These grants are intended to provide monetary assistance to preserve or protect significant structures or sites in the state of Illinois. Eligible beneficiaries of Preservation Heritage Fund Grants are significant structures or sites in Illinois that are under threat of demolition, in imminent deterioration, in need of stabilization, in need of structural or re-use evaluation, or need to be evaluated for landmark eligibility. 

The Preservation Heritage Fund Grant Guidelines can be found at Landmarks.org.
A project must be for the purpose of preserving through rehabilitation, restoration or adaptive reuse, all or part of an Eligible Structure or Site. 

A project may include one or more of the following services provided each service can satisfy the project conditions described in the Grant Guidelines: 

  • Engineering, architectural, and feasibility studies 
  • Stabilization 
  • Rehabilitation 
  • Legal services 
  • Surveys and National Register Nominations 
  • Preservation ordinance support  

Application deadlines: April 1 and October 1.
Contact
Suzanne Germann, Director of Reinvestment
(312) 922-1742
sgermann@landmarks.org 

This fund honors and celebrates the life and work of acclaimed historian and civil rights activist, Timuel D. Black, Jr. The Fund will support grantees with planning and capital projects in their effort to preserve and promote the history, culture, and architecture of Chicago’s South Side. 

These grants are intended to provide monetary assistance to preserve or protect significant structures or sites on Chicago’s South Side. Eligible beneficiaries of the Timuel D. Black, Jr. Fund are significant structures or sites on Chicago’s South Side that are under threat of demolition, in imminent deterioration, in need of stabilization, in need of structural or re-use evaluation, or need to be evaluated for landmark eligibility. The Timuel D. Black, Jr. Fund Grant Guidelines can be found at Landmarks.org. A project must be for the purpose of preserving through rehabilitation, restoration or adaptive reuse, all or part of an Eligible Structure or Site. A project may include one or more of the following services provided each service can satisfy the project conditions described in the Grant Guidelines: 

  • Engineering, architectural, and feasibility studies 
  • Stabilization 
  • Rehabilitation 
  • Legal services 
  • Surveys and National Register Nominations 

Eligibility
Grants are awarded from the Fund to planning, capital, and other projects related to the Fund’s purpose. Eligible applicants include nonprofit and community organizations, faith-based and educational institutions, municipalities, and, on rare occasion, private individuals and corporations. A 1:1 match of awarded grant funds is required. Grants range from $500 - $2,500. 

Grant Boundaries
The South Side is approximately defined as the following boundaries:
· South of Cermak Road;
· West of Lake Michigan;
· East of S. Ashland Avenue;
· North of the southern boundary of the city of Chicago.

Application deadlines: January 1 and July 1 

Contact
Suzanne Germann, Director of Reinvestment
(312) 922-1742
sgermann@landmarks.org
 

The Landmarks Illinois Banterra Bank Preserve Southern Illinois Grant Program was established in 2022 to provide monetary assistance to preserve or protect significant  structures or sites along commercial corridors of Southern Illinois. 

Eligibility 

Structures/Sites

  • Eligible beneficiaries of Preserve Southern Illinois Grants are significant structures or sites located in or near a commercial corridor in the State of Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Development (DCEO) Southern Region.

Applicants

  • Commercial property owners, nonprofit organizations or governmental bodies working on a project in or near a commercial corridor are eligible applicants. 
  • Applicants must own the Eligible Structure or Site, or have sufficient legal control of the Eligible Structure or Site to permit the Eligible Project to be completed and protected as required by Landmarks Illinois. 
  • Applicants must possess the capacity to manage the grant funds prudently and have the expertise to execute the Eligible Project in accordance with its approved conditions. An applicant that lacks one or both of these attributes must submit to the expertise of a pro bono Sponsor elected by Landmarks Illinois if, in its sole discretion, it offers to provide it. 
  • Applicants are encouraged to seek preservation protection for the Eligible Structure from local, state or national preservation organizations as applicable if not already protected. 
  • A follow-up report of the project is required to be submitted to Landmarks Illinois within a determined time period. 

Projects 

  • A project must benefit one or more specifically identified Eligible Structures or Sites and one or more specifically identified preservation issues. Projects relating to Eligible Structures or Sites on the most recent Landmarks Illinois “Endangered List” will be given priority consideration. 
  • A project must be for the purpose of preserving (rehabilitation, restoration, adaptive reuse) all or part of an Eligible Structure or Site. Ordinary expenses of owning or maintaining an Eligible Structure or Site will not be considered preservation expenses. 
  • Landmarks Illinois strongly recommends that any documents or plans for preservation work prepared for the project conform to the Secretary of Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties, as appropriate. 
  • A project may include one or more of the following services provided each service can satisfy the project conditions described above: 
  1. Engineering, architectural, and feasibility studies
  2. Condition assessments 
  3. Stabilization 
  4. Rehabilitation 
  5. Surveys and National Register Nominations 
  • A project may not include services that have been completed at the time a grant is requested. 

