or affiliate organization of Indiana Landmarks
• Possess a charter identifying preservation of the built environment as a primary organizational purpose
• Have a clearly defined organizational structure with regular meetings and ongoing program
• Have been in existence for three years and/or demonstrate responsible fiscal management

Affiliate organizations receive enhanced benefits, including preferential treatment for grants and higher matching amounts ($5,000 vs $4,000 for Efroymson grants).

Decision Timeline

• Historic Preservation Education Grants: Approximately 1.5 months from application deadline to project start notification
• Marion County Grants: Monthly consideration (rolling basis)
• Other programs: Timelines vary; contact regional offices for program-specific information
• Most programs do not publish specific decision timelines due to rolling application acceptance

Success Rates

Specific success rate statistics are not publicly available. However, Indiana Landmarks' scale of giving is substantial:

• 2024: Over $6 million awarded across all programs
• 2025: $3,226,856 awarded across all programs
• Sacred Places 2025: 25 congregations received grants (program is competitive)
• Black Heritage 2025: 23 grants awarded
• Efroymson 2025: 13 grants awarded

Reapplication Policy

Specific reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants are not published. For program-specific guidance on reapplication, contact the relevant program director or your regional office.

Application Success Factors

1. Engage Your Regional Office Early
Indiana Landmarks explicitly states that your first stop should be your regional office. This indicates they value relationship-building and want to support applicants through the process rather than evaluate cold applications.

2. Demonstrate Organizational Health
For Sacred Places Indiana specifically, the program looks for "demonstrated signs of organizational health including established clergy and lay leadership, clearly defined project goals, stable or growing membership, community engagement, and financial strength and stability."

3. Emphasize Community Impact
President Brad Ward emphasizes preservation as "a tool for how we grow as a community, how we thrive economically." Applications should clearly articulate how preserving this specific place will benefit the broader community.

4. Follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards
Indiana Landmarks gives priority to projects following the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation. Demonstrate knowledge of and commitment to these standards.

5. Show Readiness and Planning
Particularly for Sacred Places Indiana, applicants must demonstrate "readiness" and be "prepared to raise matching funds through a capital campaign." Don't apply prematurely.

6. Leverage Matching Requirements Strategically
The Efroymson grants offer a favorable 4:1 match. Showing you've already secured local funding makes your application stronger and maximizes total project resources.

7. Document Historic Significance
Priority goes to buildings listed in or eligible for State or National Registers. If your property isn't listed, provide documentation of eligibility.

8. Connect to Indiana Landmarks' Mission Evolution
Projects related to underrepresented histories, particularly African American heritage, align with the organization's current strategic direction.

9. Frame Preservation as Problem-Solving
Davis positioned Indiana Landmarks as "a problem-solver" - present your project as solving a community problem.

10. Consider Affiliate Membership
Becoming an Indiana Landmarks affiliate organization provides "preferential treatment for grants" plus higher matching amounts.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Start with your regional office - Indiana Landmarks explicitly directs applicants to begin there, suggesting relationship-building is valued
• The match is favorable - 4:1 matching for Efroymson grants means your local fundraising goes four times further
• Physical work requires special programs - Most grants fund planning/studies only; Sacred Places Indiana is the primary exception
• Timing varies by program - Sacred Places has fixed annual deadline (June 15), while most others accept rolling applications
• Multiple funding streams exist - One property might be eligible for several programs; explore all options
• Affiliate status provides advantages - If your organization does ongoing preservation work, affiliate membership offers preferential treatment
• Community impact matters more than building age - Emphasis is on how preservation serves community growth and heritage connection

References

1. Indiana Landmarks Official Website - Grants and Loans. Accessed February 8, 2026. https://www.indianalandmarks.org/resources/grants-and-loans/

2. Indiana Landmarks. "Indiana Landmarks awards more than $3 million to save meaningful places." January 30, 2026. https://www.indianalandmarks.org/2026/01/indiana-landmarks-awards-more-than-3-million-to-save-meaningful-places/

3. Indiana Landmarks. "Indiana Landmarks awards more than $6 million to save meaningful places." January 2025. https://www.indianalandmarks.org/2025/01/indiana-landmarks-awards-more-than-6-million-to-save-meaningful-places/

4. GuideStar Profile - Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana Inc (EIN: 35-1162873). Accessed February 8, 2026.

5. Charity Navigator - Rating for Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana Inc. Accessed February 8, 2026.

6. Indiana Landmarks. "Introducing Indiana Landmarks' New President." June 2025. https://www.indianalandmarks.org/2025/06/introducing-indiana-landmarks-new-president/

7. WFYI. "Interview: New Indiana Landmarks leader on the state of historic preservation." Accessed February 8, 2026.

8. Indiana Landmarks. "Marsh Davis's Legacy of Preservation." February 2025.

9. Indiana Landmarks. "Historic houses of worship invited to apply for grants." January 2026.

10. Indiana Landmarks - Black Heritage Preservation Program. Accessed February 8, 2026.

11. Indiana Landmarks. "Governance." Accessed February 8, 2026.

12. Indiana Landmarks. "Staff." Accessed February 8, 2026.

13. Indiana Landmarks. "Sacred Places Indiana awards more than $2 million to support historic houses of worship." October 2024.

14. Indiana Humanities. "Historic Preservation Education Grant." Accessed February 8, 2026.

15. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana Inc. Accessed February 8, 2026.