The Heritage Fund, established in 1996, is a collaborative effort between Preservation Maryland (PM) and the Maryland Historical Trust (MHT). The fund aims to support the preservation of historical and cultural resources across Maryland by providing direct assistance and promoting innovative demonstration projects. The grant is open once per year and is designed to support tangible cultural resources that may not be addressed through existing PM or MHT programs. The fund prioritizes projects that contribute to Maryland’s historic preservation goals and can serve as models for future initiatives.

Eligible applicants for the Heritage Fund include nonprofit organizations, including religious institutions, and units of local government. Private property owners are not eligible for funding. The fund supports three primary types of projects: education and research, planning and feasibility, and repair and rehabilitation. Education and research projects may include heritage tourism programs, public exhibits, training sessions for preservation professionals, and historical signage. Planning and feasibility projects often involve consulting services for preservation planning, feasibility studies, and cultural resource surveys. Repair and rehabilitation projects focus on restoring or preserving historic structures, landscapes, and artifacts, including legal services for resource protection.

For FY2025, the Heritage Fund has a total of $126,000 available, with grant awards ranging from $1,000 to $10,000. Most grants awarded fall between $2,000 and $6,000. The fund requires applicants to provide a cash or in-kind match of at least 10% of the total project cost, which must be documented in the application budget. As a reimbursable grant program, PM will disburse funds only after the project is completed and proper documentation is submitted. Funds are reimbursed directly to the applicant and not to contractors or consultants.

Applications are reviewed by an independent Selection Committee appointed by both PM and MHT. The committee evaluates applications based on their alignment with the fund’s priorities. Interested applicants are encouraged to contact PM before applying to confirm eligibility. PM offers a virtual information session and office hours to assist applicants in understanding the grant process. The information session will be held on January 22, 2025, while office hours are scheduled for February 21 and March 14, 2025.

The application process is conducted entirely online. The application materials will be available starting January 6, 2025, and submissions are due by March 28, 2025, at 11:59 PM. Award notifications will be made in May 2025. Once awarded, grantees must complete their projects within one year. They are required to acknowledge funding support in any project materials, post a Heritage Fund sign at the project site, and submit a final report with documentation of the completed work.

For additional information, applicants may contact Christiana Limniatis, Program & Outreach Manager, via email at climniatis@PresMD.org or by phone at 410-685-2886 ext. 302. More details, including application materials and the scoring rubric, can be found on Preservation Maryland’s website.