Other Funding Sources

Funding for historic preservation comes from a variety of sources. The following information focuses on, but is not limited to, the rehabilitation of historic properties. These programs are not administered by the Kansas Historical Society, but the list is provided as a service to our constituents. Please note that many of these programs are competitive and require matching funds. Contact information and websites are subject to change. Find a printable copy of this list here.

State Level

Historic Preservation Partners Preservation Grant Program l website

1200 S. Kansas Avenue, Topeka, Kansas 66612-1375
(785)-290-0072
FAX: 785-232-1660
Rick.Kready@yourhistoricpartner.com

Historic Preservation Partners, Inc. (HPP) will offer a unique and flexible source of preservation funding. The Board of Directors will consider grant applications to assist in the stabilization, mothballing, and rehabilitation of historic properties. The maximum amount of grant that will be awarded to an applicant for a single project is $15,000.

An overview and guidelines about HPP's grant program, as well as the grant application, can be downloaded here.

Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) | website

1500 SW Arrowhead Road
Topeka, KS 66604-4027
785-271-3100
public.affairs@kcc.ks.gov

This KCC provides links to energy efficiency tax programs including tax incentives for commercial buildings, consumer energy tax incentives, and the Tax Incentives Assistant Project (TIAP).

Kansas Preservation Alliance (KPA) | website

P.O. Box 2506
Topeka, KS 66601
785-640-7767
info@kpalliance.org

KPA preservation easements allow a private owner to protect the visual and architectural integrity of a property through a legal agreement even after the property is sold. KPA accepts easements on historic properties.

Kansas Department of Transportation | website

Eisenhower State Office Building
700 S.W. Harrison Street
Topeka, KS 66603-3754
785-296-3566
publicinfo@ksdot.org

The Kansas Department of Transportation administers the Transportation Enhancement reimbursement grant program in partnership with the State Historic Preservation Office. This program is a major source of funding for rehabilitating historic transportation-related structures such as depots, bridges, and brick streets. This federal reimbursement program requires a minimum 20% local match.

Kansas Department of Commerce | website

Kansas Department of Commerce
1000 S.W. Jackson Street, Suite 100
Topeka, Kansas 66612-1354
785-296-3481

Attraction Development grants provide assistance in the development of new tourist attractions or the enhancement of existing attractions within Kansas. Grant funds may be used for a wide variety of activities including (but not limited to) strategic planning, infrastructure, technology, and marketing activities. The grant may fund up to 40% of an approved project. The applicant must secure at least 60% of eligible project expenditures. The maximum amount of funds available for one project is $45,000 for public and not-for-profit entities, and $15,000 for private entities.

Tourism Marketing grants assist organizations in creating innovative advertising and marketing. The monies are disbursed on a first-come-first-served basis based on projects that fit within the grant guidelines. This is a reimbursement grant program that provides up to 40% of the total costs of a project not to exceed $3,500 for a single project.

Community Development Block Grants are distributed to Kansas communities looking to improve their infrastructure. Qualifying projects must meet low- to moderate-income level requirements.

The Small Communities Improvement Program sets aside $500,000 each year for small communities that are undertaking improvement projects through sweat equity and volunteerism. The program is designed to assist communities with populations of 5,000 or less that are not eligible for other Department of Commerce assistance and might not have the capacity to provide matching funds. The maximum award for a single project is $125,000.

The Kansas Community Service Tax Credit Program gives non-profit organizations a way to improve their ability to undertake major capital fund-raising drives for various projects. Specially selected non-profit organizations can offer Kansas tax credits for contributions made to approved projects. Projects eligible for tax credit awards include community service, crime prevention, and health care.

The Kansas Downtown Redevelopment Act encourages entrepreneurs to locate their businesses and invest in central business districts, as well as distressed neighborhoods, by offering property tax relief in areas designated by local governments, which are subsequently reviewed and approved by KDOC.

League of Kansas Municipalities | website

300 SW 8^th Avenue
Topeka, KS 66603-3951
785-354-9565

The Neighborhood Revitalization Act enables cities to designate neighborhood revitalization areas, and therein, to provide tax rebates to property owners. The rebates are the amounts of incremental increases in property taxes resulting from improvements made to properties. A neighborhood revitalization area is defined by: (1) buildings which, by reason of age, history, architecture or significance, should be preserved or restored; (2) deteriorating structures, inadequate streets, or incompatible land uses which impair growth of the city; and (3) dilapidated structures outside the area. A nonprofit organization may rehabilitate abandoned properties in the area. Contact your local government or the League of Kansas Municipalities.

Kansas Humanities Council | website

112 SW 6th Ave, Suite 210
Topeka KS 66603-3895
785-357-0359
info@kansashumanities.org

Humanities Grants are intended to support projects that engage the out-of-school, general public with the humanities. Past grants have included lecture series, forums for public issues, book and film discussions, museum exhibitions, and media projects.

