Save America's Treasures

he story of preservation in America is the story of public-private partnerships. In keeping with that long tradition, Save America’s Treasures is securing financial resources — both public and private — to help ensure the long-term survival of the nation’s irreplaceable historic and cultural legacy.

To date, $345 million in public-private funds has been raised to save our nation’s treasures. Together, the public and private commitments and the greater public awareness of the nation’s needs will result in the largest increase in preservation activity in over forty years.

Public Sector - Funding Through the National Park Service and the nation's federal cultural agencies

ANNOUNCEMENT
The Federal Save America’s Treasures (SAT) Grants are administered by the National Park Service (NPS) in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities.
SAT's federal partners just announced the 2009 Save America's Treasures grant round. As one of the largest and most successful grant programs for the protection of our nation’s endangered and irreplaceable cultural heritage, grants are available for preservation and/or conservation work on nationally significant intellectual and cultural artifacts and historic structures and sites. Intellectual and cultural artifacts include artifacts, collections, documents, sculpture, and works of art. Historic structures and sites include historic districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects. Grants are awarded to Federal, state, local, and tribal government entities, and non-profit organizations through a competitive process and require a dollar-for-dollar, non-Federal match. The minimum grant request for historic collections projects is $25,000 Federal share; the minimum grant request for historic property projects is $125,000 Federal share. The maximum grant request for all projects is $700,000 Federal share. Application forms, guidelines and a list of previously funded projects can be found at the following website http://www.nps.gov/history/hps/treasures/.
The 2009 deadline is Friday, May 22, 2009, 11:59 pm Eastern Time.
UPDATE TO SAVE AMERICA'S TREASURES GRANT ROUND!

Due to functionality problems, the National Park Service will NOT accept Save America's Treasures applications through www.grants.gov this year. Thanks to an overwhelming response to the economic stimulus package, the federal government issued a statement that only stimulus-related requests will be processed via the government's grant website.

SAT applicants may continue to access and use the 2009 guidelines and applications already available on the NPS website http://www.nps.gov/history/hps/treasures/ As of Friday, March 27th, a revised set of instructions will be available, reflecting a new cover form and instructions on how to submit completed applications via email.

The deadline for receipt of applications remains unchanged at 11:59pm, Friday May 22nd.

Save America's Treasures at the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the partnership's principal private partner, plays an important role as an on-the-ground 'eyes and ears' for the federal program. We work closely with a variety of projects across the country, meeting with project representatives, providing advice and guidance on the federal grant process, often reviewing draft applications as appropriate, and providing assistance in meeting the required match when possible. We are dedicated to reaching out and identifying strong candidates and encourage you to keep us informed of any projects you think worthy, and to contact us if you have questions or would like more information. The offices of Save America's Treasures at the National Trust can be reached at (202) 588-6012.

Private Sector - Funding Through the National Trust for Historic Preservation

Save America's Treasures at the National Trust for Historic Preservation works to help Official Projects of Save America’s Treasures encourage local preservation efforts, and attract gifts from corporations, foundations and individuals to support community projects. The Save America’s Treasures Official Projects designation benefits recipients of federal grants as well. Since the grantees must match the federal award with private funding, Official Project designation helps these historic sites and collections raise awareness and support.

In addition to assisting in the dissemination of information about the federal SAT competitive grant program, SAT at the National Trust can provide guidance on obtaining funds through Congressional earmarks when available-- traditionally, each year, half of the federal Save America's Treasures funds have typically been awarded through Congressional appropriations. SAT at the National Trust can work with applicants to guide them through this process. For further information, please contact the National Trust's Save America's Treasures office at (202) 588-6012.

To date, Save America's Treasures private-sector partner, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, has generated almost $57 million in private support for new preservation grants and for special preservation projects in communities across the country. Support has included significant contributions from corporations, private foundations, individual donors and government agencies. The National Trust does not accept applications for funding through Save America's Treasures.

1999 Save America's Treasures Getty Preservation Planning Fund Awards