Launched in September, 2012, The Landmark Society’s Preservation Grant Fund program offers funds for preliminary design and planning studies to help make positive improvements to at-risk buildings. The program was initially funded through a bequest from Elizabeth (Libby) Stewart. Libby was a longtime Landmark Society staff member who was dedicated to the revitalization of neighborhoods and historic structures.
Eligible Projects
The Preservation Grant Fund provides initial “start-up” funding to assist in saving historic resources. The grant will not pay for any “bricks and mortar” work. Only pre-construction services are eligible for funding. Specific use of funds is flexible. Examples of eligible projects include:- code compliance studies
- construction estimates
- visual project renderings
- measured drawings
- cost comparisons
Grant Amounts
The amount of each request may not exceed $3,500. It is anticipated that the average gift will be approximately $2,500. However, the Grant Committee may recommend elevated or lower funding per request, for various reasons.Evaluation
A wide range of historic resources will be eligible for funding. The Grant Committee will be considering numerous variables in determining awards. These variables will include:- How significant is the resource?
- How important is this funding to an overall larger preservation project?
- What impact will this project have on the community or neighborhood?
- What is the likelihood that a Landmark Society award will enable a preservation project to move forward?
- How visible is the project in the community?
- Is the resource in imminent risk?
- Is the project leveraging additional funding?
Eligible Applicants
It is strongly preferred that a nonprofit, charitable, 501(c)(3) organization or a local unit of government be the applicant for funding requests. However, it is understood that in many cases funding will be utilized to further a privately funded project, utilizing The Landmark Society and another nonprofit organization as a partner in a preservation project. Such eligible applicants include, but are not limited to:- Local preservation organizations and historical societies that have expressed an interest in preservation and/or have experience in preservation projects.
- Local government unit.
- Neighborhood Associations and community development organizations.
