Grant FAQs

The Grants Portal and the Member Portal are two distinct entities. At this time, your credentials to the Member Portal are not linked to the Grants Portal, meaning you will need to create a new account to access, even as an existing member. 

If this is the first time your organization is accessing the Grants Portal, click here and follow the directions to "Create An Account". 

If you are unsure if another member of your organization has already established an account in the Grants Portal, please contact grants@texashistoricalfoundation.org. 

If your organization's most recent grant grant was received before May 30, 2025, you will need to create a new account in the Grants Portal in order to prepare a new application. 

Click here and follow the instructions for "New Member" on the right hand side of the page to create an account. 

The most common cause for this is that you have unintentionally created an account in the THF Member Portal, which is separate from the THF Grants Portal. 

Because the login credentials from the Member Portal are not compatible with the Grants Portal, you will not be able to use them to log in. 

Try following the "New Account" instructions on the right hand side of this link to create a Grants Portal account. If that does not work, contact grants@texashistoricalfoundation.org with your organization name and the login credentials you created for assistance. 

There are multiple options to collaborate with your coworkers on an application in the THF Grants Portal; click here for a quick tutorial. 

When in the application you are preparing, select the "Collaborate" button on the upper right hand corner of the page. This will enable you to invite colleagues from your organization to work on the submission with you in the Portal. 

Another option is to click the "Question List" button on the upper right hand side of the application. This will allow you to download the application questions as a PDF that you can circulate to your team to prepare responses. 

If you are not sure if an account has been created for your organization, please contact grants@texashistoricalfoundation.org and provide the name of your organization. A member of THF staff will confirm if there is an existing account for your organization and add you as an additional user. 

It is possible for a user to be affiliated with multiple organizations in the THF Grant Portal, meaning your individual account credentials can be added as an approved user for several organizations. 

This feature is typically used by contract grant writers or volunteers who are active with more than one grant-seeking organization.  

Click here for a tutorial on how to use this feature. 

Applications for all THF grant and award programs are now accessed via the THF Grants Portal: 

• To create an account in the THF Grants Portal, follow instructions for "New Users" on the right hand side of the log in screen. 
• Once you have created an account and/or logged in, select the button titled "Apply" with a paper icon located in the tool ribbon at the top of the page. 
• This will display applications for all grants and awards your organization is currently eligible for. 
• To begin an application, navigate to the grant program you wish to apply for, and select the navy "Apply" button in the upper right hand corner. 

If you have any issues accessing the portal or are unsure whether your organization already has an account, please contact THF staff at grants@texashisthoricalfoundation.org. 

Quarterly Micro Grants

Eligible applicants are 501(c)(3) organizations with a project supporting the preservation of and public engagement with Texas history (preserving historic structures and sites, history education, archeological research, preservation advocacy, museum programming, archives and collections preservation, legal history, publishing, contributions to the body of historical knowledge, and promotion of Texas arts and culture). 

The most compatible applications are from smaller, community-based nonprofits where granted funds augment or seed a project with pronounced public benefit. 

Other eligibility factors: 

• For past recipients of a Quarterly Micro Grant, one year must have elapsed since your successful application (for example, if your grant was approved in the Spring 2024 cycle, you can reapply in the Spring 2025 cycle). 
• If a past grant has been awarded, the organization must be current with follow up reports and in compliance with the grant agreement contract. 
• Where grant funds would be applied to a project that improves the value of a property, the property must be owned by the applicant. 
• Routine maintenance and operation costs are generally not eligible. Similarly, underwriting general costs for academic conferences is not usually an eligible area.
• For religious institutions, private clubs, and schools, the benefit of the project must extend beyond the immediate group or congregation in a clear and tangible way. 

Annual Grants

Eligible applicants are 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations* with a project supporting the preservation of and public engagement with Texas history (preserving historic structures and sites, history education, archeological research, preservation advocacy, museum programming, archives and collections preservation, legal history, publishing, contributions to the body of historical knowledge, and promotion of Texas arts and culture). 

