African American Heritage Preservation Program
APPLY NOW to the African American Heritage Preservation Program!
Applications are now being accepted for the African American Heritage Preservation Program FY2024 grant round. Applicants are strongly encouraged to read the grant guidelines, view a recorded webinar and to contact program staff with any questions, and to see if your project is eligible. All applications must be completed and submitted by 11:59 pm on July 17, 2023.
To begin a new application for the African American Heritage Preservation Program, click here. Do not continue to click this link to access a saved application. Clicking this link will start a new application every time. To continue an application you have already started, click the "My Grant Account" button on the left side of the page and log into your account.
REGISTER NOW to learn more about the African American Heritage Preservation Program
Use the following link to register for a webinar, workshop, or Q&A session: tiny.cc/Register-AAHPP. Updated grant documents for the FY24 grant round, such as the grant guidelines and application, will be available on the program website by April 17th.
GENERAL OVERVIEW WEBINAR & IN-PERSON WORKSHOP
Learn about eligibility of applicant organizations, properties, and projects; documentation required for the application; selection criteria; deadlines; and more.
April 19th, 1:00pm - 3:00 pm (virtual)
April 27th, 11:00am - 1:00pm (In-Person Workshop) — MHT Offices, 1st Floor, Room A, 100 Community Place, Crownsville, MD
Q&A SESSIONS
Before joining a Q&A Session it is recommended to have participated in a General Overview Webinar or an In-Person Workshop, but not required. Come to a Q&A Session ready to talk about your specific project. Be prepared to ask detailed questions about your project, general questions about the program, or just listen in.
May 12th, 11:00am - 1:00pm (virtual)
June 8th, 11:00am - 1:00pm (virtual)
Previously recorded webinars and webinar slides relevant to the AAHPP can be found on the left sidebar. They include information about easements, specifics for religious sites, and recommendations on how to best answer application questions.
* Registration forms close at noon the day before each event *
The African American Heritage Preservation Program (AAHPP) provides grants to assist in the preservation of buildings, sites, or communities of historical and cultural importance to the African American experience in Maryland. The AAHPP is administered as a partnership between the Maryland Historical Trust and the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture (MCAAHC). The program typically receives an annual appropriation of $5,000,000 for grants per year. Applications for the AAHPP are typically available in early April and due July 1, with decisions made by December every year.
Eligible Applicants
The AAHPP provides capital grants to nonprofits (state and federal government entities may apply as nonprofits), local governments, businesses and individuals for eligible projects.
Eligible Projects
All projects must be related to African American history, culture, or heritage in Maryland. Applicants may apply for grants of up to $250,000 for the following types of projects:
- Acquisition
- Rehabilitation / capital improvements
- New construction
- Predevelopment costs such as studies, surveys, plans and specifications, and architectural, engineering, or other special services directly related to pre-construction work for a capital project
Work, or a discrete phase of work, that is already underway or completed is not eligible for grant funding. A complete list of eligible and ineligible costs is available in the Grant Guidelines.
Projects are subject to MHT review and must comply with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Treatment of Historic Properties (26 CFR 68).
Eligible Properties
To be eligible for funding, either the property itself or the proposed use must have associations with African American heritage. Property use must also provide a strong public benefit to be competitive. In addition, special qualifying criteria are outlined below.
- Grants for religious properties can generally only fund structural or exterior work and cannot fund work on interior worship spaces or elements bearing religious imagery. Eligibility is reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
- Cemeteries may be eligible for assistance; the applicant must demonstrate clear property ownership.
The permission of the property owner to undertake the project must be secured in writing and provided as part of the grant application.
If the assisted property is individually listed in or eligible for listing in the National Register, a term preservation easement on the assisted property must be conveyed to MHT (for more information, visit the Easements page).
Other Requirements
Additional information regarding evaluation criteria and grantees’ responsibilities, including competitive procurement of services, MHT approval of proposed work, reporting, etc. is provided in the Grant Guidelines and Grants Manual.
For general information about the African American Heritage Preservation Program or to check the status of your project, contact Barbara Fisher, Capital Grants and Loans Administrator, barbara.fisher@maryland.gov or (410) 697-9574.