The Peter H. Brink Leadership Fund helps to build the capacity of existing preservation organizations and encourages collaboration among these organizations by providing grants for mentoring and other peer-to-peer and direct organizational development and learning opportunities. The purpose of these grants is to support the leadership and effectiveness of staff and board members of preservation organizations to fulfill their mission and to create a stronger, more effective preservation movement. By linking organizations with specific skills/programs to those seeking to develop similar abilities, the Peter H. Brink Leadership Fund promotes individualized mentoring and the sharing of expertise. Valuable lessons can be learned from someone who has successfully navigated the same situation that an organization currently faces.

Grants from the Peter H. Brink Leadership Fund support travel costs and mentor honoraria with a maximum reimbursement of $2,500.

Eligible Applicants

Only Organizational Level Forum members or Main Street America members of the National Trust are eligible to apply for funding from the Peter H. Brink Leadership Fund grant program. To learn more about Forum and join today, visit our website.

Public agencies, 501(c)(3), and other nonprofit organizations are eligible.

Organizations may only receive one grant from this fund per year.

Eligible Uses

• Grants from the Peter H. Brink Leadership Fund may be used to reimburse travel costs (airfare, train tickets, taxis and/or mileage reimbursement) and to pay an honorarium to the mentor (maximum of $250/day). The group seeking the mentoring services must pay the travel expenses for itself or for the mentor, and will be reimbursed by the National Trust after the necessary documentation is provided to substantiate the expense(s).
• Grants from the Peter H. Brink Fund may NOT be used to attend or host activities or events such as workshops, presentations, lectures, conferences or training seminars. The fund does not support speaker or venue fees.
• Mentors may be used to develop or improve fundraising, real estate, advocacy or other preservation-oriented program, to help with board development, or to address organizational/ management issues.

What is the process to apply?

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year. Grants will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis rather than in competitive rounds. Grant decisions will be made thoughtfully, but as expeditiously as possible. Once the grant funds have been expended for the current fiscal year, recommended applicants who did not receive funding will have priority for a Peter H. Brink Leadership Fund grant in the next fiscal year.

Grants are provided as reimbursement for up to the amount approved prior to the mentoring event. Expense documentation and brief mentoring reports must be received before expenses will be reimbursed. All reports should be submitted no later than one month after the mentoring visit.

Please contact the grants office to describe the proposed application and to access to the Peter H. Brink Leadership Fund application.