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National Trust For Historic Preservation In The United States

Annual Giving
$0.5M
Grant Range
$3K - $0.1M
Decision Time
3mo
Success Rate
65%

National Trust For Historic Preservation In The United States

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: Approximately $500,000+ through National Trust Preservation Funds alone
  • Success Rate: 60-70% for regular grant rounds
  • Decision Time: 10 weeks from application deadline
  • Grant Range: $2,500 - $150,000 (depending on program)
  • Geographic Focus: National (United States)

Contact Details

Website: https://savingplaces.org/grants
Grants Email: grants@savingplaces.org
Main Office: Washington, DC
EIN: 53-0210807

Overview

The National Trust for Historic Preservation is a privately-funded nonprofit organization chartered by Congress in 1949, dedicated to helping communities maintain and enhance the power of historic places. As the leading voice for historic preservation in the United States, the organization provides grant funding, technical expertise, and advocacy to protect America's diverse historic places and revitalize communities. Under the leadership of President and CEO Carol Quillen (who joined in January 2024), the National Trust awards hundreds of thousands of dollars annually through multiple grant programs, with their National Trust Preservation Funds serving as seed money to stimulate local preservation efforts. The organization is governed by a Board of Trustees of approximately 30 members, including ex-officio federal officials and elected trustees, with Mrs. Tudor serving as Board Chair.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

National Trust Preservation Funds (NTPF): $2,500 - $5,000
The flagship small-dollar grant program with three annual deadlines (February, June, October). Applications submitted through online portal 6-8 weeks before deadline. Requires 1:1 match (cash or in-kind). Focus on planning and education projects for the built environment.

African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund: $50,000 - $150,000
Capital projects for preserving African American historic sites. Annual deadline in February. Requests below $50,000 not reviewed. Decision notifications in July.

Preserving Black Churches: $50,000 - $200,000
Specialized program for preservation of historic Black church properties.

Specialized Geographic Funds:

  • Battlefield Preservation Fund: $2,500 - $10,000 (battlefields, viewsheds, related structures)
  • Linda and Jerry Bruckheimer Preservation Fund for Kentucky: $2,500 - $10,000 (includes bricks and mortar)
  • Sam and Mary Cooke Preservation Fund for Hawaii: $2,500 - $10,000
  • Louis J. Appell, Jr., Preservation Fund for Central Pennsylvania: Varies
  • Southwest Intervention Fund: For traditional cultures in AZ, CO, NM, West TX, UT
  • Preserve Route 66 Grant Fund: Route 66 corridor preservation

Priority Areas

  • Planning activities including professional expertise in architecture, archaeology, engineering, preservation planning, land-use planning, and law
  • Education and outreach programs reaching new audiences through innovative techniques
  • Preservation of the built environment: buildings, structures, sites, and landscapes
  • Projects that stimulate public discussion and introduce communities to preservation concepts
  • Initiatives that encourage private sector financial participation
  • Projects serving as catalysts for broader community preservation efforts

What They Don't Fund

  • Museum collections and artifacts - grants focus exclusively on the built environment
  • Lobbying activities - grants cannot be used to influence Congress on legislation
  • Using other National Trust funding as match - cannot use one grant to match another
  • More than 3 grants to single grantee in 2-year period
  • More than 1 grant per organization per round
  • More than 1 grant for a particular project phase
  • Organizations without tax-exempt status (nonprofits must provide IRS determination letter)

Governance and Leadership

Executive Leadership

Carol Quillen - President and CEO (10th president, joined January 2024)
Prior to the National Trust, served as 18th president of Davidson College (2011-2022). Brings deep appreciation of history and distinguished career leading academic institutions.

Board of Trustees - Approximately 30 members including:

  • Mrs. Tudor - Board Chair, preservationist and community volunteer focused on arts, quality of life, and education
  • Ex-officio members: Attorney General, Secretary of the Interior, Director of the National Gallery of Art
  • Elected trustees serving three-year terms

The Board provides counsel, guidance, and leadership on preservation priorities, marketing, and fundraising.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

National Trust Preservation Funds (NTPF):

  • Online application portal at https://savingplaces.submittable.com
  • Portal opens 6-8 weeks before each deadline
  • Three annual deadlines: February 1, June 1, October 1
  • Rolling basis throughout the year with fixed deadline dates
  • Membership requirement: Must be Organizational Level Preservation Leadership Forum Member, Main Street America Community Member, or Main Street America General Member (can apply before membership, but must join before funds released)
  • Match requirement: 1:1 match required (cash or in-kind from private/public sources, earned income, or fundraising)
  • Must obtain minimum 3 competitive bids/quotes for services exceeding $50,000
  • All work must conform to Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Treatment of Historic Properties

African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund:

  • Online portal submission
  • Annual deadline: February 14 (11:59 PM Pacific)
  • Minimum request: $50,000

Decision Timeline

NTPF: Review process completed within 10 weeks of application deadline. Applicants notified via email.

