Hart Family Fund for Small Towns

The Hart Family Fund for Small Towns is a grant program administered by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, a private nonprofit organization committed to protecting and preserving America’s historic places. Founded to encourage preservation efforts at the grassroots level, particularly in small communities, this fund provides vital seed money for projects that stimulate public discourse, build technical capacity, and introduce new audiences to historic preservation practices. It also aims to catalyze further investment from local stakeholders, public agencies, and private donors. The program specifically targets small towns with populations of 10,000 or fewer, acknowledging that these communities often face unique challenges in preserving their historic resources. Grants typically range between $2,500 and $15,000, supporting planning and educational activities rather than physical restoration or construction. Examples of eligible planning projects include the development of historic structure reports, design guidelines for historic districts, or economic feasibility studies for the adaptive reuse of endangered structures. Educational and outreach initiatives aimed at introducing new audiences to preservation principles are also eligible, especially if they use innovative formats or techniques. Eligibility is strictly limited to public agencies and nonprofit organizations, including those that are 501(c)(3) entities. To receive funding, applicants must also be members of the Preservation Leadership Forum or Main Street America (Community or General Member levels), although membership is only required prior to disbursement of funds, not at the time of application. Each organization may only receive one grant per round and no more than three grants over a two-year period. Grants cannot fund staff salaries, organizational overhead, or capital improvement costs. All applicants must also be able to match the grant amount on a dollar-for-dollar basis using non-in-kind cash contributions from public or private sources. Applications for the next round are due by May 1, 2026, with the application opening approximately six to eight weeks prior to the deadline. The review process takes up to three months, and applicants will be notified by email once decisions are made. Grantees must begin their projects within six months of award notification and complete them within a year, submitting a final report and detailed financial accounting. Required application components include a completed application form with budget, IRS nonprofit determination letter, up to four digital images, a resume for the proposed consultant (if selected), a letter of consent from the property owner (if different from the applicant), and up to two letters of endorsement. The evaluation criteria used by the National Trust include the historical significance of the site or issue, the urgency and financial need of the project, the applicant’s ability to complete the project, and the potential for replicability in other communities. Consultants involved in the project must be approved by the National Trust before disbursement, and all planning documents must adhere to the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards. Additionally, grant recipients must ensure National Trust acknowledgment in all public materials and comply with non-discrimination requirements. Prospective applicants can access the application via the National Trust’s grant application portal, where new users must create a profile, and previous applicants can log in using existing credentials. Questions regarding eligibility, application components, or membership requirements may be directed to [email protected] or the grants team. For optimal communication, applicants are advised to add [email protected] to their email address book to receive updates throughout the application cycle.

Projects should demonstrate urgency, broad public benefit, and potential for replication; ensure compliance with preservation standards and match requirement.