Funding to Support History Organizations, Projects, and Programs across all 21 Counties

TRENTON, NJ - The New Jersey Historical Commission board has approved $5.2 million in Fiscal Year 2026 (FY 26) grant funding benefitting 94 historical organizations, museums, historic sites, archives, libraries, individuals, and county re-grant agencies across the state.

The $5.2 million in FY 26 funding will support the New Jersey Historical Commission’s General Operating Support (GOS) program, which covers an array of operational expenses for qualified history organizations; Projects and Co-Sponsored Projects, which includes New Jersey-based historical research, exhibits, programs, and archival work; and the County History Partnership Program (CHPP), which provides all 21 counties with funding for local history groups statewide.

The funding for FY 26 takes on even greater importance as the state’s history community plans and prepares programming for the upcoming America 250th commemoration in 2026.

“From promoting civic engagement, expanding economic vitality, and broadening the knowledge of the state’s exceptional cultural resources, this funding strengthens that commitment by providing critical support to advance awareness of New Jersey’s past,” noted Lt. Governor Tahesha Way, who oversees the NJHC in her role as Secretary of State. “The result will be a strong, inclusive, and proactive history community ready to maximize its programmatic impacts for the 250th in 2026.”

In Fiscal Year 2024, history organizations that received $2.9 million in General Operating Support (GOS) funding alone leveraged nearly $29 million in total spending, generated over $32 million in total income, offered on-and-off-site programs to about 2 million people (including more than 300,000 K-12 students), enjoyed in excess of 5.7 million website visitors, and supported 700 full and part-time jobs statewide.

“This funding is not only critical for the state’s history organizations and their work, but for newer initiatives and partnerships as well,” said Sara Cureton, executive director of the New Jersey Historical Commission. “This includes the New Jersey Black Heritage Trail and the ongoing work of the RevolutionNJ collaboration ahead of the 250th. It will encourage grantees to continually attract new and diverse audiences, connect history to contemporary issues, and lay the groundwork for long-term growth and sustainability.”

For more information on the NJHC’s grant programs, African American History Program, and all other initiatives, visit: History.NJ.gov.

To learn more about RevolutionNJ (RevNJ), visit: RevNJ.org

The New Jersey Historical Commission’s grant programs are determined through an independent, third-party peer review process. All funding is made possible by a portion of the revenue produced by the state’s Hotel/Motel Tax legislation.

The full list of Fiscal Year 2026 New Jersey Historical Commission grant recipients are provided at the following links:

FY2026 General Operating Support (GOS) Recipients
FY2026 Project and Co-Sponsored Project Recipients
FY2026 County History Partnership Program (CHPP) Recipients

About the New Jersey Historical Commission:
The New Jersey Historical Commission (NJHC) is a state agency dedicated to the advancement of public knowledge and preservation of New Jersey history. Established by law in 1967, its work is founded on the fundamental belief that an understanding of our shared heritage is essential to sustaining a cohesive and robust democracy.