African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund: Applicants notified by July (approximately 5 months after February deadline).

Success Rates

The National Trust provides transparent statistics demonstrating competitive but achievable success rates:

National Trust Preservation Funds (Regular Rounds):

  • February 2025: 27 awards from 38 applications (71% success rate)
  • October 2024: 30 awards from 47 applications (64% success rate)
  • June 2023: 53 awards from 85 applications (62% success rate)
  • October 2023: 34 awards from 50 applications (68% success rate)
  • June 2020: 69 awards from 110 applications (63% success rate)

Typical success rate: 60-70% for regular NTPF rounds

Special Programs:

  • Telling the Full History Preservation Fund: 80 awards from 396 applications (20% success rate) - one-time federally-funded program with special requirements, more competitive than regular rounds

Reapplication Policy

Applicants that have received previous National Trust financial assistance are eligible provided all grant requirements are current. No explicit restrictions prevent unsuccessful applicants from reapplying in subsequent grant rounds. Organizations can apply in any of the three annual cycles (February, June, October).

Limitations:

  • Maximum 3 grants to single grantee in any 2-year period
  • Only 1 grant per organization per round
  • Only 1 grant per project phase

Application Success Factors

Read Guidelines Thoroughly: The National Trust emphasizes that applicants should "Always read the guidelines for any grants you apply for." Review the applicant webinar and FAQs for competitive applications.

Make Your Case Effectively: "People give because they feel passionate about a cause and because they believe they can make a difference. When you ask for money...highlight the work you are doing to make a difference and tell your donor specifically how their funds will help."

Understand the Catalyst Concept: The National Trust states, "A small grant at the right time can go a long way and is often the catalyst that inspires a community to take action on a preservation project." Frame your project as the spark for broader community engagement.

Plan Before Applying: "Before you can reach out to individuals and institutions, you need to have a funding goal and a plan for how you'll reach it. Decide when you'll apply for grants; you'll likely need funding at different points of your project."

Build Relationships: "Find out as much as possible about prospective supporters in order to build meaningful and lasting relationships." The National Trust values understanding their funders' perspectives.

Focus on Community Impact: Grants are designed to "stimulate public discussion, enable local groups to gain the technical expertise needed for preservation projects, introduce the public to preservation concepts and techniques, and encourage financial participation by the private sector."

Recent Funded Project Examples:

  • Albany Regional Museum (OR): $5,000 for structural engineering report for historic S.E. Young Building
  • Preservation Sacramento (CA): $5,000 for LGBTQ+ history documentation in Lavender Heights district
  • 1882 Project Foundation (DC): $5,000 for feasibility study for Chinatown rehabilitation
  • Historic Boulder (CO): $10,000 for Boulder Theater facade rehabilitation

Geographic Considerations: The NTPF program rotates which states receive dedicated funding each round. Check the current round's geographic focus - for October 2025, dedicated funding available for: AL, AK, AR, AZ, CO, DE, GA, HI, ID, IA, KS, KY, LA, MD (Annapolis only), MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NM, NC, OK, OR, Central PA, SC, SD, TX, UT, VA, WA, and Washington, DC.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • High success rates make NTPF very competitive to get: With 60-70% success rates, these grants are among the more attainable preservation funding sources - well worth the application effort
  • Membership required but achievable: You don't need to be a member to apply, but selected grantees must join Preservation Leadership Forum, Main Street America Community, or Main Street America General before receiving funds
  • Three chances per year: With February, June, and October deadlines, you have multiple opportunities to apply or reapply
  • Match requirement is flexible: The 1:1 match can be cash, in-kind, earned income, or fundraising - gives flexibility in demonstrating community support
  • Think seed money, not full funding: Frame your project as the catalyst that will leverage additional support and community engagement, not a fully-funded standalone effort
  • Geographic rotation matters: Check if your state has dedicated funding in the current round - may improve chances
  • 10-week timeline is reliable: Plan your project timeline around the predictable 10-week review process for efficient planning

References

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