Historic Site Managment Grant requests may range from $5,000 to $75,000. Grant applicants are eligible for a 3:1 funding match in which the Trust may provide up to 75% of total project costs, not to exceed $75,000. The applicant must demonstrate the ability to match 25% of the total project cost for which the grant is requested.

Applicants must own or have permission of the owner to apply and to conduct the proposed activity at the time of application.

If the applicant does not own the property, the Owner Approval form should be included as Attachment B on the USB drive.

If the proposed activity is a register nomination for a historic district, consent is required from the Mayor of the municipalities within the proposed district, not from every property in the district. 

All applicants must also submit the signed Applicant's Governing Body/Board Resolution and Assurances form with each application. It should be included as Attachment A on the USB drive. 

• Individually listed in the NJ or National Register of Historic Places
• Contributing resource to a historic district listed in the NJ or National Register 
• Certified eligible for listing by the Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer

Properties must be listed or certified eligible for listing by August 1, 2024 in order to be considered for funding in this grant round.

• Historic Structure Report (HSR)
• Preservation Plan
• Update to an HSR or Preservation Plan
• Conditions Assessment
• Architectural Plans, Designs, Specifications, or other Construction Documents
• Cost Estimates
• Archaeological Investigation/Report
• Adaptive Reuse/Feasibility Study
• Historic Research Report
• Materials Analysis (paint, mortar, masonry, etc.)
• Building Systems Analysis (mechanical, electrical, plumbing, security, energy efficiency, etc.)
• Engineering Study
• Landscape Report
• Disaster Management Plan
• Maintenance Plan
• ADA Accessibility/NJ Barrier Free Subcode Compliance Planning, including:
  • Evaluations of barrier-free access requirements for a historic property
  • Evaluation of site and multi-site access for historic properties
  • Preparation of architectural plans, designs, specifications, cost estimates, and other contract documents for complying with New Jersey’s barrier-free requirements
  • Planning and development of interpretive materials or devices to help the disabled visitor
• Professional planning for the management of historic properties through the preparation of:
  • Multi-year strategic plan
  • Fundraising plan for capital campaigns for the preservation, restoration or rehabilitation of a historic property
  • Endowment plan and proposal

Please see the Grant Guidelines for a list of ineligible activities. Contact Trust staff if you do not see your proposed activity listed. 

All HSRs, Preservation Plans, and updates to either of these documents should follow the formatting and guidelines laid out in Historic Structure Reports & Preservation Plans: a Preparation Guide—Second Edition. 

A handy checklist is available for you to determine if your report has everything it needs. Boxes in bold indicate parts that are required, depending on the type of document. You should work with your consultant to determine what other pieces might be needed for your resource. 

The following criteria will be used to evaluate and rank applications for these grant funds:

• Historical significance of the resource;
• Physical condition of the property;
• Ability of the applicant to match the funds requested;
• Ability of the applicant to complete the proposed work;
• Potential of the project to foster preservation of the historic property; to promote other preservation activity or related cultural or economic activity; and to foster appropriate site management practices that sustain the long-term use of a property;
• Appropriateness of project to meet the needs of the resource and quality of the work proposed for funding;
• Degree to which the project represents innovative design or programming and reaches new audiences; and
• Degree to which the project contributes toward a balanced distribution of program funds.

Below are links to the application attachments for the Historic Site Management grant application:

Owner Approval

Applicant's Governing Body/Board Resolution

Project Expenditure Worksheet