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| A grant from Indiana Landmarks' African American Heritage Fund aided restoration of Madison's 1850 African Methodist Episcopal Church. |
Money for preservation. Preserving historic landmarks requires research, restoration skills, commitment, enthusiasm—and money. Indiana Landmarks designed our grant and loan programs to help local preservation organizations save and restore historic places. We keep the paperwork to a minimum, and in most programs we welcome applications as needs arise.
Grants
Loans
In all cases, groups must meet eligibility requirements and make a formal application. To learn more about Indiana Landmarks' grants and loans, contact the Indiana Landmarks regional office that serves your community.
Grants
Indiana Preservation Grants
Indiana Landmarks' Indiana Preservation Grants are available to nonprofit organizations for professional architectural and engineering feasibility studies and other preservation consulting services, as well as organizational development and fundraising projects. The grants may not be used for physical restoration work. Indiana Landmarks makes Indiana Preservation Grants on a four-to-one matching basis, with four dollars from us matching each local cash dollar. We will fund 80% of the total project cost up to $2,500. For more information, contact the Indiana Landmarks regional office nearest you.
Marion County Historic Preservation Fund
The Marion County Historic Preservation Fund makes grants to support nonprofit organizations working to preserve historic buildings and neighborhoods in Marion County. The program is a partnership betweenIndiana Landmarks and The Indianapolis Foundation, an affiliate of the Central Indiana Community Foundation. Applications are accepted on an ongoing bases, and grants are awarded monthly. For more information about the Marion County Historic Preservation Fund, contact Mark Dollase, Vice President of Preservation Services for Indiana Landmarks, 800-450-4534, 317-639-4534, or mdollase@indianalandmarks.org.
African American Heritage Grants
Indiana Landmarks' African American Landmarks Committee awards grants ranging from $500 to $2,500 to assist organizations in the preservation and promotion of historic African American properties and sites in Indiana. Civic groups, schools, libraries, historical societies, and other nonprofit agencies are eligible to apply for grants for organizational assistance, studies assisting in or leading to the preservation of a historic African American place, and programs promoting the preservation, interpretation, and/or visitation of a historic African American place. We make the grants on a four-to-one matching basis, funding 80% of the total project cost up to $2,500, whichever is less. For more information contact Mark Dollase, Vice President of Preservation Services for Indiana Landmarks, 800-450-4534, 317-639-4534, or mdollase@indianalandmarks.org.
Historic Preservation Education Grants
Indiana Landmarks and the Indiana Humanities Council make grants of up to $2,000 for educational projects related to historic properties in Indiana. Eligible projects include lectures, workshops, conferences, production of audiovisual materials, heritage and cultural tourism programs, and educational publications. Proposals for Heritage Preservation Education Grants are due in early March each year. Completed applications are due in April, and grant awards are announced in May. Online applications are available at http://www.indianahumanities.org/Grants/HistPresGrantGuidelines.html. For more information, contact Suzanne Stanis, Indiana Landmarks' Director of Heritage Education and Information, 317-639-4534 or 800-450-4534 or sstanis@indianalandmarks.org.
Legal Defense Grants
While Indiana Landmarks regards legal action as a last resort, we recognize that it is sometimes required to save endangered structures and support preservation processes. Nonprofit preservation organizations may request grants of up to $2,000 for legal fees to defend or compel conformance with a local preservation ordinance, enforce protective covenants, or seek an injunction to prevent the demolition of a historic building. Indiana Landmarks' Legal Defense Grants cover 80% of the total cost of legal counsel up to $2,000. For more information, contact the Indiana Landmarks regional office nearest you.
Loans
Statewide Revolving Loans
Nonprofit preservation organizations outside Marion County may apply for loans from Indiana Landmarks’ Statewide Revolving Loan Fund to buy and/or restore endangered historic properties. The recipient of loan funds must attach Indiana Landmarks' protective covenant to the property deed. Indiana Landmarks' Statewide Revolving Loans have a $60,000 limit and low interest terms for the first three years. In making loan decisions, Indiana Landmarks gives special consideration to projects that will save buildings listed in or eligible for the National Register of Historic Places or located in a National or State Register historic district. For more information, contact the Indiana Landmarks regional office nearest you.
Fund for Landmark Indianapolis Properties (FLIP) Loans
In Marion County, nonprofit community preservation organizations and historic neighborhood foundations may apply for loans from our Fund for Landmark Indianapolis Properties (FLIP). FLIP loans can be used toward the purchase and/or restoration of endangered historic properties. Groups must attach Indiana Landmarks' preservation covenants to the deeds of properties assisted by our loan funds. Indiana Landmarks' FLIP loans have a $50,000 limit and low interest terms for the first three years. For more information, contact Mark Dollase, Vice President of Preservation Services for Indiana Landmarks, 800-450-4534, 317-639-4534, or mdollase@indianalandmarks.org.
Eligibility
To qualify for Indiana Landmarks' grants and loans, an organization generally must:
- Be registered as a nonprofit corporation in the state of Indiana.
- Be classified by or have applied to the Internal Revenue Service for status as a 501(c)(3) public charity.
- Be enrolled as a nonprofit or affiliate organizational member of Indiana Landmarks.
- Possess a charter that identifies preservation of the built environment as a primary organizational purpose.
- Have a clearly defined organizational structure that includes regular meetings and an ongoing program.
- Have been in existence for three years and/or have demonstrated responsible fiscal management.
Contact Indiana Landmarks for information on nonprofit membership and affiliate organization status, 317-639-4534, 800-450-4534, or members@indianalandmarks.org.
Making an application
Application forms for Indiana Landmarks' financial programs are easy to complete and may be submitted at any time unless otherwise noted. Contact the Indiana Landmarks' regional office that serves your county to discuss your proposal and obtain an application form.