THF Micro-Grant Program

The Texas Historical Foundation offers several grant programs designed to support historic preservation and promote awareness of Texas history. These include Quarterly Micro Grants, Annual Grants, and the biennial Michael C. Duda Preservation Awards. Funding is available to eligible 501(c)(3) organizations with current projects that align with the Foundation's focus areas. Supported activities include historic property preservation, educational programs, archival work, museum programming, scholarly publications, and cultural arts initiatives. Each grant program has specific timelines, funding levels, and application processes tailored to support a variety of preservation efforts across the state of Texas. The Quarterly Micro Grants program provides funding up to $8,000 and is intended to seed or augment preservation efforts at the community level. Submissions are accepted quarterly, and interested applicants must submit a letter of inquiry (LOI) through the newly implemented THF Grants Portal. These LOIs are reviewed quarterly with responses provided in the first week following each deadline. Selected proposals are then invited to submit a full application for funding, which is awarded during the corresponding quarter. Annual Grants support projects with a broader scope, offering up to $25,000 for 2025 and increasing to $30,000 in 2026. For the 2025 cycle, applicants must submit an LOI by March 1, 2025, and will receive a response by the first week of May 2025. Approved grants will be announced in early August. The 2026 cycle opens in September 2025, with LOIs due by March 1, 2026. Submissions must be made through the THF Grants Portal and adhere to specific formatting requirements, including a two-page maximum and the inclusion of a primary contact and email address. The Michael C. Duda Preservation Awards are a separate biennial program offering significant funding ranging from $20,000 to $100,000. These awards are reserved for standout architectural preservation projects conducted by 501(c)(3) organizations or governmental entities with demonstrated success in preserving historic architecture. Submissions for the 2026 awards open in June 2025. Eligible applicants across all funding programs must be 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations engaged in historic preservation in Texas. Projects may involve physical site preservation, educational programming, artifact conservation, and more. The Foundation emphasizes cultural heritage and the arts, particularly as they relate to Texas history. Government entities are also eligible for the Duda Awards. Letters of inquiry for the Quarterly Micro Grants must be submitted by specific deadlines: April 22, 2025 (Summer), August 15, 2025 (Fall), October 15, 2025 (Winter), and January 15, 2026 (Spring). LOIs received after the deadline automatically roll over to the next cycle. All submissions are reviewed promptly, and successful applicants receive funding at the beginning of the next quarter. For Annual Grants, the 2025 cycle requires LOI submissions by March 1, 2025, while the 2026 cycle begins accepting applications in September 2025, with a final deadline of March 1, 2026. Evaluation criteria for all grant programs are not explicitly detailed but may be found in the FAQ section, particularly for Annual Grants. Applicants are encouraged to refer to the FAQ for guidance on what makes a strong LOI submission. Additional support and updates can be accessed by subscribing to the Foundation’s monthly newsletter.