FY2026 - Historic Preservation Fund- Annual State Historic Preservation Office Grants

The Historic Preservation Fund Annual State Historic Preservation Office Grants program is administered by the National Park Service within the U.S. Department of the Interior. This program operates under the authority of the National Historic Preservation Act and is designed to provide formula-based funding to State Historic Preservation Offices across the United States, its territories, and affiliated jurisdictions. The program supports the federal government’s broader mandate to identify, evaluate, and protect historic and cultural resources through coordinated state-level implementation. The primary purpose of this grant program is to fund the operational and programmatic responsibilities of State Historic Preservation Offices. These responsibilities include activities such as nominating properties to the National Register of Historic Places, administering historic preservation tax incentives, conducting survey and inventory work, ensuring compliance with federal preservation requirements, and supporting preservation planning and development projects. The program also emphasizes collaboration with Certified Local Governments and encourages activities that assist federal, state, and local agencies, as well as nonprofit organizations and private individuals, in advancing preservation goals. Funding is distributed through a formula apportionment process approved by the Secretary of the Interior rather than a competitive review. The total program funding is substantial, supporting dozens of state-level awards with defined minimum and maximum funding thresholds. Allowable uses of funds include administrative costs, program delivery, subgrants, and contracts, though administrative expenses are capped at twenty five percent of total project costs. Additionally, a minimum of ten percent of funding must be passed through to Certified Local Governments, reinforcing local preservation efforts. A key requirement of this program is a non federal cost share. Applicants must provide a minimum forty percent match of the total project cost using non federal sources. These contributions may include cash, in kind support, or volunteer services, and must comply with federal cost principles. Certain insular areas and territories are exempt from this requirement. The cost sharing requirement reflects the program’s design as a partnership between federal and state governments to jointly support preservation activities. Eligibility for this funding opportunity is limited primarily to state governments as defined under the National Historic Preservation Act. In practice, this includes the official State Historic Preservation Offices designated within each state or jurisdiction. A limited exception exists for a specific nonprofit entity that serves as the designated preservation office for its state. The program is therefore highly specialized and not broadly open to general nonprofit or private sector applicants. Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov, with additional documentation provided through the HPFOnline system. Required application materials include standard federal forms such as the SF 424, SF 424A, and SF 424B, as well as detailed budget narratives, project descriptions, organizational charts, and staffing summaries. Applicants must also maintain active registration in SAM.gov and obtain a Unique Entity Identifier prior to submission. The application process requires coordination across multiple systems and careful documentation of programmatic and financial details. The application deadline is June 30, 2026, with submissions due by 11:59 PM Eastern Time. The anticipated project period spans from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2028. Because this is an annual formula grant program, it is expected to recur each fiscal year, with similar timelines and requirements. Awards are issued following eligibility and compliance review, and recipients must adhere to ongoing reporting, monitoring, and federal compliance requirements throughout the project period.

Ensure strict compliance with federal cost principles; clearly align budget with program activities; document matching funds accurately; prioritize required preservation program areas