Please read all information carefully.

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2025 GRANT CYCLE
 

• November 1, 2024 | Letters of Inquiry Due

• February 21, 2025 | Full Applications Due (Invitation Only)

• May 2025 | Grant Awards Announced​

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​​Eligibility
 

• Applicants must be private 501(c)3 organizations. Towns and municipalities, as well as active churches and schools are not eligible to apply.

• Applicant must own the property or be engaged in a long-term lease.  

• Property must be listed on the Massachusetts Register of Historic Places.

• Applicant organizations must also disclose any previously awarded 1772 matching grants. 

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Eligible Projects for Matching Grants: 

• exterior painting, finishes, and surface restoration

• installation or upgrade of fire detection, lightning protection, and security systems

• repair or restoration of porches, roofs, and windows

• structural foundation and sill repair or replacement

• chimney and masonry repointing (exterior only)

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Funding will not be considered for schools or churches. Projects must be exterior only, no interior work will be considered.

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FAQs

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• Who is eligible to apply?  Applicants must be a 501(c)3 designated non-profit organization​.

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• What is this grant for? This grant is intended for historic buildings and to ensure that they remain in good condition and repair for the future. Projects that are interior-focused or pertain to other historic resources, such as fences, other property features, etc. are not encouraged to apply.

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• Who is the grant from? The funding is provided by The 1772 Foundation, with Preservation Massachusetts overseeing the grant administration on their behalf. All questions related to the grant program and its administration in Massachusetts should be directed to our organization. 

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• Do we have to own the property we are applying for?  Yes, the applying organization must either own the property or have a long term lease for the property. Renting space in property will not qualify. 

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• What about funding for churches and schools? Active schools and churches are not eligible to apply. However, if a former church/school is owned by an eligible non-profit and being used for a different purpose, those applications will be considered.

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• Does the property have to have a certain historic designation? The property must be included on the Massachusetts Register of Historic Places, which is published every year by the Massachusetts Historical Commission. If the property is listed on the National Register, or located within a local historic district, it is already included on the state register. If you are unsure if your property is on the state register, please contact the Massachusetts Historical Commission or your local historic commission. ​

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• Do we need to have the matching funds in hand when submit a letter of inquiry?  We prefer that you have your matching funds already in hand by the time you submit a letter of inquiry. If you are anticipating the receipt of another grant for the match, you must know the status of those grant funds by the LOI deadline (November 1, 2024).​ Consider our grant to be "the icing on the cake" in addition to funds you already have in place or committed. Not having a confirmed match will be a factor in the success of your letter or inquiry.

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• Is there a timeline when the funds should expect to be spent?  If your LOI and full application are successful, you will need to have expended the funds by December 2025.​

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• Can we apply for a project that is expected to be completed before the end of the LOI period?  No, the grant cannot be used to cover work that is already completed by the time the full application would be requested.

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• What types of projects get funded? Be sure your project fits the funding criteria, such as exterior restoration, painting, roofing, masonry, foundation work, etc.  The goal of the program is to show that even small amounts of funding can have a big impact. To that end, smaller scale projects tend to be a better fit than larger, more financially complex or phased projects. For larger buildings, consider submitting a phase of your work, or a specific part of a restoration project, such as windows or foundation work.  We suggest you view our past grant awardees to gain a sense of the types and scale of project this program works best with. 

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• I submitted an LOI, what happens now?  Upon receipt of your LOI, Preservation Massachusetts will contact the applicant with any questions that need clarification. 

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• When should I expect to hear about the status of the LOI?  Preservation Massachusetts expects to notify all LOI applicants by early January if they are invited to submit a full application.  Not all LOI's will result in an invitation for a full application.​

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• What is the overall schedule of this grant program?  LOIs are due November 1, 2024, and those invited to the full application round will be contacted in early January. Full applications are due on February 21, 2025 and final award notifications will be sent in early May after final approval by the 1772 Foundation. All grant funds must be expended by December 2025. More questions pertaining to the full application process and follow up will be posted here as we continue the process. 

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• I have a question I don't see listed here, who should I contact?  Please contact Stacia Caplanson with questions regarding this grant program, scaplanson@preservationmass.org.​

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The Letter of Inquiry period for our 2025 grant round has closed.

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Our thanks to The 1772 Foundation for the opportunity to bring much needed funding resources to assist in the preservation of historic buildings in Massachusetts. ​​​