Size of Grants 

Grants range from $500—$2,500. The size of the grant will be determined by the need of the Eligible Applicant and will be awarded on a matching basis. A match may be a direct dollar amount or, using volunteer labor or services, equal the value of the grant. 

How to Apply 

A completed application must include: 

  • The Preserve Southern Illinois Grant application form 
  • Digital images of the Eligible Structure and/or Site 
  • A clear description of the threat to the building(s) or district, and a proposed plan of action. 
  • The application must specify the amount of money needed for the project. 
  • The applicant must provide documentation from the IRS of its not-for-profit status and the Bylaws of the organization as applicable. 

Applications which do not include these items will not be considered complete. 

Review of Application 

  • Landmarks Illinois Banterra Bank Preserve Southern Illinois Grants are awarded twice per year by Landmarks Illinois’ Executive Committee. 
  • Application deadlines: January 1 and July 1 
  • Applications will be judged on the importance of the Eligible Structure and/or Site, the nature and degree of the threat of demolition, the quality of the applicant organization, and the quality of the proposed plan of action. 
  • Landmarks Illinois has a limited amount of grant money available each fiscal year. Some worthwhile and eligible projects may not be awarded grants due to limited funds but may be considered in the following year. 

Contact

Suzanne Germann, Director of Reinvestment -- sgermann@landmarks.org 

The Barbara C. and Thomas E. Donnelley II Preservation Fund for Illinois provides monetary assistance to preserve or protect significant structures and sites in Illinois. Eligible beneficiaries include significant structures or sites in Illinois that are under threat of demolition, in imminent deterioration, in need of stabilization, in need of structural or re-use evaluation, or need to be evaluated for landmark eligibility. Landmarks Illinois manages the fund, which was established in 2013. 

The Donnelley Preservation Fund Grant Guidelines can be found at Landmarks.org.  

Donnelley Preservation Fund grants are awarded for planning activities and education efforts focused on preservation.

  • Planning: Support for obtaining professional expert Planning ise in areas such as architecture, archaeology, engineering, preservation planning, land-use planning, and law. Eligible planning activities include, but are not limited to: 
  1. Hiring a preservation architect or landscape architect to produce a historic structure report or historic landscape master plan 
  2. Hiring a preservation planner to produce design guidelines for a historic district
  3. Hiring a real estate development consultant to produce an economic feasibility study for the reuse of a threatened structure 
  4. Sponsoring a community forum to develop a shared vision for the future of a historic neighborhood 
  • Education and Outreach: Support for preservation ed Education and Outreach ucation activities aimed at the public with particular interest in programs aimed at reaching new audiences. Funding will be provided to projects that employ innovative techniques and formats aimed at introducing new audiences to the preservation movement 

A project may include one or more of the following services provided each service can satisfy the project conditions described in the grant guidelines: 

  • Engineering, architectural, and feasibility studies 
  • Legal services 
  • Surveys and National Register Nominations 
  • Preservation ordinance support  

Application deadlines: April 1 and October 1

Contact
Suzanne Germann, Director of Reinvestment
(312) 922-1742
sgermann@landmarks.org



Owners of properties protected by a preservation easement are required to obtain the approval of Landmarks Illinois before making alterations to the protected elements of the property. Please contact Landmarks Illinois prior to commencement of any work to ensure that proposed maintenance and alterations are in accordance with the easement agreement. If necessary, you will need to complete the followng Request for Alterations Form.  

Landmarks Illinois’ Easement Committee, a group comprised of historic preservation professionals, reviews proposed alterations to easement properties at their monthly meeting, which typically takes place the first Thursday of the month. The Request for Alterations Form and any additional materials need to be received by Landmarks Illinois at least one and a half weeks prior to the meeting (Monday of the prior week). 

Landmarks Illinois uses the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation when reviewing proposed alterations to easement properties. It is recommended that the applicant review the Standards prior to submitting this form.  

We encourage you to refer to Landmarks Illinois’ Illinois Restoration Resource Directory when looking to make repairs and alterations.

Contact:  Suzanne Germann, Director of Reinvestment · 312-922-1742 · sgermann@landmarks.org 

Landmarks Illinois