Competitive Grants
State Historical Fund | Our Grant Types | Competitive Grants
Competitive Grants provides funds for the built environment, archaeology, and education or training related to historic preservation. All competitive projects must meet the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Historic Properties and abide by the Colorado State Historic Preservation Office’s Survey Manual, if applicable.
To receive a competitive application, you must submit a Letter of Intent. We accept Letters of Intent on a rolling basis but must receive them no later than seven business days prior to your target grant round deadline.
Requirements
Request Amount:
- Mini Grant: Up to $50,000
- General Grant: $50,001-$250,000
Cash Match: There is a 25% cash match of the project total required for Nonprofit/Governmental entity owners and 50% for Private/For-Profit owners.
BIPOC Projects* Cash Match:
- No cash match for projects at properties owned by nonprofit/governmental entities.
- 10% cash match for projects at privately owned properties.
Designation: If the project includes physical work, then a National, State or Local designation is required prior to application. If the project does not include physical work but is associated with a specific site, it must be moving toward designation. Form 1419 (Preliminary Property Evaluation Form) should be submitted to and approved by the State Historic Preservation Office prior to application and included as an attachment.
Property Protections: Property protections may be placed on properties receiving grants for physical work. The type of owner and the cumulative amount of grant funds received to determine the length (in years) and type (covenant or easement) required to protect the property from alterations that would affect its historic character. For more information on property protections, contact Property Protections Coordinator.
Scope: The scope of work for competitive grants varies depending on the project. For more details on developing your project scope please refer to our guidebook or contact our engagement staff.
Budget: Line items must denote all the costs of the project such as contractual services or travel costs. Budgets must contain a calculation, or reference a proposal document that contains a calculation, that shows how the budget amount has been derived.
Ineligible Expenses: Some projects, activities, and costs do not qualify for assistance and cannot be included in the project scope of work, budget, and/or cash match. The most common ineligible expenses include:
- Grant administration in excess of 15% of total direct project costs
- Grant writing costs
- Costs encumbered, contracted for, or incurred before receiving a fully executed grant award with the State Historical Fund
- Costs of utilities outside the designated area
- The value of In-kind goods, services, or staff time or pay
To see a more detailed list refer to our guidebook or contact our engagement staff with questions regarding scope of work or project cost eligibility.
Application Deadline & Award Announcement:
Mini Grant:
- Application Deadline: Noon (Mountain Time) on Monday, October 2, 2023; (April 2024 deadline TBD)
- Award Announcement: December 15, 2023; April 2024 Award Announcement TBD
General Grant:
- Application Deadline: Noon (Mountain Time) on Monday, October 2, 2023; (April 2024 deadline TBD)
- Award Announcement: December 15, 2023; April 2024 Award Announcement TBD
*Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) Projects: A BIPOC project significantly benefits and involves one or more BIPOC communities.
** contingent on available funds
Eligible Projects

The grant paid for the preservation of the Silicated Brick & Clay Company Kiln in Douglas county. Work included repointing and replacing brick and rebuilding the buttresses to help its stabilization. Archaeological monitoring was also a critical component of this project. Photo dates prior to the preservation work completed in 2018.

Crow Canyon Archaeological Center’s research of the Haynie Site in Montezuma County has been supported by multiple State Historical Fund grant.


The grant will pay for the creation of construction documents for the Truxaw & Kruger Grocery in New Raymer.


The grant will pay for the research, writing and preparing of a National Register nomination for the Pines Lodge at the Historic Pines Ranch in Westcliffe.

The grant project helped pay for Conservation Legacy's Preserve America Youth Summit, engaging more than 150 students from across Colorado grades 7-12, their teachers, and service leaders with the goals of cultivating increased knowledge and appreciation of historic places and preservation practice.
Forms and Samples
Before You Apply
- Read our Guidebook for all program requirements.
Ready to Apply?
Please fill out the Letter of Intent form to determine if your project qualifies for a Competitive Grant.
Questions?
Contact our Engagement Staff or email us at hc_shf@state.co.us.