in cooperation with preservation Trust of Vermont

The Preservation Trust of Vermont, in partnership with the 1772 Foundation, is pleased to announce that funding in the form of 1:1 matching grants of up to $10,000 is available for the following historic preservation projects: exterior painting, finishes and surface restoration, fire detection/lightning protection/security systems, repairs to/restoration of porches, roofs and windows, repairs to foundations and sills, and chimney and masonry repointing. NEW for 2027: Preservation Trust of Vermont, with the support of the 1772 Foundation, will award $10,000 in pilot grants to support climate action projects. 

To demonstrate the sustainability of historic sites, applicants may be required to submit a cyclical maintenance plan, condition assessment, restoration plan, or stewardship plan that has been prepared or updated within the last five years. If an appropriate plan does not exist, the Foundation will consider providing support for development of a plan on a case-by-case basis.

WHO is ELIGIBLE?

• Applicants must be 501(c)3 organizations. Towns and municipalities, as well as active churches and schools, are not eligible to apply.

• Applicants must have closed any previously awarded matching grant to apply.

• Applicants must own the property or be engaged in a long-term lease.  

WHAT BUILDINGS are ELIGIBLE?
Your project building must be listed or determined eligible for listing on the State or National Register to be eligible for a grant.

WHAT is an ELIGIBLE SBK PROJECT?
The Foundation will consider matching grants for the following types of work:

• Exterior painting, finishes and surface restoration

• Installation or upgrading fire detection, lightning protection and security systems

• Repairs to/restoration of porches, roofs and windows

• Structural foundation and sill repair/replacement

• Chimney and masonry repointing

NEW for 2027: Preservation Trust of Vermont, with support from the 1772 Foundation, will award $10,000 in pilot grants to support climate action projects. 

Eligible activities in this category include:

• Energy audit assessments

• Insulation upgrades

• Alternative energy sources (solar, geothermal, wind, etc.)

• Upgrading/converting systems/appliances

• Water mitigation projects (wet proofing crawl spaces, gutters, site work, etc.) may be considered, but preference will be given to decarbonization projects. 

Applications for lifting or relocating buildings will not be considered. Other climate action projects will be considered on a case-by-case basis. 

Projects in this Climate Action category cannot be combined with projects in other eligible project categories.

All work funded through the 1772 Foundation grants must follow the Secretary’s Standards for Rehabilitation. 

Have questions about how the Secretary’s Standards apply to sustainability projects? Join PTV Field Service staff for a question-and-answer session at 3:00 pm on Thursday, October 29, 2026. Register for the Q&A. 

Attendees are encouraged to send questions in advance to jenna@ptvermont.org. 

WHAT COUNTS as MATCH?
1772 Foundation grants require a 1:1 cash match. Staff time and/or volunteer hours cannot be used as matching funds. 

HOW MUCH can you REQUEST?
1772 funds can pay for up to 50% of eligible project costs, with a maximum award of $10,000. If you have $17,000 in project expenses, the maximum 1772 Foundation grant would be $8,500. 

WHAT is the TIMELINE?

Letters of Inquiry are due by 11:59 pm on Monday, November 16, 2026.
Applications are due by 11:59 pm on Friday, February 5, 2027.  

Funding recommendations will be sent to the 1772 Foundation in advance of its April 2027 board meeting. Applicants will be notified of funding decisions by May 1, 2027. 

All organizations that wish to be considered should submit a letter of inquiry (LOI).

Letters of Inquiry must include:

• basic organizational information 

• the name and address of the historic resource for which project funding will be used

• how the building is used

• briefly describe the work the grant will fund, including how the project was identified 

• the timeframe for project completion 

• plans to provide the necessary cash match, if not already in hand

• if the applicant organization does not own the building, please provide a brief explanation of the ownership/lease agreement. 

• if religious or municipal activities occur in the building, please provide a brief overview of the use and frequency 

You will be asked to attach three (3) current photos that best show the building site conditions, no more than 1.5MB each. 

Organizations may submit LOIs for both programs but will only be selected to submit an application for one project. Not every organization will be invited to apply.