The National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Henry A. Jordan, M.D., Preservation Excellence Fund provides funding to deserving organizations demonstrating commitment to the protection of natural and cultural resources in the Mid-Atlantic region.
Donor Name: National Trust for Historic Preservation
State: Selected States
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 06/01/2026
Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
The Jordan Preservation Excellence Fund was established in November 1996 in recognition of Dr. Jordan’s distinguished service to the National Trust and his visionary leadership of the national preservation movement. The endowed fund supports innovative projects and programs in Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. The fund awards funding to programs and activities that:
Facilitate positive dialogues between the diverse interests of historic preservation, land conservation, business development, transportation, and government in a search for common ground in protecting the environment
- Stimulate the development of local and state policies that protect the cultural landscape and its resources
- Heighten public awareness of or increase involvement in issues relating to the livability and sustainability of communities
- Encourage innovative partnerships and approaches to open space conservation and historic preservation.
Funding Information
Applicants can apply for up to $7,500.
Eligible Activities
Jordan Fund grants are awarded for planning activities and education efforts focused on preservation. Grant funds can be used to launch new initiatives or to provide additional support to on-going efforts.
- Planning: Supporting existing staff (nonprofit applicants only) or obtaining professional expertise in areas such as architecture, archaeology, engineering, preservation planning, land-use planning, and law. Eligible planning activities include, but are not limited to:
- Hiring a preservation architect or landscape architect to produce a historic structure report or historic landscape master plan
- Hiring a preservation planner to produce design guidelines for a historic district
- Hiring a real estate development consultant to produce an economic feasibility study for the reuse of a threatened structure
- Sponsoring a community forum to develop a shared vision for the future of a historic neighborhood
- Education and Outreach: Support for preservation education activities aimed at the public. The National Trust is particularly interested in programs aimed at reaching new audiences. Funding will be provided to projects that employ innovative techniques and formats aimed at introducing new audiences to the preservation movement, whether that be through educational programs or conference sessions.
Eligible Expenses
- Nonprofit applicants may include staff salaries for staff members directly working on the funded project
- Fees for consultant services
- Speaker fees/faculty costs for educational programs and conference sessions
- Mailing costs for distribution of materials
- The development of materials for education and outreach campaigns
- Materials and services such as printing, photographs, telephone, and supplies. With the exception of publications projects, these costs may not exceed 10 percent of the project budget.
Eligibility Criteria
- Applicants must be either a public agency, 501(c) (3), or other nonprofit organization to be considered eligible. Applicants that have received previous National Trust financial assistance are eligible provided that all grant requirements are current.
- No more than three grants will be awarded in any two-year period to a single grantee. Only one grant will be awarded per organization in any grant round. Only one grant will be awarded for a particular project phase.
- Only Organizational Level Preservation Leadership Forum Members, Main Street America Community Members, and Main Street America General Members are eligible to receive funding from the National Trust Preservation Fund. Organizations do not need to have an active membership to apply for a grant, but selected grantees will be required to become members prior to the release of funds.
- Your membership status will be verified by the grants office once award decisions have been made.
For more information, visit NTHP.
