Supporting History

State Historical Fund Grant Process: Five Simple Steps

August, 2002

It's that time of year again! Time to start preparing your historic preservation project for an October 1, 2002 application to the State Historical Fund. To help you understand the basic steps of a successful SHF-funded project, read on and learn how to plan your historic preservation project from start to finish.

There are five basic steps to any SHF-supported preservation project. Each step has certain critical elements, and the SHF is staff is happy to help you every step of the way. Of course, there are too many details involved in carrying out a successful preservation project to list here, so staying in contact with staff throughout the entire process is very important.

Application

If you have a historic preservation project idea in mind, depending upon your resource's eligibility, you may be ready to apply for an SHF grant. Begin in July or August by attending a free SHF workshop. Check the Web site at www.coloradohistory-oahp.org or call 303/866-2825 for a schedule of workshops around the state. Attending a workshop is a must for anyone planning to submit a grant application; newcomers to the process will learn all about the SHF and experienced applicants will learn about updates to the SHF program.

Also, be sure to take advantage of the free help from SHF applications staff. Advisors are available throughout the application process to help you understand SHF policies and to read drafts of applications.

Evaluation

After you've submitted your application, it's time to move on to the next step. Following the grant deadline (October 1, 2002, or April 1, 2003 for the next grant round), SHF staff, volunteers from around the state, and CHS Board members participate in a multi-level evaluation process and make recommendations on each of the 100+ applications that are received. By January 20, 2003, the CHS Board of Directors will have made final decisions about funding and the SHF will have notified applicants whether their grants were awarded or declined. To learn how your application will be evaluated, see the "Evaluation Criteria" section in the guidelines.

If your application is declined, the SHF will send you a letter detailing which elements of the application could have been more competitive and all applicants are invited to work with SHF application staff to prepare a new application. There is no limit on the number of times you may submit an application.

If your application is awarded, congratulations! It's time to celebrate; but don't spend any money yet. You're well on your way to starting your project, but there's still one more critical step to complete before you encumber or spend grant funds.

Contract Negotiation

During this all-important step, you will negotiate and sign a contract with the SHF that will direct every financial aspect of your project. Your contract will tell you when reports and other deliverables will be due and how the grant money will be paid. After a couple of months of settling the important details, you'll be well prepared to begin your project.

Workin'!

Finally, it's time to push up your sleeves and get to work. But don't worry if you still have questions. Each and every grant awarded by the SHF comes with assistance from a Preservation Specialist. This person will help you in every aspect of your preservation project. Your specialist will help you meet the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Historic Preservation (the standards to which all SHF-funded projects must conform). Of course, you'll want to contact your specialist immediately after that person has been assigned, and you'll want to stay in regular contact until you complete your project.

Success!

Then, when the very last report has been approved by the SHF, you're welcome to complete the last step in your grant process: Let everyone else in Colorado know how great it was to preserve Colorado's heritage with the State Historical Fund!

BY RACHEL SIMPSON, SHF Technical Advisor