Historic Marker Grant Program - Hometown Heritage® Marker Grant Program

Historic Marker Grant Program - Hometown Heritage® Marker Grant Program is sponsored by William G. Pomeroy Foundation. This nationwide program commemorates historically significant people, places, things, or events, especially for states without marker programs or subjects that may not qualify for official state marker programs.

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Celebrate History Hometown Heritage® Hometown Heritage® Marker Grant Program The Hometown Heritage® grant program commemorates people, places, things or events that are historically significant to the larger community and beyond with historical markers.

This nationwide program seeks to capture local history, especially for those in states without marker programs or for subjects which may not qualify for the applicant’s state marker program. Hometown Heritage helps communities to commemorate and preserve important historic milestones. Hometown Heritage markers are not available in New York State.

Before applying, please review the information on this page, as well as the Marker Criteria, Primary Sources, and FAQ tabs above. Reviewing our guidelines and requirements will help ensure your submission for a Pomeroy Marker grant is as strong as possible. Once you’ve reviewed the details, click the Apply button at the bottom of the page to access our online portal.

Ready to apply? Get started here: Apply for Grant Eligibility to Apply for Grant 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.

The colors of this program’s markers are blue with white highlighted lettering and border. Markers are 19” x 33” cast aluminum with a 7’ aluminum pole. The title line allows 15 characters and the five body lines of the inscription can have 27 characters each, including spaces and punctuation.

There is a required Pomeroy Foundation 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.

Please see our Marker Criteria page for more information, as well as a helpful guide. Primary source documentation is required to verify historical accuracy. The applying agency is responsible for providing photocopies of sources and specific statements used to verify historical facts.

If the William G. Pomeroy Foundation cannot substantiate the historical accuracy based on the supporting documentation provided, the application will not be successful. Please see our Primary Sources page for more information, as well as a helpful guide.

Verification Standards and AI Primary source verification is at the core of what we do at the William G. Pomeroy Foundation. Every historical marker we fund must be supported by primary sources created at the time of the events, or by first-hand witnesses.

Our commitment to historical accuracy is our gold standard, ensuring that marker inscriptions are factual, verified, and will endure the test of time. Therefore, we do not accept information generated by artificial intelligence (AI).

In addition to mimicking authentic sources that appear legitimate but do not exist (sometimes called “hallucinating” or “fabricating”), AI works by summarizing information from secondary sources on the internet or from unverified databases, which we do not accept. AI cannot generate an accurate report based solely on primary sources at this time. For these reasons, we do not accept AI-generated results as valid sources.

June 2026 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 or view a site related to the marker inscription.

Before installing your marker, please be sure you are following all of your state’s guidelines around digging and excavation. For more information about marker location recommendations, see our Marker Criteria page. We only offer an online application.

The grant application has two parts: The Letter of Intent (LOI) and the application. The LOI is a required first step and allows Foundation staff to determine if additional primary sources are required and if the proposed marker text fits our criteria before the applicant completes a full grant application. Typically, LOIs are responded to within one week.

You cannot access the full application until the LOI is approved.

LOIs must include the following: A list of primary source citations A proposed inscription for the marker Applications must include the following: A proposed installation location with specific details (including GPS coordinates and an optional photo upload) A brief description and explanation of the historical significance of what is being commemorated A proposed inscription for marker A letter from the landowner granting permission for the marker to be installed on their property Primary source documents verifying the proposed inscription Evaluation can take up to three months after submission.

You may be contacted for additional information, so be sure to use an email that is checked regularly. Approved marker grants are fully funded and include the marker, pole, and shipping costs. If approved, the Foundation will send a Letter of Agreement to be signed.

When the letter is signed, a check is mailed for the total amount made payable to the applying agency. The agency is responsible for cashing the check, then issuing the payment to the foundry and sending in the order form provided. Instructions for ordering the marker will accompany the grant check.

The grant recipient is responsible for installation of the marker, and we provide an installation guide as well. For more detailed instructions, see our How to Apply guide: How to Apply 10/5/26 – Application becomes available online 11/2/26 – Deadline to submit Letter of Intent (LOI) to verify primary sources.

12/7/26 – Application deadline 4/5/27 – Application becomes available online 5/3/27 – Deadline to submit Letter of Intent (LOI) to verify primary sources. 6/7/27 – Application deadline 10/4/27 – Application becomes available online 11/1/27 – Deadline to submit Letter of Intent (LOI) to verify primary sources. 12/6/27 – Application deadline Evaluation can take up to three months after the grant round closes.

We will email you with a status update. Please note, student-led applications for Hometown Heritage markers will be accepted on a rolling basis through our Pomeroy Education Program . Educators may complete the LOI with their students at any time.

Go to our education program page for more information. Contact Christy at info@wgpfoundation. org or 315-913-4060, Monday – Friday between 8:00 am and 4:30 pm (EST).

Last updated: May 21, 2026