Nuestra Herencia Grant Program

The Nuestra Herencia Grant Program is a national initiative by Latinos in Heritage Conservation (LHC) designed to fund Latinx heritage and historic preservation projects across the United States and Puerto Rico. With $600,000 in annual funding, the program aims to support grassroots organizations working to conserve, protect, and uplift the cultural legacy and history of Latinx communities. The initiative is funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and administered in partnership with the Social Impact Fund, which has committed $1.8 million over three years to bolster Latinx-led preservation efforts. The grant program underscores equity and inclusivity by prioritizing applicants historically excluded from traditional funding pathways. Eligible applicants must be 501(c)(3) nonprofits—or groups with a fiscal sponsor—led by or serving Latinx communities. The program does not fund individuals, public agencies, or educational institutions, and gives preference to organizations with annual budgets under $500,000, although larger organizations may still apply. Nuestra Herencia offers grants ranging from $5,000 to $100,000 across four funding categories: Capital Projects, Project Planning, Building Organizational Strength, and Community Interpretation & Engagement. Applicants may submit proposals in only one category per cycle. The grant period for all but Capital Projects is one year, starting in June 2026; Capital Projects may span one or two years. Funded activities may include physical site preservation, feasibility studies, board development, strategic planning, public history initiatives, and more. The program places special emphasis on projects located in the U.S. Borderlands region—particularly in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California, Nevada, and Utah—due to their historical significance and underfunded preservation needs. Applications open on November 4, 2025, and are due by February 13, 2026. Proposals must be submitted through the Submittable platform. Before applying, organizations must confirm their eligibility using EIN or UEI identifiers, and groups applying with a fiscal sponsor must ensure the sponsor's fee does not exceed 10% of the grant amount. Required support materials include a project budget, a W-9 form, contractor RFPs, and up to ten photographs. Optional documents like strategic plans and letters of support may strengthen the application. Applications will be reviewed by a panel of preservation professionals, with awards announced in June 2026. Selected projects will be formalized through an agreement with the Social Impact Fund. Grantees receiving more than $50,000 must participate in a mid-grant progress review. All grantees must submit a final report and expenditure log within one month after the end of their grant period. The program excludes funding for pre-award expenses, operational overhead, entertainment, K-12 education, and other activities not directly tied to place-based preservation outcomes. Through this initiative, LHC aims to build a resilient, culturally rich preservation infrastructure that reflects the full breadth of Latinx identity and contribution in the United States.

Align proposal with one of four defined categories; Emphasize cultural relevance and public benefit; Prepare visuals and supporting documentation early.