Preserving our past, sharing our state's stories and connecting people with history.
A large share of Minnesota Historical Society’s recent grantmaking goes to preserving historic buildings and collections across Minnesota, from courthouse walls and school roofs to museum storage systems and oral history projects. One of its largest recent awards went to the University of Minnesota for a Legacy Grant supporting historical research, cultural preservation, community collaboration, and ecological studies in Minnesota, including oral histories and historical databases. Another major grant went to Regents University of Mn for Stories of the Opioid Crisis in Northeastern Minnesota, showing that the funder backs both physical preservation and documentary history. The pattern extends across local governments, historical societies, museums, churches, and educational institutions. Recent awards supported the rehabilitation of a courthouse rock wall in Todd County, the preservation of Phelps Mill in Otter Tail County, and the conservation of a museum collection system in Roseau County. The foundation also funds interpretive and educational work, such as a Legacy Grant to the Science Museum Of Minnesota for new windows, a Dakota collections exhibit, and related research. Its grantmaking is tightly focused on Minnesota history and cultural heritage, with projects that preserve places, records, and public interpretation together.
Historic preservation is central to the foundation’s work. It gave $297,703 to Sacred Heart Area Historical Society for Hotel Sacred Heart Phase 2 Construction, and $276,500 to Todd County for Construction of Courthouse Rock Wall Phase 1. Similar preservation awards supported roof stabilization, masonry rehabilitation, window restoration, and historic site repairs across the state. Collections care is another clear priority. Minnesota Historical Society awarded $200,283 to Roseau County Historical Society for Roseau Museum shelving and a collection management system upgrade for long-term preservation planning, and $153,621 to Minnesota Masonic Historical Society & Museum for Collections Storage/Rehousing. The foundation also funds documentary history and public interpretation. Regents University of Mn received $339,226 for Stories of the Opioid Crisis in Northeastern Minnesota, while City of Duluth received $207,030 for St Louis County Jail window restoration and an interpretive trail. Education and public history appear in projects such as museum exhibits, oral histories, and historical databases.
$7.6M
$349.3M
$85.4M
$74.2M
Most grants fall between $10K and $49K, with a median of $16K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$16K
75th Percentile
$49K
Kent Whitworth
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Typical grant size clusters around a median of $16,035, with the middle half of grants ranging from $10,000 to $48,587. The recent record shows a mix of smaller planning and collections awards and larger capital grants for rehabilitation and construction. Grantmaking appears recurring rather than one-off: several recipients appear in multiple years, including City of Sandstone, Tower-soudan Historical Society, and the Board Of Regents University of Minnesota. The foundation operates through named programs such as Legacy Grants, Heritage Preservation Grants, Partnership Grants, and State Capital Projects Grants-in-Aid. It also accepts unsolicited applications for several programs listed in the data.
Grantmaking is entirely local and entirely in Minnesota: 100% of grants in the dataset went to recipients in the HQ state, which is also the top state by grant count. Minneapolis, St. Paul, Duluth, Northfield, Rochester, and Sandstone all appear multiple times among recent grantees. The map of giving is statewide rather than centered on one metro area, with awards reaching county governments, township bodies, historical societies, and museums in both urban and rural communities.
The foundation funds historic preservation, museums and exhibitions, education, archives and library services, archaeology, public programs, and local history work. Recent projects include building rehabilitation, collections storage, oral histories, interpretive exhibits, and historical databases.
Typical awards cluster around a median of $16,035, with the middle half of grants between $10,000 and $48,587. The recent grants list also shows much larger capital and Legacy awards, including several in the $200,000+ range.
No. Recent grants went to universities, county governments, city governments, township entities, historical societies, museums, churches, and cultural organizations. Examples in the data include University of Minnesota, Todd County, Roseau County Historical Society, and the Science Museum Of Minnesota.
Yes for several listed programs. The data marks Heritage Preservation Grants, Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage (Legacy) Grants, State Historical Records Advisory Board funding opportunities, Heritage Partnership Program, Commemorative Statues, Memorials, and Historic Preservation grants, and State Capital Projects Grants-in-Aid as accepting unsolicited applications.
