GRANTS & SPONSORSHIPS
Empowering Historical Preservation Through Financial Support
At American Heritage Partners, our commitment to supporting organizations dedicated to historic preservation is unwavering. Through offering grants and scholarships, we aid in funding educational programs and activities that illuminate the narrative of American History and its profound legacy. By honoring the people and places of our past, we acknowledge the roots from which our lives, memories, and American stories stem. These connections serve to ground us in the present while guiding us towards a brighter future. With a steadfast dedication to sharing the stories of great leaders, courageous civilians, and the captivating faces from America’s history, we delve beneath the surface to reveal the lives that shaped our world today. As a privately funded nonprofit organization, American Heritage Partners strives to preserve America’s history, narrate the complete American story, foster resilient communities, and pave the way for the future of preservation.
Join us in preserving our collective heritage and shaping a stronger future for all.
PAST AWARDEES
American Heritage Partners Research Fellowship
American Heritage Partners is pleased to announce a major grant to the American Revolution Institute (“ARI”) to fund the 2027 “American Heritage Partners Research Fellowship.” This grant will support the research of a worthy scholar who will use the library of the ARI in Washington D.C. to advance his or her research leading to the publication of a significant historical work on a subject related to the American Revolution. AHP previously funded an ARI Fellowship for Professor Michael Auslin, whose book, “National Treasure,” was published earlier this year to critical acclaim. AHP’s President Jay Dickey says, “AHP’s mission is to educate and inform the public about important events in American history, and the American Revolution Institute is one of the premier organizations devoted to telling the story of the American Revolution, through public lectures and other educational programs. We thank ARI for its tireless efforts to preserve our American history, particularly in this year in which Americans celebrate the 250th anniversary of our Declaration of Independence.
October 2024 - American Heritage Partners Announces Grant to the Oregon-California Trails Association
Continuing its commitment to support organizations dedicated to historic preservation, this month American Heritage Partners is pleased to announce a grant of $2,500* to the Oregon-California Trails Association (“OCTA”). Headquartered in Independence, Missouri, OCTA has chapters throughout the country whose members are dedicated to preserving and protecting the extensive system of trails that the pioneers traveled during the era of Western migration in the 19th century. OCTA also has devoted major resources to locating, conserving and digitizing an extensive collection of pioneer records, including thousands of pioneer diaries that provide first-person accounts of their often treacherous journeys across the Great Plains, the Rockies Mountains, and points west. The stories told by these pioneers are sometimes heart-warming, sometime gut-wrenching, but always touching. In addition to its preservation efforts, OCTA also sponsors a wide variety of educational programs, including virtual lectures and other online content. “AHP hopes that this grant will encourage others to give,” says AHP President Jay Dickey. “OCTA has accomplished so much, but the Oregon, California and Santa Fe trails continue to be threatened by construction projects and other environmental threats; it’s a race against time.” OCTA’s Association Manager, Travis Boley, comments, “this grant will allow us to begin the process of digitizing the David Hopper collection of about 4,000 trail diaries, including 1,900 from the year 1849 alone. We thank American Heritage Partners for helping us to ensure that we can present these diaries to anyone with an internet connection.”
AHP is honored to support OCTA in its ongoing efforts to preserve and protect the history of the American West in all its forms.
* A matching grant of $2,500 is also being awarded, for a total grant to OCTA of $5,000.
September 2024 - American Heritage Partners Announces Grant to Jamestown Rediscovery
A grant of $2,500 was given to Virginia-based Jamestown Rediscovery, which for decades has been engaged in archaeological excavations at the site of America’s first permanent English settlement at Jamestown. Jamestown Rediscovery’s efforts have led to the discovery of literally millions of artifacts, which collectively shed light on the life and times of the early settlers who came to Virginia beginning in 1607. Jamestown Rediscovery’s work also includes extensive conservation efforts to preserve and protect these artifacts, and to reconstruct certain of the structures that have been uncovered at the site during its digs. Supporting Jamestown Rediscovery is critically important today, as the James River and environs is increasingly subject to the adverse effects of climate change, and Jamestown itself has become one of the most threatened historic sites in America. “AHP hopes that this grant will encourage others to give,” says AHP President Jay Dickey. “Jamestown Rediscovery’s archaeological work has been massively successful, but it needs further funding to fulfill its goals.” Jamestown Rediscovery’s President Dr. James Horn comments, “I am most grateful for American Heritage Partners for its support of our mission to preserve and protect one of the most important archaeological sites in our nation.”