The most compatible applications are from smaller, community-based nonprofits where granted funds have the potential to make a significant impact on a project with pronounced public benefit.  

Other eligibility factors include: 

• If a past grant has been awarded, the organization must be current with follow up reports and in compliance with the grant agreement contract. 
• Where a grant project improves the value of a property, the property must be owned by the applicant or fiscal sponsor. 
• Routine maintenance and operation costs are generally not eligible. Similarly, underwriting general costs for academic conferences are not usually an eligible area.
• For religious institutions, private clubs, and schools, the benefit of the project must extend beyond the immediate group or congregation. 
• An applicant organization does not need to be based in Texas, however the project must relate to the history of the state or former Republic of Texas, take place in the state or former Republic of Texas, or primarily benefit Texans. 
• Applicants without 501(c)(3) status are eligible with a 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor. 

*An applicant without 501(c)(3) status may be eligible with a 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor. 

The Duda Preservation Awards are held biennially and seek to honor excellence in the field of preserving historic architecture, offering monetary awards up to $100,000 for use in an architectural preservation effort. 

Organizations eligible for the Duda Preservation Award are 501(c)(3) nonprofits or governmental entities with an active architectural preservation project and a track record of excellence in the preservation of historic architecture.  

In order to qualify: 

• Applicants or their sponsor must own the structure where award funding would be used. 
• The structure must have at least one formal historic designation (National Register listing, State Antiquities Landmark, etc.) 
• Professionalism, organizational capacity, and best practice standards must be demonstrated through past work. 
• Project budget must be $100,000 or greater and the project must be viable in terms of finances and organizational capacity; including future upkeep. 
• The outcome of the project must have a pronounced public benefit, either through the preservation of a historically or architecturally significant site, public access, or contribution to the body of historic knowledge. 

For more detailed information, please see our Duda Preservation Awards Eligibility & FAQs. 

Historically, THF has no record of funding requests for standard operating expenses (including routine maintenance of historic structures or sites), or underwriting fundraising events. 

Projects that offer or expand upon efforts that engage the public with Texas history, preserve or celebrate Texas' material or cultural history, or contribute to a body of knowledge are favored over day-to-day operations costs or general maintenance requests. 

THF membership is not required, but a show of support for our mission is always appreciated! Please keep in mind that an organization submitting a proposal can join at any time. 

To learn more about joining the Texas Historical Foundation as a member, click here. 

Quarterly Micro Grants & Annual Grants

Because only 501(c)(3) organizations are eligible for Quarterly and Annual Grants programs, governmental organizations do not usually qualify. However, applications with a 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor are accepted. 

For government entities such as a library, school, or state or municipal agency, applying via a "Friends of" group or establishing an umbrella arrangement partnership with a likeminded nonprofit are options to consider. 

Duda Preservation Awards

Qualifying government entities may be eligible for funding through the Duda Preservation Award program. Please see Eligibility & Requirements for details. 

For any projects that involve capital improvements to a property, the property generally must be owned by the prospective grantee. 

While the Foundation may consider long-term lease agreements in special cases, the property should generally be owned by the applicant for bricks-and-mortar restoration projects in order to be eligible for the Duda Preservation Awards and THF Grants. 

If you are interested in applying for an architectural preservation project or effort that otherwise makes long-term capital improvements to a structure not owned by the applicant organization, please contact THF staff to confirm eligibility prior to submitting an application. 

An organization not based in Texas may apply for THF grant funding provided that all other eligibility requirements are met and at least one of the following elements is present: 

• The project centers the preservation of the state or former Republic of Texas history 
• The proposed project will take place largely in the state of Texas
• The primary objective of the project directly benefits Texas citizens in a manner consistent with THF's mission 
• The project otherwise celebrates or encourages engagement with the history of the state or former Republic of Texas 

If you are applying on behalf of an out-of-state organization and have any questions regarding the eligibility of your project, please contact grants@texashistoricalfoundation.org. 

While a funds match is certainly desirable and encouraged, there is not a standard requirement that grant funds be matched. 