Its grants in the provided data all go to Minnesota recipients. The top state by grant count is MN, and 100% of grants were awarded to recipients in the HQ state.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Current and upcoming funding from Minnesota Historical Society that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Organizations carrying out history/cultural heritage projects in Minnesota (detailed eligibility on program pages).
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FRIENDS OF LINDEN HILL INC | LITTLE FALLS, MN | $272,500 | 2026 | Legacy Grant for Rehabilitation of Exterior Barn, Carriage House and Greenhouse |
| CITY OF HACKENSACK | HACKENSACK, MN | $244,761 | 2026 | Legacy Grant for conservation building phase 1 preservation stabilization |
| CITY OF BROWNS VALLEY | BROWNS VALLEY, MN | $207,744 | 2026 | Legacy Grant for the Browns Valley Carnegie Public Library Preservation Project |
| BROWN COUNTY | NEW ULM, MN | $198,093 | 2026 | Legacy Grant for the BCHS Comprehensive Inventory Phase 6 |
| RAMSEY COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY | ST PAUL, MN | $194,605 | 2026 | Legacy Grant for projects focusing on archival digitization, exhibition planning, facility improvements, and community-centered cultural heritage preservation |
| PRESERVE APPLETON'S HERITAGE | APPLETON, MN | $186,276 | 2026 | Legacy Grant for Appleton City Hall Phase 1A Masonry, Roof and Foundation |
| GERMANIC AMERICAN INSTITUTE | ST PAUL, MN | $164,500 | 2026 | Legacy Grant for GAI: Accessible Entrance and Bathroom |
| CITY OF SANDSTONE | SANDSTONE, MN | $159,209 | 2026 | Legacy Grant for Sandstone Public School Building Roof Stabilization |
| LOWER PHALEN CREEK PROJECT | ST PAUL, MN | $140,018 | 2026 | Legacy Grant for the Wakan Tipi Center Exhibit Fabrication |
| REGENTS UNIVERSITY OF MN | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $133,022 | 2026 | Legacy Grant for the set of projects focused on preserving historic structures and collections while expanding access to Minnesota's cultural and healthcare history |
| DAKOTA COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY | SOUTH ST PAUL, MN | $129,721 | 2026 | Legacy Grant for the collection of projects centered on upgrading the Lawshe Memorial Museum, developing and building exhibits, advancing the Black Heritage Trail, and planning commemorative 250th anniversary concepts |
| DODGE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY | MANTORVILLE, MN | $128,387 | 2026 | Legacy Grant for the Wasioja School Rehabilitation Project |
| MN STATE UNIVERSITY MANKATO | MANKATO, MN | $122,320 | 2026 | Legacy Grant for Projects that focus on interpreting historic monuments and building partnerships to strengthen cultural heritage management and preservation skills |
| LAKE OF THE WOODS COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY | BAUDETTE, MN | $119,640 | 2026 | Legacy Grant for the Implementation of LOW County Historical Society Exhibits |
| TOWER SOUDAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY | TOWER, MN | $119,475 | 2026 | Legacy Grant for the Tower Fire Hall HVAC and Electrical System Replacement |
| FULDA HERITAGE SOCIETY | FULDA, MN | $119,000 | 2026 | Legacy Grant for Fulda's 1880 Depot Foundation Repairs |
| THE ANDERSON CENTER | RED WING, MN | $116,500 | 2026 | Legacy Grant for the Masonry Restoration for the Historic Residence at Tower View |
| CITY OF DELANO | DELANO, MN | $113,120 | 2026 | Legacy Grant for the Elevator Installation at Delano Village Hall (Heritage Center) |
| CITY OF ADAMS | ADAMS, MN | $106,102 | 2026 | Legacy Grant for the First National Bank of Adams Rehabilitation Project |
| NOBLES COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY | WORTHINGTON, MN | $103,888 | 2026 | Legacy Grant for the 1960s photographic negatives, upgrades collections management software, and supports the Nobles County: A Home for Immigrants exhibit through improved collections care |
| ROSEAU COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY | ROSEAU, MN | $102,166 | 2026 | Legacy Grant for the Organized and updated archival records, served as an archival collection consultant, and supported the first phase of the Roseau County Museum's mobile shelving storage project |
