A Great Grant Opportunity for Small Towns: The Hart Family Fund

If your small town has a historic building, downtown space, or community asset that needs new life—this is one grant you should have on your radar.

The Hart Family Fund for Small Towns, offered by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, is designed specifically for communities just like yours.

👉 Apply for the Hart Family Fund

What Is the Hart Family Fund?

This program provides seed funding for preservation projects in small towns, helping communities protect and revitalize historic places.

Grants typically range from $2,500 to $15,000, and are meant to kickstart projects that can grow into something bigger.

The goal isn’t just to fund a project—it’s to:

• Spark community conversations

• Build local expertise

• Attract additional investment

In other words, it’s about momentum.

Who Is Eligible? (More info>>>Saving Places)

This grant is tailored for true small towns.

To qualify, applicants must be:

• A nonprofit organization (501c3) or public agency

• Located in a community with a population of 10,000 or less 

This makes it a perfect fit for:

• Main Street organizations

• Local development groups

• Downtown revitalization efforts

What Can the Grant Be Used For?

This is not a “bricks and mortar” grant.

Instead, funding is focused on planning and education, such as:

• Hiring experts (architects, planners, engineers)

• Creating redevelopment or reuse plans

• Conducting feasibility studies

• Hosting community engagement events

These early-stage efforts are often what small towns need most to get projects moving.

Important Details to Know

• Deadline: May 1, 2026

• Match Requirement: Typically a 1:1 funding match is encouraged

• Project Timeline: Must begin within 6 months and wrap up within a year

And yes—this is a competitive national grant, so a strong, well-defined project is key.

Here’s the reality:

A lot of great ideas in small towns never get started—not because they’re bad ideas, but because there’s no funding to take the first step.

That’s exactly where this grant comes in.

It helps communities:

• Turn ideas into plans

• Turn plans into action

• And ultimately, turn spaces into economic drivers

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Small Town Wow Takeaway

You don’t need a massive budget to start transforming your downtown.

Sometimes, you just need the right first step.

This grant is built for that.

👉 If your town has a project sitting on the sidelines, this might be the opportunity to finally move it forward.