Which properties can apply?
Eligibility centers on North Dakota properties listed in the National Register of Historic Places that retain their historic integrity. The guidelines include private, nonprofit, tribal and government owners, but also list ownership and project exclusions that applicants must check.
Official sources: 2026 Historic Preservation Fund grant guidelines
How much support is available?
Requests can be for as much as $50,000. Awards are limited to 50% of project costs, with a cash match required; applicants considering federal money for that match must check the guidelines' limited exception with the grants officer.
Official sources: 2026 Historic Preservation Fund grant guidelines
When must the application arrive?
The society must receive the completed application by 5 p.m. Friday, October 16, 2026. A mailing date alone is not enough for this deadline; the official program page specifies acceptance rather than a postmark.
Official sources: Historic Preservation Fund Grants — current program page
What does a complete application include?
The package needs a completed form, project narrative, photographs, itemized budget and timeline. The form asks for property and ownership information, the requested grant, the cash match and total cost; the guidelines describe the additional documentation required.
Official sources: 2026 Historic Preservation Fund grant guidelines · Historic Preservation Fund grant application form
When can the work start?
The application form says reimbursable work cannot proceed until a contract is signed and the society gives written authorization. Selected applicants are expected to be contacted in early January 2027, and projects must finish by September 30, 2028.
Official sources: Historic Preservation Fund grant application form · 2026 Historic Preservation Fund grant guidelines
What obligations continue after an award?
Payment follows completion and approval of the work, with supporting expense records. A preservation covenant requires at least ten years of owner-funded upkeep, and the guidelines also set public-viewing requirements with specified exceptions. These conditions accompany the funding rather than creating an unrestricted payment.
Official sources: 2026 Historic Preservation Fund grant guidelines