| CHILDREN'S DENTAL SERVICES | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $100,000 | 2026 | Legacy Grant for Reinforcement and Rehabilitation of Roof, Skylights, Cornice and Balustrade, and Parapet Wall at 25 W Superior St, Duluth |
| HMONG MUSEUM | ST PAUL, MN | $98,000 | 2026 | Legacy Grants to develop and present traveling exhibits highlighting social change and preserving Hmong American experiences in Minnesota |
| BIRD ISLAND CULTURAL CENTRE | BIRD ISLAND, MN | $96,213 | 2026 | Legacy Grant for construction on the Tinnes-Baker House |
| THE OBERHOLTZER FOUNDATION | DULUTH, MN | $92,975 | 2026 | Legacy Grant that Prepares historic structures and cultural landscape report for the Mallard Island Annex Library |
| AUGSBURG UNIVERSITY | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $82,586 | 2026 | Legacy Grant for Augsburg University Archives HVAC Project |
| LAKE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY | TWO HARBORS, MN | $82,256 | 2026 | Legacy Grant that Oversaw the Two Harbors Depot roof replacement and chimney stabilization and completed an inventory of the LCHS photograph collection |
| KANDIYOHI COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY | WILLMAR, MN | $80,553 | 2026 | Legacy Grant for Albert & Jennie Sperry House Improvements |
| ROCK COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY | LUVERNE, MN | $78,206 | 2026 | Legacy Grant for Museum-Quality Collection Storage |
| RUSHFORD AREA HISTORICAL SOCIETY | RUSHFORD, MN | $76,486 | 2026 | Legacy Grant for the Southern Minnesota Depot Foundation Stabilization Construction |
| ST CLEMENT'S MEMORIAL EPISCOPAL CHURCH | ST PAUL, MN | $75,000 | 2026 | Legacy Grant for Saint Clement's Episcopal Church Masonry Restoration 2024 |
| THE BASILICA LANDMARK | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $74,990 | 2026 | Legacy Grant for the Structural Assessment of Masonry |
| SCIENCE MUSEUM OF MINNESOTA | ST PAUL, MN | $72,344 | 2026 | Legacy Grant for Climate History and Historical Environments of the Pedersen Site and Southwestern Minnesota |
| DANEBOD LUTHERAN CHURCH | TYLER, MN | $70,760 | 2026 | Legacy Grant for the Danebod Folk School Architectural Plans and Specifications including Intensive Structural Analysis |
| EAST SIDE FREEDOM LIBRARY | ST PAUL, MN | $69,787 | 2026 | Legacy Grant for the East Side Freedom Library creating a community digital repository highlighting the overlooked stories of Southeast Asian women in Minnesota |
| HENNEPIN COUNTY LIBRARY | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $67,950 | 2026 | Legacy Grant for Minneapolis Community-Based Organizations Archives |
| FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF MINNESOTA | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $67,200 | 2026 | Legacy Grant for Decker Memorial Window Rehabilitation |
| PICKWICK MILL INC | WINONA, MN | $66,584 | 2026 | Legacy Grant for the Pickwick Mill Window Restoration |
| CHRIST LUTHERAN CHURCH ON CAPITOL HILL | ST PAUL, MN | $63,456 | 2026 | Legacy Grant for the Christ Lutheran Church On Capital Hill Repair & Restoration and ADA-Compliant Restroom Construction |
| DAKOTA COUNTY | APPLE VALLEY, MN | $62,570 | 2026 | Legacy Grant for projects focusing on exploring and presenting river landscapes and Dakota perspectives in Minnesota through interpretive design and an online exhibit |
| CITY OF APPLETON | APPLETON, MN | $60,360 | 2026 | Legacy Grant for Website Development and Tourism Materials Enhancement for the Minnesota River Valley National Scenic Byway |
| CATHEDRAL OF OUR MERCIFUL SAVIOUR | FARIBAULT, MN | $59,514 | 2026 | Legacy Grant that involves replacing stone at the cathedral's chapel and west entry and assessing water infiltration at the Guild House |
| LE SUEUR COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY | LE CENTER, MN | $59,415 | 2026 | Legacy Grant for the Rehabilitation of Elysian School Bell Tower and Roof and Associated Elements" |
| HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL SOCIETY | MOORHEAD, MN | $56,500 | 2026 | Legacy Grant for Projects that focus on preserving, digitizing, and documenting diverse historical collections and community legacies through photography, conservation, oral history, and archival work |
| CITY OF MOORHEAD | MOORHEAD, MN | $56,321 | 2026 | Legacy Grant for the Hjemkomst Center Security Camera Installation |
