Preserving America Grant Program

Is your organization focused on American history from 1607 to 1876? Are you interested in educating your visitors about your site and its role in our nation’s past? Does your organization need funds to restore an historical object, create an educational display or make improvements to an historic site that will enhance the visitor experience? We may be able to help!

Americana Corner was created to remind Americans of our nation’s wonderful past. We would like to assist other organizations that are focused on telling the incredible story of America from its founding era through its first century as a nation. To that end, we have established the Preserving America Grant Program.

Request for funding must be a minimum of $5,000 but may not exceed $10,000. Amount awarded may differ from amount requested.

Our Mission

We hope to assist organizations that are focused on telling the incredible story of America from its founding era through its first century as a nation. Because of our efforts, we further hope that the “love of country,” the Amor Patriae, will be rekindled in the hearts of Americans.

Grant Recipient Criteria

• The organization must be recognized by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

• The primary mission of the organization must be the preservation of a pre-1876 American historic site(s) or the display of objects in a public museum from that same period.

• The organization must be non-partisan and non-political.

• This program does not fund marketing companies; organizations not exclusively focused on pre-1876 America even if they have historic objects and/or buildings from that era; monuments, memorials, and statues built after 1876; films except for visitor center orientation videos; preservation of historic objects not intended for daily display to the public; landscaping projects that do not return the site to its pre-1876 appearance; general operating expenses.

Grant Request Criteria

Grant requests must fit into at least one of the following three categories:

• Preserve –– Preserve and/or restore a site, structure, or object whose historical significance pre-dates 1876. Grant funding cannot be used for modern site improvements such as HVAC systems, ADA ramps, or office equipment.

• Educate –– Educate visitors about the site or an aspect of pre-1876 American history at the site. Regardless of the specific nature of the educational project, permanent displays will be given priority over temporary exhibits, and even the temporary exhibits must run or be on display for at least one year. Events such as symposiums, celebrations of a specific event, videos/films, or short-term exhibit panels are not eligible.

• Create–– Conceive, refine, and implement strategies to increase visibility and reach of the historical site including website design, social media marketing, welcome center videos, or printed collateral. This is a service grant fulfilled using Americana Corner's creative resources rather than a monetary award.

Grant Award Criteria

• Request for funding must be a minimum of $5,000 but may not exceed $10,000. Amount awarded may differ from amount requested and may exceed $10,000 at the discretion of the grant program administrator. 

• An organization may submit one grant request per calendar year. 

• The deadline for applications is December 15.

• Americana Corner shall have full and complete discretion regarding the timing, requirements, and all other aspects of grant funding.

• Grant recipients will acknowledge Americana Corner’s support in all appropriate programs, publications, public announcements, social media channels, signage, and website, if applicable and as mutually agreed upon.  

• Grant recipients are required to provide progress reports. Interim project updates are due by August 15, and final project reports are due upon completion of your project, no later than December 15.

• The organization will provide renderings of the restored and/or improved site, object, or display upon completion. 

• All projects must be completed by December 15 within the calendar year.

• Failure to submit project reports, or complete your project by the deadline will disqualify you from upcoming grant opportunities.

The application window is closed. View a list of this year’s Preserving America grant recipients.