FY2025 Historic Preservation Fund- Save America's Treasures- Collection Grants

The Save America’s Treasures Collection Grants program is administered by the National Park Service under the U.S. Department of the Interior, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services. The program is funded through the Historic Preservation Fund and is designed to preserve and conserve nationally significant historic collections. These collections may include museum holdings, archival materials, library collections, and other historically important artifacts that reflect the cultural and intellectual heritage of the United States. The initiative aligns with broader federal priorities to protect American history, promote cultural heritage, and create skilled workforce opportunities tied to preservation efforts. The primary purpose of this grant opportunity is to provide financial assistance for projects that address urgent conservation and preservation needs of nationally significant collections. Eligible activities include physical conservation treatments, improvements to collection storage and care, curation efforts, and collections management enhancements. Projects must demonstrate a clear threat to the collection and present a viable plan to mitigate that threat. The program emphasizes projects that not only preserve cultural heritage but also contribute to long-term sustainability and public benefit. Funding for this program is awarded competitively, with an estimated total program funding of 25,500,000 dollars and approximately 50 awards anticipated. Individual grant awards range from a minimum of 25,000 dollars to a maximum of 750,000 dollars. A critical requirement of the program is a dollar-for-dollar non-federal match, meaning applicants must provide at least 50 percent of total project costs through cash, in-kind contributions, or volunteer services. Matching funds do not need to be secured at the time of application but must be planned and documented, and the ability to secure matching funds may influence application competitiveness. Eligibility for the program is broad and includes state, county, and local governments, federally recognized tribal governments and organizations, public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status, and certain federal agencies working through nonprofit partners. However, projects involving properties or collections owned or leased by the National Park Service are not eligible. Additionally, only one grant may be awarded per resource, and previously funded resources are not eligible for additional funding under this program. Applicants must submit their proposals through Grants.gov and complete a series of required federal forms, including the SF-424 application, budget forms, and supporting documentation such as a project narrative, budget justification, and project images. Additional materials may include proof of nonprofit status, letters of support, and letters of owner consent where applicable. The project narrative must address four core evaluation criteria: national significance, severity of threat, mitigation of threat, and feasibility. Each criterion is equally weighted and scored during the merit review process. The application deadline for this funding opportunity is June 16, 2026, with submissions required by 11:59 PM Eastern Time. Following submission, applications undergo an eligibility review and a comprehensive merit review conducted by National Park Service staff and potentially external reviewers. Award notifications are expected approximately six months after the application deadline. Projects are anticipated to begin around January 1, 2027, and must be completed within a two- to three-year period, ending by December 31, 2029. For questions or assistance, applicants may contact the program via email at STLPG@nps.gov or by phone at 202-354-2020. Overall, the Save America’s Treasures Collection Grants program represents a significant federal investment in preserving the nation’s cultural assets, supporting institutions in safeguarding historically significant collections for future generations.

Strongly align project narrative to the four evaluation criteria with equal weight; clearly demonstrate national significance and urgency of threat; provide detailed and feasible mitigation plan; ensure matching funds strategy is credible and documented; minimize administrative costs to improve competitiveness