Restoration & Preservation Grants and Application Process

The Florida Lighthouse Association’s (FLA) mission is to safeguard Florida’s remaining lighthouses for future generations by supporting community based restoration, preservation and education efforts.

Florida’s maritime heritage is central to understanding Florida’s culture and way of life. Lighthouses played a critical role in Florida’s history; making it possible to explore, settle and develop Florida by using its 1350 miles of coastline. They are too important to be destroyed by neglect.

The Board of Directors of the Florida Lighthouse Association recognizes 29 historic lighthouses in Florida, out of the original 62 identified structures. Priority is given to funding grants for preservation and restoration of these 29 light stations. A 2002 study done by the State of Florida estimates that it will take just over $20 million dollars to preserve these towers. FLA funds projects by local organizations, which protect, restore and save Florida’s existing lighthouses, major unmanned aides to navigation, extant light stations, associated outbuildings and lenses.

***NEW*** Letter of intent To Apply requested

We are requesting letters of intent from Florida Lighthouses who intend to apply for grants in 2023. This will help the FLA plan grant expenses and help better understand the preservation needs of the historic lighthouses in Florida. You can download the pdf fillable Letter of of Intent (LOI) here. Please submit any questions and a completed LOI to grants@floridalighouses.org. Thank you for all you do to keep our lights shining!

Grant Application Deadlines

FLA awards three types of grants 

GENE OAKES LIGHTHOUSE GRANT FUND (License Plate Grants)

Funds are awarded to official lighthouse towers, lighthouse stations and unmanned aids to navigation and are restricted to historic preservation, as well as bricks and mortar restorations. Projects must restore or protect lighthouse towers, lighthouse keeper’s houses, out buildings, barracks buildings or other structures associated with a lighthouse station. Priority is given to lighthouse towers. FLA may also fund projects that provide official plans or architectural drawings for lighthouse towers. FLA may also fund bricks and mortar projects, supplies for historic preservation projects, or significant maintenance projects on previously restored structures. In rare cases, we may fund Fresnel lens restoration or re-lighting projects for extant and recognized lighthouses. Projects for lenses in museum galleries or the replication of faux lenses should use the General Fund Grant application.

Gene Oakes served as past President of FLA, loved lighthouses and was a fervent believer in the lighthouse specialty tag as a means of producing the income necessary for the restoration and maintenance of lighthouses in Florida. 

HIB CASSELBERRY GRANT (License Plate “Protection via Education” Grants)

To support the protection of Florida’s historic lighthouses via education, FLA may designate a portion of license plate funds for educational projects that meet certain criteria. This grant may only be used for the fabrication of new permanent interpretive signage (indoor or outdoor) or other permanent physical exhibits. Research, design, and installation of the signage/exhibit shall be funded by other sources. Eligible signage/exhibit shall principally interpret the history of the lighthouse. FLA strongly prefers that the signage/exhibit be located at a historic Florida light station, but will consider off-site placement under reasonable circumstances, such as off-shore lighthouses. Matching funds are strongly preferred. 

Hib Casselberry served on the board of the FLA and was a champion for education and sharing the history of lighthouses in Florida.

TOM TAYLOR KEEPERS GRANT FUND (General Fund Grants)

FLA provides grants from the general fund for worthy projects that are not eligible for license plate grants. Some examples include: bricks and mortar projects, educational projects about lighthouses, signage of a historic nature (verbiage and or images tied to area lighthouse), lenses, promotion of events that involve multiple lighthouses, etc.
Tom Taylor served as past President and one of founders of FLA.  Tom also helped create the vision of an organization dedicated to the preservation of the remaining lighthouses in Florida, which became the FLA. 

FLA DOES NOT FUND 

FLA does not fund faux lighthouses, decorative, residential, religious or commercial buildings built to resemble lighthouses.  FLA does not fund the restoration of buoys, minor aids or other associated maritime structures, nor museum or tourism operations.  FLA does not provide funds for general operating support, interpretive plans, endowment funds, special events for individual lighthouses, functions or fundraisers for lighthouse groups.

Matching Funds

While matching gifts are not required FLA prefers that its grant funds be used to attract additional funding for grantee’s project. 

Criteria and Scoring

The Grants committee uses the following criteria to score and set funding priorities ~

Critical nature of this project overall

Urgency of project

Importance of project to physical structure

Importance of project to preservation

Importance of project to restoration

Historical value of this project

Educational/interpretative value

Ability to attract matching funds

Ability to attend final meeting

Ability to make presentation at meeting

APPROVED GRANT REQUIREMENTS

GRANT REPORTING

Florida Lighthouse Grant Project Outcomes Report
SUCCESS STORIES ~ GRANTS IN ACTION

Cedar Key Lighthouse Repair and Repainting
Cape St George Keepers Museum Exhibit - Audio Visual
Florida Panhandle Lighthouse Challenge
Port Boca Grande Lighthouse
St. Augustine Lighthouse
Pensacola Lighthouse
Cape St. George Lighthouse 

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Contact FLA’s Vice President for Grants at Grants@FloridaLightHouses.org

FLA is a nonprofit organization. Grant funds are made possible by
individuals who make charitable gifts, become members and
purchase the "Visit our Lights" Florida State specialty license plates.