Non-Capital Grants for Historic Preservation Projects

The Maryland Historical Trust Non-Capital Historic Preservation Grant Program provides support for research, survey, planning, and educational activities involving architectural, archeological, or cultural resources.   This competitive program, offered once per year, is supported through an annual appropriation from the Maryland General Assembly.  The amount available for award is not known until the General Assembly adopts the State budget in early April.

To ensure that your proposal will be competitive, MHT strongly encourages applicants to discuss your project parameters and budgets with MHT staff before developing a proposal.  Applicants should closely read the application guidelines and instructions [hyperlink to document] prior to submission to ensure that your application is complete.

MHT does not anticipate having Non-Capital Grant funds available in Fiscal Year 2013 and therefore is not accepting applications for Non-Capital Grants at this time.

If you are a current grantee looking for information about reporting requirements, payment requests, contract questions, or other issues related to grant administration, please click here.

Eligible Activities

Eligible Activities

• Identifying and documenting standing structures through broad-based comprehensive surveys, generally resulting in completion of Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties (MIHP) forms
• Completing National Register of Historic Places nominations for historic districts or thematic groups of historic and cultural resources
• Documenting historic properties through historic structures reports and Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) materials
• Conducting broad-based, comprehensive archeological investigations;
• Documenting oral traditions and cultural heritage in historic communities and traditional occupations as they may relate to historic places
• Developing preservation elements for local comprehensive growth management plans
• Developing design guidelines for historic districts and preservation commissions
• Conducting programs specifically designed to engage the public in Maryland archeology, historic preservation and cultural conservation

Ineligible Activities

• “Bricks and mortar” restoration or rehabilitation work
• Archival projects that seek to conserve or catalog historic collections
• Curation of objects
• Publication of previously completed manuscripts, unless the research was conducted under the auspices of MHT. 

See the current year’s application for a complete list of eligible and ineligible activities as well as for a list of current funding priorities.

Applicant Eligibility

Only nonprofit organizations and local jurisdictions may apply for MHT Non-Capital grant funding. 

Nonprofit organizations must be in good standing with the State of Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation, be qualified to do business in Maryland, and have the legal capacity and authority to incur obligations under the grant program.  Contact the State Department of Assessments and Taxation to determine your organization’s status.

Award Amounts

Non-Capital grant awards generally range from $5,000 to $50,000, with the average award in FY 2012 being $20,000.  The maximum Non-Capital grant award is $50,000.

Matching Requirements

Local government applicants are required to provide dollar-for-dollar matching funds for their project.  These matching funds may consist of cash, an equivalent dollar value of in-kind contributions or a combination of both.  Funds from other state programs are not eligible as match.

Nonprofit organizations are not required to provide matching funds; however, matching funds are strongly recommended and will enhance the competitiveness of the application. 

Please review the application guidelines and instructions for a detailed list of eligible and ineligible costs.

If awarded funding, applicants will be required to document all matching funds shown in the application’s project budget.

Application Process and Timeline

Non-Capital grant awards are made once annually.  A multidisciplinary team of MHT staff evaluate the applications based on the Trust's “Open Project Selection Criteria,” and present their recommendations to the MHT Board of Trustees.  The Board reviews the proposed awards and makes a recommendation to the Secretary of Planning for final approval of each grant. 

Specific dates for submission vary from year to year, but follow this general schedule:

• September – series of three grant workshops announcing availability of grants
• October – Grant applications available on the MHT website
• Early December – One page “Intent to Apply” Form due
• End of March – Completed applications due
• April –June – Applications are reviewed
• July – Award announcement made
• August—September – Development of grant agreement between grantee and MHT
• October – Project starts

Special Requirements

Non-Capital grant projects are expected to be consistent with preservation best practices and meet high preservation standards.   All projects must be completed according to the following standards and guidelines:

• Architectural and archeological research, survey and documentation projects must be consistent with the Standards and Guidelines for Architectural and Historical Investigations in Maryland or the Standards and Guidelines for Archeological Investigations in Maryland.
• For archeological investigations that result in the recovery of artifacts, the artifacts must be conserved in a qualified facility, such as the Maryland Archaeological Conservation Laboratory, according to theStandards and Guidelines, Technical Update No. 1: Collections and Conservation Standards (Revised, July 1, 2005). 
• Personnel performing architectural and archeological research, survey and documentation projects must meet the minimum requirements of the Secretary of the Interior’s Professional Qualification Standards under 36 CFR 61. 
• For projects involving only one resource, that resource must be listed on the National Register of Historic Places or determined by the Director of MHT to be eligible for such listing.  To find out if your property is listed, search the National Register of Historic Places.