Historic open spaces, museums, and community originations have served as beacons of culture and context for today’s challenges. The following five grant opportunities are open to statewide and Baltimore-based organizations, sites, and projects in support of continuing the important work of heritage tourism in the Old Line State.
Baltimore City Historic Preservation Fund award to CASA de Maryland, 2020.
Baltimore Historic Preservation Fund
Preservation Maryland, Baltimore Heritage, Baltimore City Commission on Historical and Architectural Preservation, Maryland Historical Trust
Due October 16, 2020
The Baltimore City Historic Preservation Fund seeks to provide direct assistance for capital and non-capital activities that advance efforts to preserve historically significant properties. A special focus of this initiative is to support projects that help preserve and/or promote neighborhood identity and projects that contribute to community revitalization. Tax-exempt organizations performing work in the City of Baltimore are eligible to apply for recommended grant requests of $1,000 to $10,000. Projects must take place in the City of Baltimore. Projects eligible for the competitive grant funds include, but are not limited to, rehabilitation work of historic materials, preparation of National Register nominations, educational, research, and planning efforts related to preservation efforts.
Small Capital Grant Program
Baltimore National Heritage Area
Due November 4, 2020
Administrated by the Baltimore National Heritage Area (BNHA), this grant program makes small, yet strategic, investments in heritage tourism resources within Baltimore City. Funded through Baltimore City CIP funds or voter-approved bonds, more than $1.5 million in funds have been awarded to more than 130 projects since 2004. Eligible applicants are non-profit organizations in good standing, have the legal capacity to incur obligations, and be located anywhere in Baltimore City. Generally, the fund supports acquisition, development, preservation, and/or restoration. There are many resources associated with this grant program on the BNHA website. The online grant application opened in September and closes on November 4, 2020.
Maryland Pathways Grants
Maryland Center for History and Culture/Maryland Historical Society
Due November 13, 2020
The Pathways Grant Program administered by the newly rebranded, Maryland Center for History and Culture, provides support for projects at historical organizations throughout the state of Maryland. The goal is to build the long-term resiliency and efficacy of museums, historic sites, and other organizations that make up Maryland’s heritage community. Pathways is made possible by an annually recurring allocation from the state’s Preservation of Cultural Arts Fund. This fund was proposed by Senate President Emeritus Thomas V. “Mike” Miller in the 2018 legislative session and enacted into law. This is the second grant cycle of this program. There are several lead-up deadlines to this grant as well as workshops for potential applicants, so be sure to check the grant program website.
Neighborhood Placemaking Grants
Baltimore National Heritage Area
Due December 11, 2020
Launched in 2018, the Neighborhood Placemaking Grant program is a source of funding designed to provide small, but strategic investments in cultural heritage tourism (non-capital) projects within the heritage area. This highly competitive grant program awards $25,000 a year and grant amounts range from $1,500 to $5,000 with a required match. The goal of the Placemaking Grants includes enhancing local neighborhood quality of life in tandem with creating heritage tourism opportunities. Projects must be located within the Baltimore National Heritage Area and fall into broad categories, including but not limited to: navigation/wayfinding/interpretation, planning and feasibility studies for capital projects, and green and sustainability efforts. There are many resources associated with this grant program on the BNHA website. The online grant application opened in September and closes on December 11, 2020.
PLAN AHEAD FOR 2021
Heritage Fund check presentation at Howard County Conservancy.
Heritage Fund
Preservation Maryland, Maryland Historical Trust
Due March 19, 2021
The Heritage Fund, a cooperative effort of Preservation Maryland and the Maryland Historical Trust, provides direct assistance for the protection of historical and cultural resources and promotes innovative demonstration projects that can be successfully replicated to meet Maryland’s historic preservation needs. This long-established grant program is open statewide with two funding cycles per year, spring and fall. Many past funded projects, additional grant guidelines, and reference application are available online now. The online 2021 application is not open but will be available later in the year.
Historic Preservation Capital Grants
Maryland Historical Trust
Due March 22, 2021
The goal of the Maryland Historical Trust Historic Preservation Capital Grants is to promote the preservation of properties that are listed on or eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places, either individually or as a contributing structure within a district. Grants up to $100,000 are available for acquisition, restoration, and rehabilitation projects of eligible properties. Eligible applicants include nonprofits, local governments, business entities, and individuals. Applications will be available on the MHT grant webpage on February 8, 2021.
Webinars will be held between November 5, 2020 and January 27, 2020. Webinars are free, but registration is required.
QUESTIONS?
This list was compiled by Preservation Maryland but not all of these programs are Preservation Maryland programs. If you have questions about the Baltimore City Historic Preservation Fund or the Heritage Fund, please contact Jessica Feldt, Preservation Initiatives Manager. Otherwise, please contact the associated organizations.