Total grant dollars requested last cycle: $356,167
Total grant dollars awarded last cycle: $83,500
Percentage of proposals that received full funding: 0%
Percentage of proposals that received partial funding: 24%
Average grant size last cycle: $9,278
Maximum grant size: $25,000
Application deadline: September 15
Background
The Belvedere Historic Preservation Fund, in partnership with Maine Historic Preservation Commission’s New Century Grant Program, is offering grants to support the preservation or restoration of historic buildings, primarily in Washington and Hancock Counties and in under-resourced rural communities in other parts of the state. For more information, click here.
View of the facade of the Musée culturel du Mont-Carmel in Lille in its original colors. The trumpeting archangels are seven feet tall and were carved in 1908 by Louis Jobin from Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, Québec. The Musée received a grant from the Belvedere Fund for Historic Preservation. Photo Terry Helms.
Priorities
The grant program focuses on the preservation and reuse of historic buildings that serve as civic, cultural, or economic hubs for communities. Grants will primarily be focused on capital projects. The committee will consider the following criteria:
- The property’s historical significance at the local, state, or national level
- Extent to which the property is threatened
- The organizational readiness of the applicant to accomplish the proposed work and the likelihood of the project’s completion within a year.
- Geographic location. Strong preference will be given to projects in Hancock and Washington Counties, with some consideration for projects in other under-resourced, rural areas of the state.
All proposed projects must be for historic buildings listed or in the process of being listed on the National Registry.
If a project’s total budget is larger than $25,000, the application should be for only a portion or phase of the project. Strong preference will be given to applicants that demonstrate how other sources of support will be combined with a grant from this program to accomplish the proposed work.
Eligibility Requirements
All grantees must be eligible to accept tax-deductible donations as outlined in Section 170(c) of the Internal Revenue Code. Grantees must immediately notify the foundation of any change in or challenge to their tax-exempt status (as determined by Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code) before the end of the grant period.
The community foundation will consider awarding grants for charitable activities of non-exempt groups that have an established relationship with a tax-exempt fiscal sponsor, if:
- The non-exempt group operates as a not-for-profit and has an oversight committee or advisory board comprised of more than one individual
- The program or project for which the non-exempt group is seeking funding falls within the tax-exempt purposes of the sponsoring organization, and the two groups have established a relationship prior to applying to the foundation for funding
- Unless all grant funds will be held and disbursed directly by the fiscal sponsor, the non-exempt group must have its own federal employer identification number (EIN)
- A signed copy of the community foundation's Fiscal Sponsorship Agreement Form (PDF | RTF) summarizing the terms of the relationship and the responsibilities of the non-exempt group and the fiscal sponsor must be submitted with the application.
The Maine Community Foundation will make grants to religious groups, but will not make grants for religious purposes. No part of any grant may be used for a political campaign, or to support attempts to influence legislation of any governmental body other than through making available the results of non-partisan analysis, study, and research.
No portion of the award may be granted to a secondary grantee without the express permission of the foundation.
Guidance on eligibility, standards, and application development is also available in the Belvedere Fund for Historic Preservation Grants Manual (250kb PDF).
How to Apply
Proposals must be postmarked by September 15 and mailed to:
Grantmaking
Maine Community Foundation
245 Main Street
Ellsworth, ME 04605
Incomplete or late proposals will not be reviewed.
Terms and Conditions
A term of award lasts for 12 months. At the end of this period, any unexpended grant funds should be returned to the foundation. If the project cannot be completed within the 12-month period, the organization may apply in writing for an award extension.
All awards are made for the purposes stated in the application and award letter. If awarded funds cannot be spent in the manner originally described in the application or award letter, the organization must contact the community foundation for permission to change the way the funds are expended. If the change is significant, a written request may be required. The Maine Community Foundation reserves the right to require the return of grant funds.
Grants must be returned if the recipient loses its 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status before the end of the term of award.
Contact
For questions on technical aspects of historic preservation and the eligibility of proposed projects for this grant program, please contact Kirk Mohney at the Maine Preservation Commission, by e-mail or by phone at (207) 287-2132.
For questions about the application or review process, please contact Cathy Melio at the Maine Community Foundation, by e-mail or by phone, toll-free, at (877) 700-6800.