September 2024 - American Heritage Partners Announces Grant to the New Netherlands Institute
A grant of $2,500* has been given to the New Netherland Institute (“NNI”), which has been carrying out major projects to preserve the earliest historical records of the Dutch colony of New Netherland in the 17th century, and to digitize and transcribe those records and make them available to the public. NNI also hosts education programs and activities that tell the story of New Netherland in colorful and compelling ways. This year marks the 400th anniversary of the first Dutch settlement in North America at Ft. Orange on the Hudson River (now Albany, New York). AHP believes this is an appropriate time to honor the legacy of those early Dutch settlers by making its first grant to NNI. Says AHP President Dickey, “NNI’s work over the years has been truly extraordinary. AHP is earmarking this grant to help fund NNI’s newest project, a massive effort to conserve, digitize and translate the Van Rensselaer Manor Papers. This critically important project will take many years to complete, and will require significant ongoing financial support. We are proud to be among the first non-profits to offer its financial help, and to partner with NNI in this new endeavor.” Deborah Hamer, Director of NNI, adds, “we appreciate the support of American Heritage Partners, whose generous donation will help us carry out our mission of historic preservation of the records of New Netherland, the Van Rensselaer Manor Papers in particular. We look forward to collaborating with AHP on this and other special projects.”
* A matching grant of $2,500 is also being awarded, for a total grant to NNI of $5,000.
Santa Clara County Historical and Genealogical Society (SCCHGS)
Grant Amount: $500
Award Date: June 13, 2026
Event: Inaugural Heritage Expo (Santa Clara, CA)
During American Heritage Partners’ featured presentation at the inaugural Heritage Expo in Santa Clara, California, AHP President Jonathan “Jay” Dickey presented a $500 grant to the Santa Clara County Historical and Genealogical Society. This award directly supports SCCHGS’s vital work in helping individuals discover their roots, preserve local history, and access educational resources across the South Bay.
AHP’s support of regional and family history organizations is an admirable commitment and much appreciated. Your donation will go far in helping us continue to offer classes and programs beneficial to our community.” > — Gary, Santa Clara County Historical and Genealogical Society
United We Pledge" Grant
American Heritage Partners is proud to announce a $1,000 grant to United We Pledge, a Utah-based non-profit organization dedicated to fostering civic responsibility and a deep appreciation for American history. This grant will be used to support their innovative youth education programs, which utilize primary sources and immersive learning to bring early American history to life for K-12 students. By examining original documents, first-hand accounts, and artifacts, United We Pledge empowers students to analyze the foundational ideals of the United States.
Nevada Society of Scottish Clans (NSSC)
Event: 2026 Robert Burns Celebration – Whisky Reception
Date: January 2026
Overview
American Heritage Partners renewed its support for the Nevada Society of Scottish Clans by serving as the Whisky Reception S
ponsor for the annual Robert Burns Celebration in January 2026. Following a successful partnership in 2025, this repeated sponsorship supports NSSC in its mission to promote the study, practice, and teaching of Scottish customs, literature, music, and history across Northern Nevada.
Digitize New York (NYG&B)
Project: Digitize New York Portable Digitization Kit
Location Focus: Finger Lakes Region, New York
Grant Impact Update: Summer 2026 Progress Report
Overview
American Heritage Partners is proud to support the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society’s (NYG&B) flagship initiative, Digitize New York. Through AHP’s funding, a specialized, portable digitization kit was sent to the Finger Lakes region in late 2025—marking the very first digitization kit deployed to this historic region of New York State.
This program equips small, local historical organizations with the technology and hands-on guidance needed to digitize and preserve fragile, high-value historical records directly within their communities.
