Finding Funds for your Preservation Program: A Primer on Grant Writing and Application

Megan has worked at the National Park Service for 17 years, starting as a Grants Management Specialist, and then spending 10 years as the Certified Local Government (CLG) Coordinator, and now serves as the Chief of the State, Tribal, Local, Plans & Grants Division located within the Cultural Resources Directorate of the National Park Service in Washington, DC. She is responsible for the management of the Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) and the average $80-140 million that it disburses annually to State, Tribal, and local preservation partners. Almost 1000 active grants fund annual assistance to States and Tribes, as well as project grant programs when funded by Congress like: Underrepresented Communities, African American Civil Rights, Save America’s Treasures, and Historically Black Colleges and Universities. With a staff of 14, the division works hard to provide the outreach and training necessary to enable our partners to carry out the programs outlined by the National Historic Preservation Act and funded by the HPF.

Before joining NPS, Megan worked in the Southwest Office of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, in Fort Worth, Texas, and the State Historic Preservation Office in South Carolina where she managed the State Grant and Federal Tax Incentive programs. Her education includes a Bachelor in Architecture from Auburn University and Master in Historic Preservation from the University of South Carolina. She is an avid equestrian and enjoys time and travel with her family, horses, and friends.

Paula Mohr is a nationally recognized architectural historian and preservationist based in Iowa where she operates her own consulting firm. For 14 years, she administered one of the nation’s largest certified local government programs for Iowa's State Historic Preservation Office working also as a historic tax credit and National Register reviewer. Previously, she held positions at the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the White House/Old Executive Office Building, and the National Park Service, where she was Curator of the White House Storage Facility. From 1994 to 2000, Paula was Curator of the U.S. Treasury in Washington, where she was responsible for the preservation and interpretation of this National Historic Landmark and its collections.

Paula serves on the boards of the National Alliance of Preservation Commissions, Vernacular Architecture Forum, and the Silos and Smokestacks National Heritage Area. She enjoys the challenge of grant writing and has been successful in securing a number of grants from the National Park Service and other funders.