State Historical Society of Iowa

Historical Resource Development Program

New applications are not being accepted for this program while it undergoes a review process following Iowa's state agency alignment. We anticipate offering the program again in 2025.

The program provides grant funding to help preserve, conserve, interpret, enhance, and educate the public about Iowa’s historical assets. The Historical Resource Development Program provides funding for documentary collections, historic preservation and museums. 

  • Who: Nonprofits, Governments, Tribes, Individuals, Forprofits
  • What: Up to $50,000 with a required match.  Match ratios vary.
  • When: This grant opportunity is currently closed. Grants will be offered again in 2025

How to Apply

Historical Resource Development Program Annual Grant Cycle

Applications are not currently being accepted for the Historical Resource Development Program. Applicants can access the previous year's guidelines and scoring rubrics online:

  1. Read the General Guidelines and category instructions:
  2. Read the scoring rubric by category:
  3. Complete the application

If you would like to schedule a Google Meet or Zoom Meeting with the grants manager, please email her at kristen.vandermolen@iowa.gov to set up a meeting time.

Emergency Historical Resource Development Program

Emergency HRDP applications will be accepted after July 1, 2024. Funds are limited and awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.

  1. Read the HRDP General Guidelines and appropriate category instructions
  2. Read the HRDP Emergency Guidelines
  3. Complete the application

Manage Your Grant

Reporting Forms

Access and complete your Final Report and Payment Form online when your grant project is completed.

Some projects may need to provide a status and budget report on an annual basis. Grantees will be notified of this additional reporting requirement, if applicable

Logos

Download the State Historical Society of Iowa logo to use on materials promoting your project.

Promotional Information 

Send images and event details when grant funded project activity is happening. The State Historical Society of Iowa is dedicated to communicating the impact and value of your project activity through various communication platforms and networks.

Field Services

Learn more about the Field Services program.

Grant Awards History

Displaying 1 - 20 of 324
Searches project title, applicant name, city, county, and fiscal year
Project Title Sort descending Applicant City County Fiscal year Grant Amount
Upgrading Storage Supplies for Housing Specimens in the Ada Hayden Herbarium Iowa State University Ames Story 2021 $21,093.00
1873 Bird's Eye View of Burlington by Augustus Koch Conservation and Imaging Des Moines County Historical Society Burlington Des Moines 2021 $2,962.00
19th Century Belt-driven Machine Shop Interpretatio Dubuque County Historical Society Dubuque Dubuque 2021 $43,817.00
2nd Baptist Church Nomination Mt. Pleasant Historic Preservation Commission Mount Pleasant Henry 2014 $2,950.00
A Catalyst for Community: Rehabilitating North Des Moines Hall Indigo Dawn, LLC Des Moines Polk 2023 $50,000.00
A People's History Website Drake University Des Moines 2022 $36,000.00
Accessing Iowa’s African American Legacy African American Heritage Foundation, Inc. Cedar Rapids Linn 2013 $9,500.00
Acquisition and restoration of an original Iowa State Patrol Kawasaki Motorcycle Automobile Heritage Foundation Des Moines Polk 2022 $25,000.00
Adair Viaduct Preservation RIADA, Inc. Adair Adair 2018 $50,000.00
Amana Millrace Restoration Amana Colonies Historical Sites Foundation Amana Iowa 2015 $43,000.00
Ames History Permanent Exhibit Ames History Museum Ames Story 2023 $47,587.00
Appraising and Consolidating Archival Collections Museum of Danish America Elk Horn Shelby 2018 $43,000.00
Archival Preservation at the Historic Squirrel Cage Jail Historical Society of Pottawattamie County Council Bluffs Pottawattamie 2018 $1,226.00
Archival Processing Project Dubuque County Historical Society Dubuque Dubuque 2018 $43,248.00
Assessment and Digitization of the Black Hawk Family YMCA Historical Collections Family YMCA of Black Hawk County Waterloo Black Hawk 2018 $9,241.00
Bell Tower Repairs to the Historic St. Joseph's Catholic Church One Eighty Davenport Scott 2019 $46,354.00
Benton County Courthouse Tower Clock Project Vinton Industries LTD d/b/a Vinton Unlimited Vinton Benton 2015 $34,084.00
Benton County Historical Society Re-Roofing of the Vinton Depot and Rail Museum Vinton Benton 2020 $42,085.00
Bil Baird Conservation Project Phase 2 Charles H. MacNider Museum Mason City Cerro Gordo 2013 $6,522.00
BoatWorks Dubuque County Historical Society Dubuque Dubuque 2016 $36,817.00