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Grants

Library Capital Improvement Program

The Library Capital Improvement Program was created by the Legislature in their 2019 Regular Session to assist libraries operated by governmental units, as defined in RCW 27.12.010, to acquire, construct or rehabilitate their facilities. The Department of Commerce, in consultation with the Library Capital Improvement Program Committee, will conduct a statewide competitive grant process to award up to $10 million. The maximum grant amount to any one entity will not exceed $2 million. This program will require a 50% match of the total cost of the project. The program criteria and application is currently under development. When completed, a stakeholder review process will be conducted.

Library Capital Improvement Program
Cathy Brockmann 
Program Manager
Washington State Department of Commerce
(360) 725-3175

Cathy.Brockmann@commerce.wa.gov
 

Heritage Capital Projects Fund

This fund specifically supports heritage organizations that undertake capital projects with the goal of interpreting and preserving Washington's history and heritage. Non-profit organizations, tribes, and local government agencies may apply.  The program is run through the Washington State Historical Society.  Projects need to provide heritage preservation and/or interpretation. Each HCPF grant dollar must be matched with $2, half of which may be in-kind (unless the grat request is below $100,000, in which case all match may be in-kind).

Heritage Capital Projects Fund
Jay Mortensen
Director of Outreach
Washington State Historical Society
1911 Pacific Avenue
Tacoma, WA 98402
253-244-1683

heritage.capitalprojects@wshs.wa.gov

Valerie Sivinski Washington Preserves Fund

The Valerie Sivinski Washington Preserves Fund is a bi-annual grant program with the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation that provides up to $2,000 to organizations involved in historic preservation around our state.  The goal of the fund is to provide small yet meaningful amounts of money to help promote historic preservation where it really happens - at the community level. 

Examples of eligible projects include purchasing materials or services for brick and mortar projects to preserve a property or producing publications that promote historic preservation of a specific resource. Highest priority will be given to projects that are urgent in nature, contribute significantly to the development of community preservation organizations, and/or are listed on our Most Endangered Historic Properties lists.  For further information contact:

Valerie Sivinski Washington Preserves Fund
1204 Minor Avenue
Seattle, WA 98101
Phone:(206) 462-2999
E-mail Address: grants@preservewa.org

Building for the Arts

Building for the Arts was created by the Legislature in 1991 to award grants to 501(c)(3) nonprofit performing arts, art museum, and cultural organizations. The program awards grants to performing arts, art museum, and cultural organizations for up to 20 percent of eligible capital costs for acquisition, construction, and/or major renovation of capital facilities.

Emily Hafford
Emily.hafford@commerce.wa.gov
360-725-3075

Historic County Courthouse Rehabilitation Grants

Historic County Courthouse Rehabilitation Grant Program is administered by the state Department of Archaeology & Historic Preservation (DAHP) in conjunction with the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation. In consultation with a Steering Committee, DAHP and the Washington Trust have outlined a timeline and process to review, award, and monitor courthouse grant projects. Competition for funding is expected to be intense. Therefore, the following criteria have been identified to aid the Steering Committee and DAHP in making grant awards:

  • Courthouses listed in the National Register of Historic Places or Washington Heritage Register, or determined eligible for listing in either register.

  • Public visibility of work that addresses the historic character defining features of a courthouse.

  • Degree of urgency and extent to which inaction would lead to loss of historic fabric and character defining features.

  • Projects that assist in providing structural and life safety, including improvements to courthouse accessibility.

  • Projects that have match in-hand at time of application or grant award.

  • Project feasibility.

  • Percentage of requested state funding applicant intends to match with funding from other allowable sources.

Applications for the thirteenth funding round of the Historic County Courthouse Rehabilitation Grant Program will open on April 1, 2024. The deadline to apply is June 30, 2024.  More information click here.  Please direct your inquiries to Moira Nadal with the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation at 206-462-2999, or via email at grants@preservewa.org.

Historic Cemetery Grant Program

Historic Cemetery Grant Program is a program of the Washington State Department of Archaeology & Historic Preservation (DAHP). Management of the grant portion of the program is provided by the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation under contract with DAHP. Established in 2016 with the enactment of House Bill 2637, the capital grant program is intended to benefit the public by preserving outstanding examples of the state’s historical heritage, enabling historic cemeteries to continue to serve their communities, and honoring the military veterans buried within them.