From the Progress Report
“This reflects our core model of the digitization kits: adapting our support to local organizations’ needs so that small, dedicated teams can succeed on their own timeline… We are taking a relationship-first approach, and we’re optimistic that continued visibility into the kit’s careful, low-impact process will help move local preservation forward in the coming months.”
— Digitize New York Program Report, New York Genealogical and Biographical Society
Jamestown Rediscovery Foundation
Location: Historic Jamestowne, Virginia
Grant Purpose: Archaeological Conservation, Site Preservation, & Inclusive History Education
Overview
American Heritage Partners is proud to continue its support of the Jamestown Rediscovery Foundation, an extraordinary organization dedicated to uncovering, preserving, and sharing the rich, complex history of James Fort and early colonial Virginia.
This grant helps safeguard fragile archaeological sites while expanding public educational programs that bring new, diverse perspectives to visitors of all ages.
From the Recipient
“From the first day excavations in search of James Fort began, the generosity of friends like you has helped us fulfill our mission to uncover, preserve, and share Jamestown’s diverse history… With your generosity, we will be able to safeguard this fragile cultural heritage site for future generations.”
— Jamestown Rediscovery Foundation
"National Treasure" by Michael Auslin
Book Spotlight: National Treasure by Michael Auslin
Fellowship Support: American Heritage Partners Fellow at the Society of the Cincinnati’s American Revolution Institute
Publication Year: 2026
About the Author & Project
American Heritage Partners is proud to highlight the work of Michael Auslin, who authored National Treasure during his time as an American Heritage Partners Fellow at the Society of the Cincinnati’s American Revolution Institute, alongside his tenure as a Distinguished Visiting Scholar at the Library of Congress’s John W. Kluge Center.
Dr. Auslin is the Payson J. Treat Distinguished Research Fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution and a former associate professor of history at Yale University. A recognized scholar and historian, he also publishes The Patowmack Packet, a popular Substack newsletter dedicated to exploring Washington, D.C., past and present.
Oregon-California Trails Association (OCTA)
Partnership: Multi-Grant Supporter & Event Sponsor
Key Collaborations: California–Nevada Chapter & National Events
Overview
American Heritage Partners is proud to maintain a strong, multi-faceted partnership with the Oregon-California Trails Association (OCTA), the nation’s premier organization dedicated to preserving, protecting, and mapping the historic overland trails traveled by 19th-century pioneers.
Through consecutive grants and regional event sponsorships, AHP helps fund primary source preservation—focusing heavily on pioneer diaries, trail mapping, and educational outreach.
March 2025 Grant Presentation: Nevada State Museum
On March 15, 2025, AHP President Jay Dickey invited Dave Fullerton, Vice President of the California–Nevada Chapter of OCTA, to deliver a special presentation at the Nevada State Museum in Carson City.
During the event, Jay presented a grant check to Dave in support of OCTA’s ongoing work utilizing emigrant diaries to identify and map historic routes like the Truckee Trail.
“Metal detection can help confirm trail, but only if you know where to look. That means diaries.”
— Dave Fullerton, Vice President, CA-NV Chapter of OCTA
Salem Witch Museum
Location: Salem, Massachusetts
Grant / Sponsorship Amount: $1,000
Event: Oregon-California Trails Association (OCTA) Annual Conference (Missouri)
Year: 2026
American Heritage Partners was proud to provide a $1,000 grant sponsorship to support the Salem Witch Museum and facilitate a featured presentation by noted historian Jerry Enzler at the annual Oregon-California Trails Association (OCTA) conference in Missouri.
Through this collaborative sponsorship, AHP helps bridge major chapters of American history—connecting early New England history and colonial heritage with the broader story of 19th-century westward expansion.
Hillside Cemetery Preservation Foundation
Hillside Cemetery: $1,000.00
New Netherlands Institute
New Netherlands Institute: $2,500
NV Museum
NV Museum: $1,000.00
New Netherlands Institute
New Netherlands Institute: $2,500
American Revolution Institute
Grant of $2,500 (fellowship)
Liberty Village
Grant of $2,500