| WINONA COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY | WINONA, MN | $55,479 | 2026 | Legacy Grants for initiatives that highlight collaborative partnerships with Indigenous communities, improvements to exhibition infrastructure, and historical research into the life and influence of Matilda Bunnell |
| CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS | MENDOTA HEIGHTS, MN | $54,000 | 2026 | Legacy Grant for the Oheyawahi interpretive design |
| WHITE BEAR LAKE AREA HISTORICAL SOCIETY | WHITE BEAR LAKE, MN | $52,934 | 2026 | Legacy Grants for projects that encompass exhibit development, preservation and digitization of historical resources, historic structure documentation, and research initiatives supporting local and Native history education |
| MIDWEST FOOD CONNECTION | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $52,700 | 2026 | Partnership Grant for projects focusing on researching the history of African American food in Minnesota and developing a K-8 curriculum about on cultural foodways |
| OLMSTED COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY | ROCHESTER, MN | $51,964 | 2026 | Legacy Grant for projects that focus on rehabilitating and revitalizing the historic George Stoppel farmstead and developing interpretive signage to educate and inspire future generations |
FRIENDS OF LINDEN HILL INC
$272,500Legacy Grant for Rehabilitation of Exterior Barn, Carriage House and Greenhouse
CITY OF HACKENSACK
$244,761Legacy Grant for conservation building phase 1 preservation stabilization
CITY OF BROWNS VALLEY
$207,744Legacy Grant for the Browns Valley Carnegie Public Library Preservation Project
BROWN COUNTY
$198,093Legacy Grant for the BCHS Comprehensive Inventory Phase 6
RAMSEY COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$194,605Legacy Grant for projects focusing on archival digitization, exhibition planning, facility improvements, and community-centered cultural heritage preservation
PRESERVE APPLETON'S HERITAGE
Legacy Grant for Appleton City Hall Phase 1A Masonry, Roof and Foundation
GERMANIC AMERICAN INSTITUTE
$164,500Legacy Grant for GAI: Accessible Entrance and Bathroom
CITY OF SANDSTONE
$159,209Legacy Grant for Sandstone Public School Building Roof Stabilization
Legacy Grant for the Wakan Tipi Center Exhibit Fabrication
REGENTS UNIVERSITY OF MN
$133,022Legacy Grant for the set of projects focused on preserving historic structures and collections while expanding access to Minnesota's cultural and healthcare history
DAKOTA COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$129,721Legacy Grant for the collection of projects centered on upgrading the Lawshe Memorial Museum, developing and building exhibits, advancing the Black Heritage Trail, and planning commemorative 250th anniversary concepts
DODGE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$128,387Legacy Grant for the Wasioja School Rehabilitation Project
MN STATE UNIVERSITY MANKATO
$122,320Legacy Grant for Projects that focus on interpreting historic monuments and building partnerships to strengthen cultural heritage management and preservation skills
LAKE OF THE WOODS COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$119,640Legacy Grant for the Implementation of LOW County Historical Society Exhibits
TOWER SOUDAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$119,475Legacy Grant for the Tower Fire Hall HVAC and Electrical System Replacement
FULDA HERITAGE SOCIETY
$119,000Legacy Grant for Fulda's 1880 Depot Foundation Repairs
Legacy Grant for the Masonry Restoration for the Historic Residence at Tower View
CITY OF DELANO
$113,120Legacy Grant for the Elevator Installation at Delano Village Hall (Heritage Center)
CITY OF ADAMS
$106,102Legacy Grant for the First National Bank of Adams Rehabilitation Project
NOBLES COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$103,888Legacy Grant for the 1960s photographic negatives, upgrades collections management software, and supports the Nobles County: A Home for Immigrants exhibit through improved collections care
ROSEAU COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$102,166Legacy Grant for the Organized and updated archival records, served as an archival collection consultant, and supported the first phase of the Roseau County Museum's mobile shelving storage project
Legacy Grant for Reinforcement and Rehabilitation of Roof, Skylights, Cornice and Balustrade, and Parapet Wall at 25 W Superior St, Duluth