Please direct your inquiries to the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation at 206-462-2999, or via email at grants@preservewa.org.

Heritage Barn Rehabilitation Grants

Heritage Barn Rehabilitation Grant Program is administered by the state Department of Archaeology & Historic Preservation (DAHP) in conjunction with the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation.  The grant are part of the state’s Heritage Barn Preservation Initiative established in 2007 and is designed to stabilize and preserve designated Heritage Barns across the state.  Since the program’s inception, Heritage Barn Grant funding has provided assistance to over 50 Heritage Barns throughout Washington.

Please direct your inquiries to the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation at 206-462-2999, or via email at grants@preservewa.org.

Historic Theater Grant Progam

Historic Theater Grant Program is a program of the Washington State Department of Archaeology & Historic Preservation (DAHP). Management of the grant portion of the program is provided by the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation under contract with DAHP. Established in 2021, the program is intended to recognize and preserve historic theaters as an essential element to economic vitality and social health of any community 

Please direct your inquiries to the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation at 206-462-2999, or via email at grants@preservewa.org.

Building Communities Fund 

Capital facilities grants for community-based, nonresidential community and social service projects. The Building Communities Fund Program awards state grants to nonprofit, community-based organizations to defray up to 25 percent or more of eligible capital costs to acquire, construct, or rehabilitate nonresidential community and social service centers. There is no minimum or maximum grant award amount.

Eric Thompkins
eric.tompkins@commerce.wa.gov
360-725-2924

Hart Family Fund for Small Towns

The purpose of the Hart Family Fund for Small Towns is to assist small town preservation and revitalization initiatives around the country, with a focus on towns with populations of 5,000 or less.

The Fund will operate within the framework of Preservation Services Fund grants - same application, same eligibility requirements, same match requirements, same deadlines. There will be just two important differences:

  • Grants will range from $5,000 to $10,000.
  • Regional offices will be asked to forward the grant applications they recommend for consideration by the Hart Family to the PSF Grants Coordinator within a month of the round deadline, along with comments that do not exceed one-page. These applications will be forwarded to Bill Hart and his daughters, Hawthorne and Halliday, who will serve as the grant selection committee, along with two representatives of the Trust. The Trust makes final decisions.

The fund agreement specifies that a minimum of $10,000 will be available each year. For further information contact the:

National Trust for Historic Preservation
Western Regional Office
5 Third Street, Suite 707
San Francisco, CA 94103
Ph: (415) 947-0692
Fax: (415) 956-0837
e-mail: grants@savingplaces.org 

The Questers

The Questers is an international membership organization that funds the preservation and restoration of artifacts, existing memorials, historic buildings, landmarks, and educational purposes. Must be a member of the organization to apply.  The purpose of the grant program is to encourage preservation and restoration at the local level by chapters.  Grants are awarded for the preservation and restoration of existing historic buildings, museums pr landmarks and appropriate antique objects or artifacts for those structures.

International Preservation & Restoration Grants Program
210 South Quince St.
Philadelphia, PA 19107-5534

The Getty Architectural Conservation Grants

Architectural Conservation Grants support organizations throughout the world in their efforts to preserve buildings, sites, and designed landscapes of outstanding architectural, historical, and cultural significance. Planning Grants assist in the initial development of an overall conservation plan. Support is also available on a selective basis for the development of archaeological site management plans. Implementation Grants assist in the actual conservation of a building's historic structure and fabric.

Attn: Architectural Conservation Grants
The Getty Foundation
1200 Getty Center Drive, Suite 800
Los Angeles, CA 90049-1685
U.S.A.
Phone: 310.440.7320
Fax (inquiries only): 310.440.7703

Community Development Block Grant Program

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Grants are made available annually through a competitive application process to assist Washington State small cities, towns and counties in carrying out significant community and economic development projects that principally benefit low- and moderate-income persons.

