Bartus Trew Providence Preservation Fund

The Bartus Trew Providence Preservation Fund is administered by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to saving historic places and revitalizing communities across the United States. The fund was established through a generous gift from the late Bartus Trew, a longtime resident of Chestertown, Maryland, and owner of historic Providence Plantation. His contribution created a permanent funding source to support preservation efforts specifically on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. The program is designed to encourage preservation at the local level by helping communities address urgent preservation challenges and proactively protect historic landmarks and memorials. The purpose of the fund is to provide financial support for the acquisition, maintenance, restoration, and preservation of historically significant properties on Maryland’s Eastern Shore in the area south of the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal. Grants support activities such as property acquisition, bricks-and-mortar rehabilitation, purchase of perpetual easements, land conservation tied to cultural heritage, and professional preservation services including architecture, engineering, land-use planning, and conservation expertise. The fund also supports planning, interpretive and educational programming, promotional materials, and certain capital improvements directly tied to preservation outcomes. Academic research, book-length publications, and historic resource surveys intended solely to create inventories or National Register listings are not eligible. Approximately 70000 dollars is available annually for awards. Individual grant requests must fall within the range of 5000 to 25000 dollars. While applicants are encouraged to match their awarded grant on a one-to-one basis, matching funds are not strictly required. Additional funding may come from public or private sources, registration fees, or fundraising activities. Only one National Trust grant may be awarded per project phase, and no more than three grants will be awarded to a single grantee within a two-year period. Grant recipients must adhere to specific program conditions, including compliance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties and procurement requirements for contracts exceeding 50000 dollars supported by grant funds. Eligible applicants include public agencies and nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status. Organizations that have previously received National Trust funding may apply if all prior grant requirements are current. Although active membership in certain National Trust membership categories is not required at the time of application, selected grantees must become members prior to the release of funds. Projects must begin within six months of the award date unless a formal extension is requested, and a final report with financial accounting is due within one year of the award date. Grant recipients must also acknowledge National Trust financial support in project materials and agree to nondiscrimination provisions. The next application deadline is June 1, 2026. The application becomes available in the National Trust’s online grants portal approximately six to eight weeks prior to the deadline. The review process is generally completed within ten weeks of the deadline, and applicants are notified via email once decisions are finalized. Required application components include a completed grant application with project budget, up to three high-resolution digital images with captions and credits, proof of tax-exempt status or evidence of filing, and a letter of consent from the property owner if the applicant does not own the property. Questions regarding eligibility or membership status may be directed to the National Trust grants staff via email or phone.