Restoration Grant
Owners interested in restoring their barns may apply for a Restoration Grant from the Iowa Barn Foundation for up to 50% of the project costs. The IBF Board will have a single grant review session each October to review applications for the year. With $100,000-120,000 in grant funds available each year, the IBF Board may fund at less than 50% to cover more projects. Grant applications must be submitted electronically by September 30th for consideration. All applicants will be notified of their status by the end of October.
Before applying, please review the full set of grant guidelines which describe barn eligibility and obligations of grant recipients. Grants must be submitted electronically for consideration. Click here to view.
For assistance with the grant application process, please contact the Iowa Barn Foundation County Rep closest to you. Contact information can be found on our About page.
Emergency Grant
The Iowa Barn Foundation board has established the Emergency Grant program to help “mothball” a barn until long-term preservation plans can be implemented or to help stabilize a structure because failure to do so will result in a barn’s demise. Emergency Grants follow the same application process and timeline as the Restoration Grants. Grants must be submitted electronically for consideration.
Before applying, please review the full set of grant guidelines which describe barn eligibility and obligations of grant recipients. Click here to view.
(Use Restoration Grant Application)
Preservation Award (NEW – OCTOBER 2023)
The Iowa Barn Foundation’s Preservation Award program recognizes historic barns which have been preserved by their owners using modern exterior materials (i.e. metal siding and metal/vinyl windows).
Recipients of the award are invited to participate in our annual all-state fall barn tour and receive an award plaque to display on their barn.
To be considered, barns must be no less than 50 years old and meet one or more of the following criteria:
-Distinctive methods of construction or craftsmanship
-Contribute in a significant way to the appearance of the rural landscape and/or community identity
-The structure is associated with lives of persons or events significant to Iowa History
Note: Barn interior must maintain a significant portion of the architectural detail of the original construction with allowance for some modern updates for personal, non-commercial usage.