Preservation Special Projects

Overview

The 4Culture Preservation Special Projects program funds research, documentation, planning, education, and advocacy to promote the preservation of historic places in King County, Washington. It is open to individuals, groups, organizations, Tribal governments, and municipalities. Funds may be used to create printed or digital resources such as research reports, building or landscape assessments, landmark nominations, books, guides, brochures, recordings, or educational exhibits focused on the historic built environment. Funding may also be used to produce special events and programs that highlight the region's historic places and encourage their preservation, such as advocacy initiatives, conferences, workshops, technical assistance programs, apprenticeship or training opportunities, guided tours, field schools, and skill demonstrations.

Key Dates

• Application deadline: March 11, 2026, 5:00 PM PDT
• Projects must be completed within 24 months of award notification

Funding

• 2026 funding available: approximately $230,000
• Maximum request amount: $25,000
• Award range: typically $2,000 to $15,000
• In 2025, 16 projects received funding totaling $212,535

Eligibility

Open to individuals, groups, organizations, Tribal governments, and municipalities. Projects must directly address historic buildings or structures, older neighborhoods, or landscapes shaped by people in King County, Washington.

Evaluation Criteria

• Quality: project directly addresses historic resources and aligns with best practices in historic preservation or shows innovation within the field
• Public benefit: project contributes to preservation in King County and provides compelling public benefit to residents and visitors
• Advancing equity: project specifically serves or collaborates with communities of color and/or historically marginalized communities (not an eligibility requirement but a consideration factor)
• Feasibility: ability to start soon after award notification and complete within 24 months, with realistic budget and prepared project team

Public Benefit Examples

• Free or low-cost tours, presentations, or access to materials and documents created with the grant
• Public meetings or programs in multiple places around King County, including urban, suburban, and/or rural locations
• Good preservation planning for the long-term viability and use of a historic property in King County

How to Apply

• Read the Preservation Special Projects Guidelines
• Verify project and personal eligibility
• Create an account on apply.4culture.org (or confirm login access)
• Complete 2026 Demographic Update in account profile
• Gather application materials
• Attend a workshop or speak with a program manager
• Complete and submit application online by 5:00 PM PDT on March 11, 2026

Application Requirements

All applications must be submitted online. Complete all required fields including Project Title, Short Project Description (under 25 words), Project Description (approximately 500 words), and Public Benefit description. Applications must include a realistic budget and project team information. File attachments must be smaller than 2MB each.

Contact & Support

For questions about the grant program: Emily P. Lawsin at [email protected] or (206) 477-3110. For technical assistance: Maisha Barnett at [email protected]. Workshops are available to help applicants prepare. The deadline for this grant has passed for the current year; sign up for the 4Culture newsletter to be notified when grants reopen.