Funder: Minnesota Historical Society
Due Dates: January 8, 2027; April 9, 2027 (Small/structured) | July 9, 2027; October 8, 2027; January 14, 2028; April 14, 2028 (Small/structured, pending approval) | July 16, 2027 (Large pre-application, pending approval) | September 10, 2027 (Large final application, pending approval)
Funding Amounts: Small/structured grants: up to $20,000, primarily within 12 months; large grants: over $20,000, typically 6–18 months; no match required
Summary: Competitive grants support projects preserving and enhancing public access to Minnesota’s history and cultural heritage.
Key Information: All applicant organizations must reside in Minnesota, and projects must directly connect to Minnesota history or cultural heritage.
Description
Administered by the Minnesota Historical Society (MNHS), Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Grants—also called Legacy Grants—support projects of enduring value for history and historic preservation across Minnesota. The program has supported preservation since 2008. Funding comes from the state’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund, using sales tax revenue authorized through the Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Amendment.
Supported work includes historical research and writing, oral histories, publications, exhibits, public education, collections care, digitization, and historic preservation. Small grants support shorter projects, while large grants follow a multi-step competitive review. Structured grants offer simplified applications for specified projects addressing common organizational needs. Program funds must supplement, rather than replace, traditional funding sources.
