Grant Eligibility

Hometown Heritage marker grants are available to 501(c)(3) organizations, nonprofit academic institutions, and local, state and federal government entities within the United States, except in New York State. Interested individuals are encouraged to contact an eligible local organization, such as a municipal historian or historical organization.

Markers must recognize a historical fact that occurred more than 100 years from the year of your application. Currently, that year is 1924. Applications that don’t fall within this timeframe will not be considered.

Applications for structures that no longer exist or are slated for removal will not be successful.

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Marker Design and Text Guidelines 

The marker title line allows 15 characters and the five body lines can each have 27 characters, including spaces and punctuation. There is a required credit line at the bottom of the marker which is always included. Each marker will also be numbered according to its place in the Hometown Heritage series. The emblem at the top of each marker will display an outline of the state where the marker is going to be placed. Markers are 32” x 18” cast aluminum with a 7’ aluminum pole.

Please review our marker inscription style guide as you prepare your application:  Marker Style Guide

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Historical Accuracy 

The inscription on all Hometown Heritage markers must be proven historically accurate with primary source documentation. The applying agency is responsible for providing photocopies of sources and specific statements used to verify historical facts. If selected, the strength of supporting materials substantially decreases the timeframe between acceptance and funding. If the William G. Pomeroy Foundation cannot substantiate the historical accuracy based on the supporting documentation provided, the opportunity for approval is limited.

NOTE: Images provided with applications may be uploaded. Please underline, highlight or otherwise indicate relevant text.

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Application Deadline

Hometown Heritage marker grant applications are accepted on a rolling basis any time of the year. There is no application deadline for this program.

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Grant Application Procedure 

Letter of Intent (LOI)

A Letter of Intent (LOI) is a short online form which includes your proposed marker inscription and a list of the primary source documentation you plan to submit in the application stage to verify the historic accuracy of your proposed inscription. The LOI is required in order to gain access to the grant application. Once your LOI is reviewed and approved, you will receive email notification allowing you to begin the application.

Applications

Applications are only accepted online. To create an account and begin the application process, please use this link:  Apply for Grant

Applications must include the following:

• • • the applying agency’s information
    • contact information for the person responsible for the application
    • proposed installation location in specific detail (including GPS coordinates)
    • proposed inscription for marker

Additional required documents are:

• • • copies of the primary source documents supporting all the proposed text on the marker
    • a letter from the landowner granting permission for the marker to be installed**

Hometown Heritage marker grants cover the entire cost of a marker, pole and shipping. There is no cost to you. If your application is approved, upon receipt of your signed Acceptance Letter, the Pomeroy Foundation will mail a check for the total amount made payable to the applying agency. Instructions for ordering your marker will be provided via email.

**The grant recipient is responsible for installation of the marker. If the subject of the marker is relevant to a larger region (rather than a more specific location), consider a public park, town square or other area of high visibility in the community.

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Marker Placement

Please carefully consider the location where the marker is to be installed.

• Markers should not be placed on high-traffic roadways or roadways where vehicles are traveling at a high rate of speed if there is no place for a vehicle to safely pull over out of traffic.
• Markers should not be placed where the visitor must intrude on private property to read it.

Before installing your marker, please be sure you are following all of your state’s guidelines around digging and excavation.

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Questions?

Contact Christy at info@wgpfoundation.org or 315-913-4060, Monday – Friday between 8:00 am and 4:30 pm (EST).