Engagement Assistance

At the State Historical Fund we are committed to providing the highest quality of service. Our dedicated Engagement team is here to help answer any questions you may have and make the process of applying for a grant a positive experience. Whether you are new to our program or a seasoned grant applicant we are always here to assist.

Contact Engagement 

State Historical Fund Guidebook

Read more about our guidelines and application requirements in the guidebook. 

Awarded Grant Samples

Looking for a sample of a past successful grant application? Contact our Engagement staff and we can help find a sample grant to help in understanding the grant application and requirements.

Draft Application Process

The State Historical Fund offers competitive grant draft application reviews to new applicants, for projects previously denied, and by invitation. Applicants must have an approved Letter of Intent before they begin the competitive application process, including draft reviews.

We accept draft reviews up to 3 weeks prior to the application deadline. Drafts may be submitted as Word documents or PDF.

Submit all draft reviews to: hc_shfdrafts@state.co.us.

The draft application form will not be accepted in substitute of the application in the applicant portal.

Grant Writing Resources

The Secretary of the Interior's Standards

All work funded by the State Historical Fund must comply with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties. These principles promote best practices for work on historic properties. There are also specific standards for Archaeology and Historic Preservation, which you should refer to when applying for an archaeology grant. Your project must be in line with these standards, and your application should explicitly state how your work will comply with them.

Preservation Briefs and Preservation Tech Notes are helpful publications provided by the National Park Service for technical assistance and guidance on preserving historic properties. Most State Historical Fund-sponsored projects will require contractors to understand and implement the techniques described in these documents. Identifying and referencing relevant briefs and tech notes will make your grant application more competitive.

Case Studies

Review successful State Historical Fund projects from beginning to end!