Understanding the different types of financial assistance is the first step toward a successful project.

• Federal & State Grants: Competitive awards typically for nonprofits or government agencies. These range from “brick-and-mortar” restoration to planning and architectural surveys.
• Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credits: A premier incentive for income-producing properties, offering a dollar-for-dollar reduction in federal and state income tax for certified rehabilitations.
• Low-Interest Loans & Revolving Funds: Specialized lending from organizations like the 1772 Foundation or local “Revolving Funds” that buy, save, and resell historic properties to preservation-minded buyers.
• Certified Local Government (CLG) Funds: Special grants reserved exclusively for “CLG” communities that maintain local preservation standards.
• Preservation Easements: Voluntary legal agreements that protect a property’s character in perpetuity, often providing significant charitable tax deductions for the owner.
• Property Tax Abatements: Local programs that freeze or reduce property taxes for a set period following a certified historic rehabilitation.

• Historic Preservation Tax Incentives – The Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives program offers a 20% income tax credit for the rehabilitation of historic, income-producing buildings.
  • About the Incentives: An Overview of the 20% Tax Credit.
  • Case Studies of Successful Projects
  • Annual & Statistical Reports Archive: Federal Tax Incentives for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings, Annual reports for each Fiscal Year, 2004-2025.
  • Before You Apply: Lists essential resources, including contact information for state offices and checklists to ensure your project is eligible before you spend money on professional fees.
  • Eligibility Requirements: Does your rehabilitation project qualify for the 20% tax credit?
  • Application Process: The application is a three-part process that involves both your State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) and the National Park Service (NPS).
  • The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation: The official federal guidelines for historic preservation projects.
  • Historic Preservation Tax Incentives brochure: Learn how to qualify for the 20% federal tax credit when rehabilitating historic, income-producing buildings according to National Park Service standards.
• Historic Preservation Fund: Provides critical financial support to State, Tribal, and local governments to protect America’s historic places and diverse cultural heritage through a wide range of preservation grants:
  • Technical Assistance: Access specialized technical assistance and guidance for managing HPF-funded projects.
  • Available Grant Programs: Explore a variety of historic preservation grant programs, including Save America’s Treasures and African American Civil Rights grants.
  • Apply for Grants: Apply for historic preservation grants, with detailed instructions on the application process, eligibility requirements, and deadlines.
  • Manage Grants: Reporting forms, compliance guidelines, and financial requirements for recipients of National Park Service historic preservation funding.
• National Register of Historic Places: The official list of America’s historic places worthy of preservation.
  • Overview of the National Register of Historic Places program
  • How To List A Property
  • National Register Nomination Forms
  • Guidance for National Register of Historic Places: Forms, publications, sample nominations, workshops and regulations.
• State, Tribal, and Local Plans and Grants Division
• Easements to Protect Historic Properties: A Useful Historic Preservation Tool with Potential Tax Benefits (PDF)

• African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund
• Backing Historic Small Restaurants (Presented by American Express)
• General Grant Programs
• Main Street America: Opportunities
• Partners in Preservation (Sponsored by American Express)

HistoricFunding.com – Join and access over 10k funding sources and work-training programs.

• Funding includes: Grants, Loans, Tax Credits, CLG Funds, Easement Programs.
• Work-Training/Educational Programs available: Scholarships, Fellowships, Paid Internships, Apprenticeships, Residencies.
• Geographic area: Covers the United States and US Territories. Local (City / Countywide), Statewide & Federal programs listed.

• Rehabilitation Tax Credit FAQs

• Americans for the Arts: Funding Resources
• Grantmakers in the Arts
• National Endowment for the Arts: Grants
• National Fund for Sacred Places (Partners for Sacred Places)

• Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP): Traditional Trades Program
• The Association for Preservation Technology International (APT)
• The HOPE Crew (Hands-on Preservation Experience)
• Smithsonian Center for Folklife & Cultural Heritage: Building Arts Initiative

Canadian Resources:

• Canadian Association of Heritage Professionals (CAHP)
• National Trust for Canada: Regeneration Works – Find Funding

International Resources:

• The National Trust (UK): Grants & Funding
• UNESCO Culture Sector: International Funds Supporting Culture
• UNESCO “World Heritage Fund”: The Fund for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage of Outstanding Universal Value
• World Monuments Fund