Financial Resources

The following financial resource list offers names and descriptions of organizations and programs that provide financial assistance for historic preservation activities to individuals, owners of rental or commercial properties and non-profit organizations.

Individuals:

City of Philadelphia Home Improvement Loan Program (http://www.philaloan.com)
Low interest loans to homeowners who meet lender’s credit requirements.

City of Philadelphia Property Tax Abatement (http://www.phila.gov/ohcd/homerepairprograms.htm)
City program that provides homeowners with tax relief on home repairs for 10 years.

City Council Ordinance 961 – Philadelphia Board of Revision of Taxes
(http://www.phila.gov/revtaxes/index.html)
Exemption of real estate taxes of 100% of improvement to a residential property.

Rental or Commercial Properties:

Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives (http://www.nps.gov/history/hps/tps/tax/index.htm)
Available tax credits for the rehabilitation of buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places or contributing to a National Register Historic District, as National Historic Landmarks or in some local historic districts.

National Trust Community Investment Corporation
A for-profit subsidiary of the National Trust, investing in certified rehabilitation projects, that qualify for state and federal historic tax credits and the New Markets Tax Credit.
(http://www.nationaltrust.org/ntcicfunds/index.html)

Preservation Alliance Easement Program
Donations of historic easements, qualifying as charitable contributions deductible from federal income tax, to the Preservation Alliance to insure protection from demolition, inappropriate alterations or neglect.

City of Philadelphia Tax Abatements

City Council Ordinance 1130 – Philadelphia Board of Revision of Taxes
Exemption of real estate taxes on 100% of improvements to an industrial, commercial or other business property with no owner occupants. (http://www.phila.gov/revtaxes/index.html)

City Council Ordinance 970274 – Philadelphia Board of Revision of Taxes
Exemption of real estate taxes on 100% of improvements to a deteriorated industrial or
business property which has been converted to a commercial residential use (eligible property must not have been used for commercial residential for 10 years, have been vacant for at least two years, have 66% vacant convertible space, or be at least 50 years old). (http://www.phila.gov/revtaxes/index.html)

Non-Profit

Keystone Grants - Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission - PHMC (http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/bhp/funding/overview.asp?secid=25)
Keystone Grants are available to non-profit organizations and public agencies that support or own a publicly accessible historic property listed, or eligible for listing, on the National Register or a contributing historic property in a National Register District. Work may include preservation, restoration and/or rehabilitation of historic resources that fit the qualifications above. Grants range from $5,000 to $100,000 and require a matching gift.

Save America’s Treasures
(http://www.saveamericastreasures.org)
A National Park Service Program that addresses the urgent financial needs of historic properties with national significance.

National Trust for Historic Preservation Grants and Loans
(http://www.nationaltrust.org/funding/nonprofit.html)
The leading national preservation advocacy organization offers four grant opportunities for nonprofit organizations:

• Preservation Services Fund provides public agencies and nonprofit organizations with matching grants from $500 to $5,000 for preservation planning and education.
• Johanna Favrot Fund for Historic Preservation gives nonprofit organizations and public agencies grants from $2,500 to $10,000 for projects that contribute to preservation.
• Cynthia Woods Mitchell Fund for Historic Interiors supports nonprofit organizations and public agencies with grants ranging from $2,500 to $10,000 to assist in the preservation, restoration and interpretation of historic interiors.
• Local Initiative grants aide local nonprofit preservation organization that are hiring their first full-time staff member.

Partners for Sacred Places
http://www.sacredplaces.org
The only national, non-sectarian non-profit organization devoted to helping congregations and their communities sustain and actively use older and historic sacred places. Grant assistance and training is provided to congregations throughout the U.S.

Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC) Nonprofit Pooled Loan Program
PIDC offers permanent, tax-exempt bonds designed to address financial needs of 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations. Funds may be used for qualified capital projects and needs, capital and operating leases, capitalized interest, interim financing, refunding, debt service reserves adn issuance consts.

Foundations

Philadelphia 501(c)3 community organizations have many funding opportunities available to them through local non-profit, commercial, and family foundations. A central source for many local and regional grants is The Philadelphia Foundation (http://www.philafound.org). Select the “Philanthropy Resources and Links” item in the menu to access a list of foundations in the Southeastern Pennsylvania. Your organization may browse the listed foundations and gather helpful information about the grant making and giving process.

The following are grant opportunities found through local foundations:

Samuel S. Fels Fund
(http://www.samfels.org/index.html)
The Fels Fund provides financial support for community organizations at critical junctures; funding for technical assistance, organizational and administrative support, and new program implementation.

Heritage Philadelphia
(http://www.heritagephila.org/ )
The Heritage Philadelphia Program provides financial assistance to history programs and the historic preservation of buildings in the Philadelphia region. Qualifying activities include planning and implementation related to interpretation, exhibits and preservation.

Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) – Philadelphia
(http://www.lisc.org/philadelphia)
This funding corporation provides community development-based financial assistance and support for activities ranging from commercial corridor revitalization to home improvement assistance. Recent projects have included partnerships with Mount Airy USA and University City District.

William Penn Foundation
(http://www.wpennfdn.org)
The William Penn Foundation funds community organizations in order to strengthen and advance their effectiveness in the community. They contribute to new programming and expansion of continuing programs, strategic planning, project evaluations, and strategic planning in addition to collaborative work with other organizations and publications.

Wachovia Foundation (http://www.wachovia.com/inside/page/0%2C%2C139_414_430%2C00.html)
Wachovia funds community organizations that carry broad community support and focus on community development issues such as sustainable affordable housing, revitalization of low- to moderate-income neighborhoods, and concentrate on economic development for underserved groups.

Philadelphia Cultural Fund (PCF) (http://www.philaculturalfund.org/)
PCF provides financial assistance to enhance cultural and arts organizations throughout the City of Philadelphia and is funded through annual appropriations in the City's budget.

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