In some cases, THF may stipulate proof of a fund match or the remaining balance to complete a project as a requirement of the grant agreement. However, this is not standard. 

THF membership is not required, but a show of support for our mission is always appreciated! Please keep in mind that an organization submitting a proposal can join at any time. 

To learn more about joining the Texas Historical Foundation as a member, click here. 

Quarterly Micro Grants Program

Quarterly Micro Grant proposals (requests up to $8,000) are considered every three months. In order to be considered, letters of inquiry (LOIs) must be submitted by midnight CT on the deadline date for the corresponding cycle. This usually falls on the 15th of April, August, October, and January. For the most current information on all grant cycle deadlines, please see the Funding Opportunities page.

Responses to LOIs are typically provided within two weeks of each cycle's submission deadline. Select applicants are then invited to complete a Step 2 application. 

Annual Grants Program

For Annual Grant consideration, a letter of inquiry should be submitted by April 1 of the corresponding annual cycle (for example, LOIs submitted on or before April 1, 2026 will be considered in the 2026 Annual Grant cycle and so on). 

If your proposal is selected, you will be provided with application materials as well as a timeline to submit them the following month.  

Please be aware that grant cycle schedules are subject to minor alterations. For the most current information on all grant cycle deadlines, please see the Funding Opportunities page. 

Current recommended request ranges are: 

• Quarterly Micro Grants, requests up to $8,000  
• Annual Grants, requests up to $30,000 
• Duda Preservation Awards, awards up to $100,000

Grant recipients are asked to wait one year before reapplying. Applicants are strongly discouraged from re-submitting a denied application without first speaking to staff.  

Requests outside of posted funding cycles are not considered at this time. The most current information on forthcoming review cycles for Quarterly and Annual Grants can be found here.

Recent Quarterly Micro Grant recipients are eligible to apply for Annual Grant and Duda Preservation Awards programs provided that: 

• Your organization is in good standing and current with all reporting and  requirements set forth in the agreement contract for the existing grant 
• All other eligibility requirements are met. 

Applicants are discouraged, but not precluded, from applying for the same project in concurrent cycles once denied. If you would like to re-submit an application for a project that has previously been denied, we strongly advise speaking to THF staff before submitting. 

Because THF is a small organization handling a high volume of grant requests, an explicit reason the request was declined is not always proactively provided. However, THF staff will generally provide feedback upon request. If a denied application has a strong chance of success on reapplication, staff will frequently encourage you proactively.  

To request application feedback, click here. 

Quarterly Micro Grants

Letters of inquiry (LOIs) are accepted on a rolling basis through the THF Grants Portal for requests up to $8,000. LOI submissions are considered in batches every three months; please review the table found here for current submission timeline. 

LOI submissions are then reviewed by Texas Historical Foundation staff, with select applicants being invited to complete a full application and provided a month to complete it. The application is then shared with the review committee, who make a recommendation to the THF board.    

The full board votes on proposals at a quarterly meeting, typically held the last week of January, April, July, and October. Finalist applicants will be notified of the decision within 14 days of the vote and provided a grant agreement to receive awarded funds. 

Annual Grants

Grants in the range of $8,000 - $30,000 are considered. The process begins with submitting a letter of inquiry (LOI) using the THF Grants Portal. LOIs are accepted year-round, but reviewed annually in the spring. 

LOI proposals are reviewed by Foundation staff and review committee leadership, who then make selection recommendations. Select organizations are invited to follow up with an application expanding on their project for the review of the review committee. Of those invited to apply, a single project will be selected for funding.  

For the most current grant dates, please visit Funding Opportunities. 

Budgetary limitations are the most frequent reason for denials, followed closely by a high volume of similar requests within a specific area of work. 

While we are unable to proactively provide the reason for denial, staff will make every effort to do so upon request, including offering additional resources and constructive guidance for future applications where possible. 

If you would like more information on why a request was declined, please send an email to grants@texashistoricalfoundation.org that includes the name of the applicant organization and submission date. 