The Washington State CDBG Program is funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The purpose of the state CDBG Program is to improve and maintain the economic and physical environment of eligible, non-entitlement cities and counties in order to enhance the quality of life for low- and moderate-income residents and, as a result, benefit the entire community. For further information contact:

Community Block Development Program
WA State Department of Commerce
PO Box 42525
128th 10th Ave SW
Olympia, WA 98504
360-725-3018

Preservation Services Fund - Eldridge Campbell Stockton Memorial Preserves Fund

The Preservation Services Fund provides nonprofit organizations and public agencies matching grants from $2,500 to $5,000 for preservation planning and education efforts. Funds may be used to obtain professional expertise in areas such as architecture, archeology, engineering, preservation planning, land-use planning, fund raising, organizational development and law as well as preservation education activities to educate the public.  The Eldridge Campbell Stockton Memorial Preservation Fund was eastblished in 1993 specifically for projects in the State of Washington.  For further information contact:

National Trust for Historic Preservation
e-mail: grants@savingplaces.org 

M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust

If capital growth or expansion important to your nonprofit’s vision for long-term growth and success? The Murdock Trust regularly makes grants that support construction, renovation, land purchase and other capital projects. In most cases, they prefer to receive requests for these types of projects once your organization has raised a portion of the needed funds.

Capitol Projects Grants

Paul G. Allen Family Foundation

Giving primarily in the Pacific Northwest, including AK, ID, MT, OR and WA. No support for sectarian or religious organizations whose principle activity is for the benefit of their own members or adherents, or for organizations whose policies or practices discriminate on the basis of ethnic, origin, gender, race, religion, or sexual orientation. No grants to individuals or for general operating support, annual appeals, federated campaigns, general fund drives, scholarships, special events or sponsorships, or for projects not aligned with the foundation’s specified program areas; no loans.

The Paul G. Allen Family Foundation
Address and Contact Information
505 5th Ave. S, Ste. 900
Seattle, WA 98104-3821
Telephone: (206) 342-2030
Contact: Lisa Arnold, Grants Mgr.
Additional info: FAX: (206) 342-3030
E-mail: info@pgafamilyfoundation.org

Norcliffe Foundation

The Norcliffe Foundation is a private nonprofit family foundation established in 1952 by Paul Pigott for the purpose of improving the quality of life of all people in the community by the application of financial and human resources. Succeeding generations of the family have continued to support The Foundation in this tradition.  Grants are given to nonprofit organizations with tax exempt status under Section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code that are located in the Puget Sound Region.  Areas of Support include education, health, social services, civic improvement, religion, culture and the arts, the environment, historic preservation, and youth programs. No grants are given to individuals or to organizations to finance debts.

The Norcliffe Foundation
999 3rd Ave., Ste. 1006
Seattle, WA 98104-4001
Telephone: (206) 682-4820
Contact: Lisa Aderson, Pres.

Bullitt Foundation

Giving in the Pacific Northwest including AK, OR, WA, and British Columbia; giving also in ID and MT. No support for political organizations. No grants to individuals (except for fellowships), or for capital campaigns, equipment, building construction, or land acquisition.

The Bullitt Foundation
1212 Minor Ave.
Seattle, WA 98101-2825
Telephone: (206) 343-0807
Contact: Denis Hayes, Pres.

1772 Foundation

The 1772 Foundation was established to help 501 (c) 3 organizations preserve and enhance American historical entities for future generations to enjoy with particular interest in farming, industrial development, transportation and unusual historical buildings.  Grants are typically between $15,000 and $50,000.  Projects funded in Washington include the Stimson-Green Mansion, the Northwest Railway Museum, the Steamer Virginia V Foundation and the Pike Place Market Foundation. For further information contact:

1772 Foundation
e-mail: inquiries@1772Foundation.org

Lowe's Charitable and Education Foundation

Founded in 1957, the Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation (LCEF) has a long and proud history of contributing to grassroots community projects. LCEF awards more than $4.5 million annually to diverse organizations and schools across the United States where Lowe’s operates stores and distribution centers. The Foundation’s primary philanthropic focus areas include K-12 public schools and non-profit community-based organizations. For further information contact:

Lowe's Charitable and Education Foundation

Tourism Cares - Worldwide Grant Program

Tourism Cares’ Worldwide Grant Program distributes charitable grants to worthy tourism-related non-profit organizations worldwide for capital improvements or educational programs as outlined below.  The 2008 Worldwide Grant Program goals for grantmaking call for a balanced distribution to U.S. and non-U.S. recipients.  Typical grants are $10,000; However, based on availability of funds, grants up to $100,000 will be considered.

