Upcoming Pennsylvania 2027 Keystone Historic Preservation Planning Grants
The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC), through the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund, offers competitive applicant-facing planning grants to qualifying nonprofit organizations and local governments for eligible Pennsylvania historic resources. This is financial-assistance funding, not a purchasing contract. Applications open December 1, 2026, and close March 1, 2027. No exact closing time or time zone is published in the current PHMC guidance.
Individual Applicant Funding, Match and Payment
$5,000–$25,000 per applicant planning project; the state may consider smaller or partially funded grants. Required 50/50 CASH match equal to grant request, no in-kind match. The announced $2,000,000 is overall combined program funding, not an individual grant amount. The cash matching funds can include qualifying organization funds and other grant contributions but cannot be met with in-kind services or existing employee salaries. Funding is reimbursement-based; no expenses incurred before a fully executed award agreement qualify.
Eligible Applicants and Properties
Pennsylvania-based tax-exempt nonprofit organizations or local governments, generally legally incorporated and serving the public for at least five consecutive years, supporting historic resources listed or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places; eligible property must be in Pennsylvania and supported by PA SHPO National Register status documentation. Qualified preservation nonprofits, municipalities, colleges, historic societies, museums, conservancies and qualifying religious institutions may apply. No individuals, for-profits, or state/federal agencies.
Supported and Prohibited Uses
Planning, cultural resource surveys, National Register nominations, feasibility studies, preservation plans, historic structure reports, project development and eligible archaeology. Excludes capital rehabilitation or construction, general operations/indirect overhead, endowments, pre-award activity, employee positions, religious proselytizing, lobbying, prizes, food and entertainment, and regulatory compliance mitigation.
Application Steps and Conditions
Optional pre-application: submit by December 7, 2026 to phmckeystonegrants@pa.gov for eligibility and project guidance. Full application: file online through the Commonwealth Enterprise eGrants system after it opens December 1, 2026, no later than March 1, 2027. PHMC does not accept mailed or emailed full grant applications. Applicants may apply to the Planning OR Construction track, not both in the same round. Full applications require SHPO status documentation and applicable narratives, relevant professional resumes, eligible project budget/cost basis, match resources and organizational documents. Grantees are reimbursed for approved expenses and must complete projects within 24 months after agreement execution, planned approximately Sept 1, 2027 to Sept 30, 2029.
Official Funder Sources and Verification
Official PHMC planning grant program guidelines, eligibility, budget, activities, conditions, timeline and application instructions; PHMC October 21, 2026 new funding-cycle announcement. Verified from official state sources on October 27, 2026. Applicants must check funder amendments and the live eGrants application after December 1 before submitting.