Grant Opportunities

VHRP staff members are available to assist with the many steps of a successful grant-funded project, including conceptualizing projects, identifying potential funders, reviewing proposal drafts, writing letters of support, and navigating the application process.

External funding can help procure resources for temporary staffing, supplies, training, professional assessments, and special projects. There are grant opportunities available at the federal, state, and local level, from government entities, from foundations, and from corporations.

There are three primary Federal funders for preservation and access projects for cultural heritage, including historical records:

• The National Historical Publications & Records Commission (NHPRC), funder of the VHRP, offers several archives-related opportunities.
• The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), especially the opportunities offered by the Division of Preservation & Access, including the Preservation Assistance Grants for Smaller Institutions.
• The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), in particular the Collections Assessment for Preservation Program (CAP) and the Museum Assessment Program (MAP).

At the state level, most funding opportunities are for historic preservation, which focuses on preserving the built environment. The Preservation Trust of Vermont and the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation (VDHP) offer grant opportunities for the preservation of historic structures. VDHP also maintains a comprehensive funding directory for historic preservation projects in Vermont. Cultural facilities grants, administered by the Vermont Arts Council, can be used for building improvements and hazard mitigation efforts.

Repositories in the Lake Champlain basin are eligible for grants from the Champlain Valley National Heritage Partnership, which has supported many preservation and access projects over the years.

Some grants administered by the Vermont Community Foundation may align with a collections-related project. Some funds are available statewide and some have geographic restrictions, like the Crosby-Gannett Fund for the Brattleboro area.

The vast majority of foundations do not have websites, making it difficult to find out about them. The Vermont State Library has a collection of grant materials designed to help both nonprofit organizations and individuals seeking grant opportunities. If you would like to borrow material from the Grants Collection, you may submit a request through your local public library. Additionally, check with your local public library to see if they provide access to an online directory of grantmakers, the Foundation Directory, via on-site computer access.

Some companies, including many banks, offer grants to community organizations, so consider what businesses serve your town or city and might be motivated to support your work.

The Collections Care and Conservation Alliance presented a Grants & Grant Writing for Collections Care Projects webinar in October 2020 and the recording can be viewed here.

Please be in touch if you have questions about grants. The VHRP has helped many Vermont historical societies, museums, and public libraries apply for grants, and the majority of the applications have been successful.