Grants

SNHA’s new Heritage Partnership Program is an initiative designed to support preservation and celebrate our region’s rich heritage. It contains three complementary pillars that are designed to strengthen local communities and foster historic preservation efforts. One of those pillars of the Heritage Partnership Grant Program which is available to qualifying organizations for projects which preserve, interpret, or promote heritage in York and Lancaster Counties.

The Heritage Partnership Grant Program makes strategic investments to:

• improve public access to the places and stories of this nationally-significant region,
• support lifelong learning through interpretive and experiential education, and
• ignite a spirit of stewardship!

This competitive funding opportunity provides financial assistance for locally led projects and programs that enhance, interpret, and preserve the natural, cultural, historic, scenic, and recreational resources of the Susquehanna National Heritage Area. SNHA seeks proposals with funding requests between $5,000 and $20,000 for projects and programs that will take place in York and Lancaster Counties.

KEY DATES for the 2025 Award Cycle

Grant Announcement             March 5, 2025
Grant round opens                  March 10, 2025
Virtual Grant Workshop         March 26, 2025 at 1 PM: Register HERE
Grant round closes                  April 25, 2025
Award announcement             May 21, 2025
Contract period begins            May 30, 2025
Project period ends                 July 30, 2026
Final Reporting due                August 22, 2026

Eligibility

APPLICANT ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

• Applicant must be a non-profit entity (IRS Form 990 required, if awarded),
• Project must be within York and/or Lancaster counties,
• Applicant agrees to the Terms and Conditions of funding,
• The proposal is for a stand-alone project or program completed by July 30, 2026.

PROJECT ELIGIBILITY

Very simply, this grant award allows organizations to carry out a project or program for a public purpose. The program must align with SNHA’s interpretive themes and regional goals for heritage tourism. In the proposal, please explain why and how the program will be carried out, explain its benefit to the public, and describe the connection between the program activity and the Susquehanna National Heritage Area’s Interpretive Themes

• How the Susquehanna Shapes this Place and its People
• Native Landscapes
• Creating an American Identity
• Turning Points

Grants will be awarded to projects and programs that contribute to one or more of the following goals:

• Develop an authentic interpretation of the history of the Susquehanna National Heritage Area
• Provide place-based education related to that heritage.
• Encourage preservation and protection of cultural and natural resources.
• Improve high quality visitor facilities and services.
• Advance outdoor recreational opportunities.
• Promote sustainable economic development.
• Support environmental and cultural education.

Activities could include (but are not limited to): developing and distributing a walking tour guide, hosting a panel of speakers, contracting a professional to prepare a nomination to the National Register of Historic Places, or updating site interpretation.

Ineligible grant activities: Grants may not fund lobbying or legal activity, fundraising, interest in real property (easements, acquisition), food and hospitality, private property and collections not available to the public, or the production of materials meant for sale (books, merchandise). The grant funds cannot be paid to staff salaries however, staff hours can be counted toward the budgeted resources for the project.

Application Details

Online Application Link (Note: we recommend utilizing the Application & Budget documents under the Resources section of this page to prepare your answers before completing the online application.)

Or by email: awilmoth@susqnha.org

Or by mail: Susquehanna National Heritage Area, RE: Heritage Partnership Grants, 5989 Susquehanna Plaza Dr., Suite 102, York, PA 17406

Funding

MATCHING FUNDS

In this inaugural offering of the Heritage Partnership Grant Program, SNHA does not require matching funds to receive an award. Though a match is not required, a competitive application budget should show all resources available to support the full expense of the project. If the applicant plans to use this grant as match for another grant award please state that clearly in the application. SNHA will align awards with eligible match funds when possible.

HERITAGE GRANT PROGRAM FUNDING

SNHA administers the grant program with funds provided through the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) and the United States National Park Service (NPS). Grantees must comply with the terms and conditions of the state and federal awards.

SNHA will award up to $100,000 during this funding round. Projects are capped at $20,000 per applicant. Upon execution of the contract, SNHA will release up to 50% of funding. At least 10% will be held until the final project and financial reports are approved.

SNHA may arrange to pay grant funded contractors directly, upon mutual agreement with the grant recipient.

GRANT AWARD AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT

Projects may begin in June 2025. Progress meetings will take place in January and February of 2026. At the end of the project, the local project leaders will complete a financial close out report. Projects must be complete by July 30, 2026.