The State, Tribal, Local, Plans & Grants Division is now accepting applications for the History of Equal Rights (HER) grant program. Before applying, please make sure that you have read and understand the limitations of each funding program and have carefully reviewed the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). The Notice of Funding Opportunity contains all the information you will need to create a successful application.

Congress has appropriated $5 million for for the HER program. Grant projects fund physical preservation or pre-preservation of sites associated with efforts to achieve equal rights. The History of Equal Rights grants are not limited to any specific group and are intended to include the broadest possible interpretation of equal rights for any American.

What is Funded:

- Preservation projects must range from $75,000 to $750,000 in federal share, of which 20% may go toward pre-preservation costs such as architectural or engineering services. Grant applications that solely involve pre-preservation work must range from $15,000 to $75,000.
- Preservation projects fund physical preservation of a historic site to include historic districts, buildings, sites, structures, and objects. Projects must comply with relevant laws, such as Section 106 and NEPA, and execute a preservation covenant/easement.
- Eligible costs: pre-preservation studies, architectural plans and specifications, historic structure reports, and the repair and rehabilitation of historic properties according to the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Archeology and Historic Preservation.
- Properties must be listed in or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places or designated a National Historic Landmark either individually or as part of a district. Significance must be associated with equal rights. Projects that are not listed on the National Register or are not listed in association with equal rights must include a nomination or amendment to an existing nomination as part of their project.

What is not Funded:

- Construction of new buildings
- Acquisition of collections or historic sites
- Conservation of collections
- Long-term maintenance or curatorial work beyond the grant period
- Reconstructing historic properties (recreating all or a significant portion that no longer exists or was removed)
- Moving or work on moved historic properties that are no longer eligible for listing in the NRHP
- Cash reserves, endowments, revolving funds, or fund-raising costs
- Work performed prior to announcement of award
- Lobbying or advocacy activities
- Costs for work already completed or funded through other federal programs
- Administrative costs may not be over 25% of project budget
- Miscellaneous costs, contingencies, reserves, and overhead

Applications are due July 11, 2023.
Apply now via Grants.gov P23AS000474