An LOI, or Letter of Inquiry (sometimes referred to as a Letter of Interest) is your pitch to a grantmaking organization, requesting consideration for funds and briefly introducing your project and organization in a compelling way. 

If you are considering applying for a THF grant, you may be wondering what THF looks for in an LOI. A strong LOI will do the following: 

• Introduce the the organization and request 
• Outline the project scope and methodology 
• Provide the basics of the project budget and additional funding sources 
• Provide intended project outcomes  
• Be succinct and to the point; ideally no more than 2 pages in length. Remember, you will have time to expand later if your LOI is selected. 

Quarterly & Annual Grants

THF supports a broad range of preservation initiatives, including the safeguarding of historic structures, artifacts, and archives, archeological research, history education efforts, celebration of Texas culture, and the promotion of the arts. For more information on what types of projects the Foundation funds, take a look at current THF preservation endowments and projects that have received funding support. 

Duda Preservation Awards

Projects involving the preservation, rehabilitation, or restoration of historic architecture following high standards for historic preservation and demonstrating a strong public benefit element are favored.

The following are the top criteria used by reviewers when evaluating a proposal. While most applications won't "tick every box", keeping these items in mind while preparing a submission can be helpful: 

Public Benefit: The ideal project demonstrates a strong benefit to the public, be it through access, community involvement, preservation of an endangered heritage resource, contribution to the body of knowledge, etc. 

Community Support: The strongest applications show a record of community support. An application should demonstrate that residents, local businesses and/or community leaders are invested in the project. 

Adherence to Best Practices: Adherence to best practices is an important factor in consideration. This can mean having a preservation plan in place for a structure, using appropriate materials for handling archives, or adhering to government or professional guidelines for treatment of historic structures, artifacts, and archeological sites. 

Ability to See the Project Through: Applicants are encouraged to demonstrate the ability to obtain to the financial resources necessary to ensure the project’s completion. Factors such as additional grant requests, planned fundraising campaigns, events, etc. show your organization is in it for the long haul.  

Perpetuity: Another factor that the board takes into account is longevity of outcomes. For bricks‐and‐mortar projects, consideration is given to the feasibility of upkeep. Is the work part of a broader preservation goal? Is there sufficient funding to maintain it? 

Applying With a Fiscal Sponsor

In the application, you will be asked if the grant has a fiscal sponsor and prompted for additional information. Aside from these prompts, applicants create an account and style the application as they would if applying directly with no sponsor. 

Grant Agreements With a Fiscal Sponsor 

For the purposes of the grant agreement, the fiscal sponsor is the grantee. This means that an agent of the fiscal sponsor will sign the grant agreement and the sponsor will receive grant funds to distribute to your organization (the "subgrantee"). How transactions between the sponsor and subgrantee are structured is at the discretion of your organization and the sponsor. 

To invite a fiscal sponsor to sign the grant agreement, open the grant agreement document in the THF Grants Portal and click the "Collaborate" button in the upper right hand corner of the page. Be sure to select the "Can Submit" option from the menu that appears. This will enable you to invite a member of the sponsor organization to execute the document and give them permission to submit the agreement once complete. 

All recipients of THF grants and awards are required to submit Follow Up Reports annually for the duration of the project or within 90 days of project completion.

There are two types of Follow Up Reports: 

1. Interim Reports, submitted once a year to provide status updates for ongoing grant projects. When an Interim Report is submitted for a project, the Grantee is considered current on reporting requirements for one year or until the project is completed, whichever occurs first.  
2. Closing Reports, submitted upon completion of the grant project to summarize work completed. 

Both the Interim and Closing Reports use the same form, which can be found at this link and submitted via email to grants@texashistoricalfoundation.org. 

If there are changes to the project completion date which will effect your ability to submit a Follow Up Report, please notify Texas Historical Foundation staff. 

They will update your Grant File to reflect changes and, if possible, provide an extension on reporting requirements. 

No-cost extensions are typically granted without issue, however it is important to notify staff so the organization is not flagged as out of compliance with reporting requirements.