Heritage Grants are intended to encourage the preservation and study of local and regional cultural resources. Past grants include oral history projects, care of collections, basic research, cataloging, and indexing. Grant awards are up to $3,500.

Kansas Museums Association | website

PO Box 1946
Salina, KS 67402-1946
785-840-8984
info@ksmuseums.org

The Institutional Project Grant was created in 1996 to advance Kansas museums. The grant provides funding to conduct small projects that improve the quality of a museum’s operations. Applicants must be Institutional members of KMA.

Kansas Green Schools Grant Program | website

Kansas Green Schools Grants are intended for projects that improve the environment and save money through reduced use of resources. Grant projects must address air quality, climate change, solid waste reduction and recycling, and water management. All school-based program initiatives must include direct environmental benefits and education as components. Grants are available to any private or public k-12 school in Kansas that is registered on the Kansas Green Schools Network. Preference is given to projects that can reasonably be completed within one year. The maximum grant is $4,500 per school.

Kansas Energy Office | website

1500 SW Arrowhead Road
Topeka, KS 66604-4027
785-271-3100
public.affairs@kcc.ks.gov

The Kansas Energy Office sponsors many programs that may assist property owners. The Facility Conservation Improvement Program, for example, allows divisions of state and local government as well as non-profits to finance projects that promote energy efficiency. Projects that would normally take multiple years can be done all at once so that energy savings are realized sooner.

Kansas Housing Resources Corporation | website

611 S. Kansas Avenue, Suite 300
Topeka, KS 66603-3803
785-296-5865
info@kshousingcorp.org

The Homeowner Rehabilitation Program assists communities with repairing and rehabilitating owner-occupied homes. Local Kansas communities (except Kansas City, Johnson County, Lawrence, Topeka, and Wichita) may apply for program funds up to $300,000 for administering a homeowner rehabilitation program. Grant funds pass through the State recipient on a reimbursement basis, and assistance is to be provided to the homeowner in the form of a loan.

Weatherization Assistance provides income eligible families a comprehensive home assessment which includes repair or replacement of heating systems, insulation and caulking.

National Level

National Trust for Historic Preservation | website

NTHP Mountain-Plains Regional Office
535 16th Street, Suite 750
Denver, CO 80202
303-623-1504
mpro@nthp.org

The Johanna Favrot Fund provides nonprofit organizations and public agencies grants ranging from $2,500 to $10,000 for projects that contribute to the preservation or the recapture of an authentic sense of place. Individuals and for-profit businesses may apply only if the project for which funding is requested involves a National Historic Landmark. Funds may be used for professional advice, conferences, workshops and education programs.
The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Fund provides nonprofit organizations and public agencies grants ranging from $2,500 to $10,000 to assist in the preservation, restoration, and interpretation of historic interiors. Individuals and for-profit businesses may apply only if the project for which funding is requested involves a National Historic Landmark. Funds may be used for professional expertise, print and video communications materials, and education programs.
The National Trust Preservation Funds provides nonprofit organizations and public agencies matching grants from $2,500 to $5,000 for preservation planning and education efforts. Funds may be used to obtain professional expertise in areas such as architecture, archeology, engineering, preservation planning, land-use planning, fund raising, organizational development and law as well as preservation education activities to educate the public. This fund also provides intervention funds for preservation emergencies.
The National Trust Loan Fund is flexible in terms of project criteria and provides funding for a variety of preservation projects. These may include establishing or expanding local and statewide preservation revolving funds, acquiring and/or rehabilitating historic buildings, sites, structures and districts, and preserving National Historic Landmarks. Eligible applicants are tax-exempt nonprofit organizations; local, state, or regional governments; and for-profit organizations. Preference will be given to nonprofit and public sector organizations.

National Park Service | website

National Park Service
Midwest Regional Office
1709 Jackson Street
Omaha, NE 68102
402-221-3456

Save America’s Treasures grants are available for preservation and/or conservation work on National Historic Landmarks or National Register-listed structures and sites that are deemed nationally significant. Historic structures and sites include historic districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects. This is a highly competitive application process.

The Preserve America matching-grant program provides funding to designated Preserve America Communities to support preservation efforts through heritage tourism, education and historic preservation planning. The grant program changes yearly.

National Trust Community Investment Corp. | website

1785 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20036
202-588-6001
ntcic_mail@ntcicfunds.com

The National Trust Community Investment Corporation (NTCIC) makes equity investments in real estate projects that qualify for federal historic rehabilitation and state historic rehabilitation tax credits in all 50 states. NTCIC works with a wide variety of property owners including for profit developers, nonprofit organizations and local governments. It focuses on projects that stimulate the economic revitalization of the surrounding community.

