National Heritage Memorial Fund

NHMF can help fund heritage projects of all sizes. There is no limit to the percentage of funding that can be applied for.

However, as NHMF operates as a fund of last resort, you must be able to prove that you have explored, or are exploring, all other possible sources of funding.

We can only consider paying the total costs of a project in exceptional circumstances.

The National Heritage Memorial Fund (NHMF) has been awarding grants to safeguard the UK’s most important heritage since 1980. 

As a fund of last resort, NHMF has helped save thousands of our most-loved treasures from being lost forever. Taken together, these treasures form a UK-wide memorial in honour of those who have given their lives to the country.

Is this funding right for you? 

• Are you applying for funding to support a nationally important heritage asset in the UK? 

• Have you explored all other sources of funding? 

• Will the heritage asset be publicly accessible if you secure NHMF funding? 

• Are you a not-for-profit organisation? 

If you have answered yes to the above questions, this fund is for you.

What we can fund

NHMF can help buy anything which is of outstanding importance to the UK's heritage and either at risk or of memorial character. For example:

• works of fine and decorative art

• museum collections

• archives

• manuscripts

• items of transport and industrial history

• historic buildings and land

In exceptional circumstances, NHMF can fund emergency repairs when a heritage asset (excluding historic buildings and structures) is at imminent risk of irreparable damage.

What you can’t apply for

• restoration costs, aside from emergency repairs

• the creation of replicas

• yearly revenue funding

• day-to-day running costs or maintenance

• the costs of payroll staff

• development studies

• research projects

• costs of general furniture, fittings and equipment

• we will not normally consider items which are less than 10 years old

• costs which have already been spent. For example, we cannot reimburse individuals or organisations for items that have been paid for or secured with a down payment or deposit.

Who can apply

We accept applications from:

• Charities (voluntary and public)

• Not-for-profit organisations

• Public bodies

Who cannot apply

• Private individuals

• Commercial businesses

Over the last 40 years we have funded some of the most remarkable heritage for the UK public to enjoy and explore. You can find out more about our heritage and the heritage treasures that NHMF has helped to save on our news page or our project archive.

Before you apply

• Read the receive a grant guidance.

• Download our application pack, which explains our criteria for funding, helps you to apply for a grant and gives guidance on filling out the application form.

Public access

It is essential that all heritage items we support will be made publicly accessible. Your application should demonstrate how your acquisition of the item will provide new opportunities for the public to access it.

If an object is too fragile for long-term display or unrestricted access to land or a building could put it at risk, then managed or restricted access can be considered.

Acknowledgement

It is essential that all NHMF support is acknowledged on any display, interpretation, digital material/websites or hard copy information about your project.

Government sanctions

You must follow all legislation and regulations that apply to your project – this includes the current economic sanctions against Russia.