Answers to Common Questions
Inquiring minds want to know . . .
Technical Assistance
We provide technical assistance to any public organization planning to submit a grant request to the Trust for grant funding. While we do not provide grants to privately-owned buildings, we will provide some general technical assistance.
Depending upon the issues or circumstances of your historic building, we will provide a technical expert to consult with you on your project and provide education and guidance. In some instances, the situation may require a structural engineer, a historic mason, or an expert in another area.
When starting a preservation project, it can be challenging knowing where to begin or how to prioritize the restoration. We can provide a general assessment of your building with recommendations on what steps need to be taken and in what order. The Executive Director will determine the appropriate extent of services provided.
Yes, the Trust pays the consultants for the technical assistance provided.
We want to fund good preservation projects that meet the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Buildings. So, we provide education and guidance to help grantees with the scope and specific needs of their project.
You may request technical assistance any time of the year. In practice, however, it is best for us to receive requests through the late winter and early spring. so we can plan site visits throughout the summer months. This allows enough time to give you guidance prior to the Grant submittal deadline. Requesting technical assistance in August for a September Grant deadline makes it difficult for us to respond to your needs in a timely manner.
You can submit a Technical Assistance Request through our Grant Portal. Once reviewed, we will reach out to schedule a visit from the requisite Technical Expert that best matches the needs of your proposed project.
Grant Requirements
Grant proposals must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. on September 30th.
Public organizations including non-profit, city, county, state, and federal agencies may apply for grant funding. Grants are not awarded to privately-owned buildings, including private residences or for-profit businesses. Exceptions may be considered for an exceptionally important historic building to the community or state. Contact the Trust office if you have questions regarding the eligibility of your project.
Only publicly owned buildings and organizations may apply for grants. For exceptions stipulated above, please contact the Trust office for evaluation.
No, but the sponsoring organization (applicant) must either occupy the building or own the building. In coordination with the sponsoring organization, the building owner must sign the grant application and grant agreement, acknowledging compliance with the requirements of a grant award.
No, the 501c3 status must be approved.
The scope of work for the grant must meet the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties, or in the case of archaeological sites or collections, the applicable standards in the field. Other criteria for selection include community support and participation, significance to the local community, state, or national history, and the sustainability of the organization and building, artifact, or site.
Consideration is given to projects that lack funding from other sources, or a building that is in imminent jeopardy due to decay, demolition, or deterioration by neglect.
The Trust champions preservation or conservation of the historic fabric of Idaho, meaning approved projects must result in the preservation of historic buildings and artifacts. Such work includes brick and mortar projects to stabilize historic buildings or preserve the historic character, defining features, and period-correct materials, architectural or engineering plans for this type of work, or conservation of historic artifacts. For a better idea of the types of projects we fund, see the Champion Heritage That Matters page for recent examples.
The Trust will not fund the relocation of buildings to new locations or reconstruction of historic structures.
The Trust prefers to fund rural projects, especially communities with a population of less than 5,000 residents.
Not at this time.
No, our grant funds must be matched 50/50 in cash. In-kind donations are a form of charitable giving in which goods and services are given in lieu of money, which are categorized differently. As such, we can only accept gifts of cash as a match.
Yes, other gifts of cash, either through donations, fundraising, or grants may be used as a match to our grant funding.
No, offering organizational labor is considered an in-kind gift.
You have three years from the time the grant is awarded to complete the project. If you need more time, please contact us for an extension.
Yes, you may apply every year for a different project, even if you have not completed the previously funded project. You may request more funding for the same project, but it will be a lower priority for the board to fund.
Grant Review
The grant review process begins with a technical review to ensure the scope of work meets the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties. Representatives from the Idaho State Historic Preservation Office and the Idaho State Parks and Recreation Department perform the assessment. The next step is a regional review comprised of local volunteers representing their communities and counties who determine the priority of grants to be funded. The board listens to all comments from previous reviews and makes the final decision on which projects receive funding.
IHT’s Board of Trustees make the final decisions on how much funding and which projects receive funding.
The board makes decisions at our November Board Meeting. All grantees are notified of the decision by the first of December.
Grant Funding
The grant funding is provided by earnings from our endowment. Depending upon the market, the available amount varies.
An average grant award is $5,000. A few grants have been as high as $15,000 and sometimes as small as $750.
No, there is no limit to your request. There is a limit to our capability to fund large requests. Using common sense and requesting a grant amount within our means is appreciated.
No, you may apply for a grant every single year. We encourage organizations to phase their projects, so that we can support the ongoing preservation work year after year.
At this time, the trust cannot provide loans to purchase properties.
If the Grantee or subsequent owner of a property that was assisted by a grant takes any action within a term of five years (ten years for Award Grants over $10,000) to destroy the building’s historic integrity or context, including deterioration, substantial alteration, or demolition, the grant shall be repaid in full within one year. If the property is sold or demolished within five years of the grant funding, the amount funded shall be repaid to the Trust upon the transfer of the property.
Grants are awarded annually, but emergency funding can be requested if there is imminent danger of detrimental or irreparable damage to an historic building or artifact if action is not taken right away. Some circumstances that can lead to emergency requests include a collapsed roof structure, potential structural failure, or damage due to natural disaster or earthquake.
Grant funds are paid as a reimbursement once the project is complete and the agreed upon grant requirements are met.