HMONG MUSEUM
$98,000Legacy Grants to develop and present traveling exhibits highlighting social change and preserving Hmong American experiences in Minnesota
BIRD ISLAND CULTURAL CENTRE
$96,213Legacy Grant for construction on the Tinnes-Baker House
THE OBERHOLTZER FOUNDATION
$92,975Legacy Grant that Prepares historic structures and cultural landscape report for the Mallard Island Annex Library
AUGSBURG UNIVERSITY
$82,586Legacy Grant for Augsburg University Archives HVAC Project
LAKE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$82,256Legacy Grant that Oversaw the Two Harbors Depot roof replacement and chimney stabilization and completed an inventory of the LCHS photograph collection
KANDIYOHI COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$80,553Legacy Grant for Albert & Jennie Sperry House Improvements
ROCK COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$78,206Legacy Grant for Museum-Quality Collection Storage
RUSHFORD AREA HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$76,486Legacy Grant for the Southern Minnesota Depot Foundation Stabilization Construction
ST CLEMENT'S MEMORIAL EPISCOPAL CHURCH
$75,000Legacy Grant for Saint Clement's Episcopal Church Masonry Restoration 2024
Legacy Grant for the Structural Assessment of Masonry
Legacy Grant for Climate History and Historical Environments of the Pedersen Site and Southwestern Minnesota
DANEBOD LUTHERAN CHURCH
$70,760Legacy Grant for the Danebod Folk School Architectural Plans and Specifications including Intensive Structural Analysis
Legacy Grant for the East Side Freedom Library creating a community digital repository highlighting the overlooked stories of Southeast Asian women in Minnesota
HENNEPIN COUNTY LIBRARY
$67,950Legacy Grant for Minneapolis Community-Based Organizations Archives
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF MINNESOTA
$67,200Legacy Grant for Decker Memorial Window Rehabilitation
PICKWICK MILL INC
$66,584Legacy Grant for the Pickwick Mill Window Restoration
CHRIST LUTHERAN CHURCH ON CAPITOL HILL
$63,456Legacy Grant for the Christ Lutheran Church On Capital Hill Repair & Restoration and ADA-Compliant Restroom Construction
DAKOTA COUNTY
$62,570Legacy Grant for projects focusing on exploring and presenting river landscapes and Dakota perspectives in Minnesota through interpretive design and an online exhibit
CITY OF APPLETON
$60,360Legacy Grant for Website Development and Tourism Materials Enhancement for the Minnesota River Valley National Scenic Byway
CATHEDRAL OF OUR MERCIFUL SAVIOUR
$59,514Legacy Grant that involves replacing stone at the cathedral's chapel and west entry and assessing water infiltration at the Guild House
LE SUEUR COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$59,415Legacy Grant for the Rehabilitation of Elysian School Bell Tower and Roof and Associated Elements"
HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL SOCIETY
$56,500Legacy Grant for Projects that focus on preserving, digitizing, and documenting diverse historical collections and community legacies through photography, conservation, oral history, and archival work
CITY OF MOORHEAD
$56,321Legacy Grant for the Hjemkomst Center Security Camera Installation
WINONA COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$55,479Legacy Grants for initiatives that highlight collaborative partnerships with Indigenous communities, improvements to exhibition infrastructure, and historical research into the life and influence of Matilda Bunnell
CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS
$54,000Legacy Grant for the Oheyawahi interpretive design
Legacy Grants for projects that encompass exhibit development, preservation and digitization of historical resources, historic structure documentation, and research initiatives supporting local and Native history education
MIDWEST FOOD CONNECTION
$52,700Partnership Grant for projects focusing on researching the history of African American food in Minnesota and developing a K-8 curriculum about on cultural foodways
OLMSTED COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$51,964Legacy Grant for projects that focus on rehabilitating and revitalizing the historic George Stoppel farmstead and developing interpretive signage to educate and inspire future generations