Tourism Cares
275 Turnpike St.
Suite 307 Canton, MA 02021
Tel: 781-821-5990 Fax: 781-821-8949
Email: info@tourismcares.org

Transportation Enhancements Program

This site is designed to be a source of information during the reauthorization of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21), which expired on September 30, 2003. TEA-21 was enacted on June 9, 1998, P.L. 105-178, and authorizes the Federal surface transportation programs for highways, highway safety, and transit for the 6-year period from 1998-2003.

For further information contact:
The US Department of Transportation SAFTEA Program

USDA Rural Development

The Housing Preservation Grant (HPG) program provides grants to sponsoring organizations for the repair or rehabilitation of low- and very low-income housing.  The grants are competitive and are made available in areas where there is a concentration of need.For further information contact:

USDA Rural Development Housing Preservation Grant Program

Kinsman Foundation

Historic preservation is the principal funding area since the beinging of the Kinsman Foundation.  The Foundation is a private foundation built on the philanthropy of John and Elizabeth T. Kinsman of Milwaukie, Oregon.  In 2006 they identified our primary interest in this area as architectural preservation — the preservation, rehabilitation, restoration and reconstruction of historic buildings, structures and related sites. Most of the projects they fund involve buildings that are listed in the National Register of Historic Places, either individually or as a contributing resource in an historic district.  The foundation continues to consider grants for other historic preservation activities as a secondary interest.  For 2011, Historic Preservation grants are budgeted for approximately one-quarter of our total grants, about $275,000.

For further information see:
Kinsman Foundation
3727 SE Spaulding Avenue
Milwaukie, Oregon 97267-3938

Telephone 503-654-1668
Fax 503-654-1759
Email: grants@kinsmanfoundation.org

National Trust Preservation Fund Grants

In 2012, the National Trust for Historic Preservation awarded more than $1 million to nearly 200 projects across the country through its small grant program. This annual program supports local preservation organizations’ efforts to preserve and protect important places in their communities. The majority of this funding comes from the National Trust Preservation Fund which supports preservation planning and educational projects. The National Trust is particularly interested in educational programs aimed at reaching new audiences. As a general rule they do not fund acquisition or construction costs. Nonprofit organizations and public agencies that are members of the National Trust at the Forum or Main Street level are eligible to apply for grants.  Grants typically range from $2,500-$5,000 and require a dollar-for-dollar match. For example, if you are awarded a $5,000 grant, you need at least an additional $5,000 from other funding sources, and a total project cost of at least $10,000. This match can be a grant from a foundation or other grant-making organization, funds raised from local support, or any other revenue source.

Visit the National Trust website for more information about the National Trust Preservation Fund.

WA State Complete Streets Program

The Complete Streets Award is a new funding opportunity for local governments. The legislature provided funding in 2015 and the first awards were given in January of 2017. The 2021 nominating process is now open.
The Complete Streets Award is flexible money given to any city or county in Washington state who has an adopted complete streets ordinance and shows an ethic of planning and building streets that use context sensitive solutions to accommodate all users, including pedestrians, transit users, cyclists, and motorists.

Per a jurisdictions request, the DAHP will nominate local jurisdictions (cities and counties) to compete for Complete Streets project funding from the Transportation Improvement Board (TIB).  DAHP is one of eight state agencies and non-profit organizations that are able to make nominations to TIB.  Cities and counties that have adopted Complete Streets legislation are eligible to request that DAHP (and/or the other authorized entities) nominate them to TIB in order to compete for Complete Streets project funding.  TIB has authorized DAHP to nominate up to 10 local jurisdictions to compete for CS funding.

For more info about the program go to TIB Complete Street Program.

More info here! or email questions to: completestreets@dahp.wa.gov

T-Mobile Hometown Grants

T-Mobile is committing up to $25 million through 2026 to support small towns, villages, and territories across America by funding community projects. The T-Mobile Hometown Grants program funds projects to build, rebuild, or refresh community spaces that help foster local connections in your town. Projects should be shovel-ready, physical builds or improvements that can be completed within 12 months of receiving Hometown Grants funding. Examples of eligible projects include but are not limited to: adaptive uses of older and historic buildings into community gathering spaces, improvements to outdoor parks or trails, and technology projects for the public library. Funds may not be used for: engineering and architectural plans or fees, salaries or annual operating expenses, or reimbursement for projects that are already completed.

More info here!