National Trust Preservation Funds (NTPF)

The National Trust Preservation Funds (NTPF) are administered by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to saving America’s historic places. These grants support preservation at the local level by offering seed money and supplemental support to ongoing projects. Their goal is to stimulate public dialogue, enable technical expertise acquisition, foster public education about preservation, and encourage private sector participation in preservation work. Grants generally range from $2,500 to $5,000. They support planning activities such as hiring preservation experts or conducting feasibility studies, as well as public education and outreach efforts aimed at broadening interest in historic preservation. Although the funding cannot be used for construction, academic research, or capital improvements, it can be applied toward consultant fees, educational programming costs, and material development for outreach efforts. Eligible applicants must match the grant one-to-one with funds from either public or private sources, including in-kind donations. To be eligible, applicants must be public agencies or 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. Each applicant may receive no more than three grants over two years and only one grant per project phase. Only Organizational Level Preservation Leadership Forum Members, Main Street America Community Members, and Main Street America General Members may receive funding, although membership is not required to apply. Selected grantees must obtain membership before funds are released. The program operates with three application deadlines annually in February, June, and October. The next application deadline is June 2, 2025. Applications are available six to eight weeks prior via an online portal. Reviews are completed approximately ten weeks after submission, and award notifications are sent via email. Emergency funding, which does not require a match, is also available year-round for immediate threats to historic sites, such as natural disasters or demolition risks. Applicants must include several documents in their applications, including high-quality digital images, tax-exempt certification, property owner consent (if applicable), and a detailed project budget. All funded work must conform to the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties. Applications are assessed based on project significance, urgency, budget accuracy, matching ability, long-term impact, personnel qualifications, and replicability. Specific contact information includes email (grants@savingplaces.org) and phone numbers (202-588-6000 and toll-free 800-944-6847).