Environmental Protection Agency (Region 7) website

901 N. 5th Street
Kansas City, KS 66101
913-551-7003 or (800) 223-0425
r7actionline@epa.gov

The EPA, in cooperation with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has various grants available in our region. While these grants are not strictly preservation related, they can be used by historic sites to fund environmental improvements.

The 203(k) Rehabilitation Loan Program can be used to accomplish rehabilitation and/or improvement of an existing one-to-four unit dwelling.
The Brownfields Economic Development Initiative assists cities with the redevelopment of abandoned, idled, and underused industrial and commercial facilities with expansion and redevelopment of environmental contamination.
The Community Development Block Grant Program may help some owners of historic residences. In order to be eligible a project must, over a 1, 2, or 3-year period, as selected by the grantee, use no less than 70 percent of CDBG funds for activities that benefit low- and moderate-income persons. In addition, each project must meet one of the following national objectives for the program: benefit low- and moderate-income persons, prevention or elimination of slums or blight, or address community development needs having a particular urgency because existing conditions pose a serious and immediate threat to the health or welfare of the community for which other funding is not available.

Freedom's Frontier National Heritage Area | website

Freedom’s Frontier NHA
P.O. Box 526
Lawrence, KS 66044
785-856-5304
information@freedomsfrontier.org

Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area (FFNHA) invites its partner organizations to apply for Interpretive Grants. FFNHA awards small grants ($500-$1,500) and large grants ($1,501-$5,000) for projects that interpret a site’s history and connect it to the heritage area’s rich history. Grants are awarded to projects aligned with the goals of Freedom’s Frontier, and one or more of these significant themes: Shaping the Frontier, Missouri-Kansas Border War, Enduring Struggles for Freedom.

Americans with Disabilities Act | website

U.S. Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Civil Rights Division
Disability Rights Section - NYAV
Washington, D.C. 20530
800-514-0301

Two tax incentives for required ADA improvements are available to businesses to help cover the cost of making access improvements. The first is a tax credit that can be used for architectural adaptations, equipment acquisitions, and services such as sign language interpreters. The second is a tax deduction that can be used for architectural or transportation adaptations. Call a tax advisor and request IRS Publications 535 and 334 or Form 8826 to claim your tax credit.

U.S. Department of Energy | website

1000 Independence Ave., SW
Washington, DC 20585
800-342-5363
The.Secretary@hq.doe.gov

The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program (EECBG)provides grants to local governments to fund programs and projects that reduce energy use and fossil fuel emissions and improve energy efficiency. Generally, a city or county must have a population over 35,000 to qualify for this grant. Although the grant program was authorized by law in 2007, 2009 was the first year it was funded. It was funded by ARRA.

Grant Guides

The Kansas Non Profit Association compiles and publishes a directory of Kansas community, corporate, family, and independent foundations. The directory may be available at your local library or through community foundations.

Grants.gov allows organizations to electronically find and apply for more than $400 billion in federal grants. Grants.gov is THE single access point for over 1000 grant programs offered by all federal grant-making agencies.

The Foundation Finder website allows you to search through more than 65,000 private and community foundations in the United States.

The Grantsmanship Center is a helpful resource for anyone working on a grant application or administering a current grant. The site also features a Funding Sources finder with a list of the top funding organizations in each state.

Helpful Organizations & Links

League of Historic American Theatres | website

334 N. Charles Street, 2^nd Floor
Baltimore, MD 21201
877-627-0833 or (410) 659-9533
info@lhat.org

The League of Historic American Theatres (LHAT) is an international not-for-profit membership association. LHAT is a network of people who appreciate the cultural and architectural heritage of historic theaters and who work locally and nationally to rehabilitate them. Members of the League collaborate with one another, share their expertise and provide inspiration, information and a broad perspective to those working in the field of historic preservation. The Kansas Historic Theatres Association (KHTA) is a local non-profit organization with a similar mission and goals for preserving historic theaters in Kansas.

Reconnecting America—Great American Station Foundation | website

510-268-8602
info@reconnectingamerica.org

Reconnecting America is a national organization that grew out of the work of the Great American Station Foundation, which was formed in 1995 to assist communities with the revitalization of historic rail stations as a key to both improving transportation services and bringing life back to downtown areas. The above link provides information to dozens of funding incentives for the rehabilitation of transportation stations.

Partners for Sacred Places | website

This is the only national, non-sectarian, non-profit organization devoted to helping congregations and their communities sustain and actively use older historic sacred places.

Institute of Museum and Library Services | website

1800 M Street NW, 9^th Floor
Washington, DC 20036-5802
202-653-4657
imlsinfo@imls.gov

The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 122,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. Through its grant making and research and publications, the Institute empowers museums and libraries nationwide to provide leadership and services to enhance and increase civic participation. Projects include collection management, programming, conservation, digital collection, professional development, and research.

TradWeb: Custom Building & Restoration Services | website

This website is a comprehensive guide to the people, products, and services that restore, rehabilitate, and preserve America’s historic buildings and environments.