Keystone Historic Preservation Planning Grant
Keystone Historic Preservation Planning Grant supports nonprofits and local governments with planning, surveys, nominations, and archaeology to preserve Pennsylvania’s historic resources for public benefit.
Funder: Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
Due Dates: December 7, 2026 (Optional pre-application) | March 1, 2027 (Full application)
Funding Amounts: $5,000–$25,000 with a 50/50 cash match; 24-month implementation period
Summary: Supports planning, surveys, nominations, and archaeology to preserve Pennsylvania’s historic resources for public benefit and community revitalization.
Key Information: Applicants and resources must be in Pennsylvania, with SHPO documentation confirming National Register listing or eligibility.
Description
The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) administers this program through the Commonwealth’s Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund. It supports nonprofit organizations and local governments undertaking planning and development projects that identify, preserve, promote, and protect Pennsylvania’s historic and archaeological resources. Projects must advance the goals and objectives of the Pennsylvania Historic Preservation Plan and benefit the public.
Support covers cultural resource surveys, National Register nominations, preservation planning and predevelopment studies, and archaeology. Examples include historic structure reports, design guidelines, feasibility studies, adaptive-use plans, community preservation plans, excavations, artifact analysis, and regional or temporal syntheses. The program funds planning rather than bricks-and-mortar construction. National Register nominations are evaluated for their contribution to preservation goals, not recognition alone.
