Eligibility, Requirements, and Awards Descriptions

Each year the National Trust for Historic Preservation celebrates the best of preservation by presenting the Richard H. Driehaus National Preservation Awards to individuals and organizations whose contributions demonstrate outstanding excellence in historic preservation.

A select number of recipients are chosen for the National Preservation Honor Awards. One recipient is chosen for each of the other special category awards. The National Trust invites you to participate in the celebration of the best of historic preservation by nominating those individuals and organizations you believe are most deserving of a National Preservation Award.

Eligibility
Nomination Requirements
Nomination Procedures and Key Dates
Contact
Award Descriptions
Nomination Form

Eligibility

Any individual, organization, agency or project involved in historic preservation is eligible to receive a National Preservation Award.
Nominated projects must have been completed within the past three years.
Nominations submitted in previous years that were not selected to receive an award may be revised, expanded and resubmitted.
Nominations may be made without the knowledge of the nominee.
Self-nominations will be accepted for all categories except the Crowninshield Award.
Nominations for posthumous awards will not be accepted.
National Trust for Historic Preservation Trustees, Advisors, and staff are not eligible to receive a National Preservation Award for individual achievement during the period of their active service and for three years thereafter.
Properties owned by or affiliated with the National Trust for Historic Preservation will not be considered, nor will individuals or groups of individuals for their work relative to NTHP properties.

Nomination Requirements

Please note: We recommend that you have all of the following information ready before beginning the online application process.

Nomination materials must include:

A completed nomination form
$30 nomination fee
A concise description/narrative (6,000 characters or less including spaces) of the project, program, organization, or individual that is being nominated. This description/narrative should address the following:

If the nominated project involves a site or district, explain its historical significance, the challenges overcome, unique strategies and activities carried out, and the impact of these activities on the community. Also include any information that is available on the craftspeople and laborers who were involved in the original construction or work. Describe the people involved and how this project could be a model for other communities. Those who made a significant contribution to its success must be listed as co-nominees. If the nominee is an individual or organization, describe their accomplishments and contributions to the area of historic preservation.

The National Trust is particularly interested in projects that relate to the topics below. If your project relates to any of these issues, please explain in your narrative:
- Showcase historic preservation as a strategy to renew the viability of diverse older neighborhoods
- Revitalize the livability of older communities
- Protect historic resources on America's public lands
- Meet community needs through the rehabilitation and active use of individual landmarks
- Demonstrate that older buildings are excellent examples of "green" and sustainable construction
- Demonstrate that historic preservation supports economic, environmental and cultural sustainability in communities
- Broaden the ethnic and cultural diversity of historic preservation
- Use innovative, replicable strategies that create new models for historic site interpretation, stewardship, and/or reuse
- Involve properties that benefitted from the Historic Preservation Tax Incentives Program, which promotes historic preservation and community revitalization by encouraging private investment in historic building rehabilitation

A concise response (4,000 characters or less including spaces) addressing the specific criteria of the award for which the applicant is applying. Please refer to the description of the award category for which you are applying when answering this question.
Up to five supporting brochures or news clippings.
Up to three letters of recommendation that demonstrate community support. A listing of any awards received may also be included. Letters can be addressed to the ‘Awards Committee.’ Letters should be scanned and uploaded electronically with your other supplemental materials, not sent separately by the person writing the letter.
Fifteen (15) jpeg digital images at a minimum resolution of 300 dpi and a document including photo captions and credit information. With respect to size, photos no less than 800 x 600 pixels are proposed. Most images should be in a horizontal format. Images should illustrate various aspects of the project or program – before and after results, overall exteriors from a variety angles and interior shots. Significant architectural details should be identified with close-up shots. Images should include people and activity around the site, including a shot of the project in the context of the greater community. Nominations for individual achievement must include at least two different head shots of the nominee. The balance should illustrate the body of work for which the individual is being nominated, including shots of the nominee actively engaged in the work, if possible.

Nomination Procedures and Key Dates

Nominations must conform to the procedures outlined on this page to be considered for a Richard H. Driehaus National Preservation Award. A link to the application can be found at the bottom of this page. Please be sure to read all guidelines and eligibility information as well as the description for your award category before starting your application. The deadline for the Richard H. Driehaus National Preservation Awards is March 15, 2012.

National Preservation Award recipients will be notified no later than August 1, 2012. The nominator will be notified for those not selected. Award announcements and presentation are made at a special ceremony during the National Preservation Conference, and award recipients are required to be present, along with co-nominees able to attend. The 2012 Ceremony will be on Friday, November 2, 2012 in Spokane, Washington.

Contact Us

If you have questions, contact:

Leah Suhrstedt
Awards Coordinator
National Trust for Historic Preservation
1785 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20036
202.588.6315
awards@nthp.org

Award Descriptions

National Preservation Honor Awards
Louise du Pont Crowninshield Award
The American Express Aspire Award: Recognizing Emerging Leaders in Historic Preservation
The National Trust/HUD Secretary's Award for Excellence in Historic Preservation
The National Trust/Advisory Council on Historic Preservation Award for Federal Partnerships in Historic Preservation
The Trustees' Award for Organizational Excellence
The Peter H. Brink Award for Individual Achievement

National Preservation Honor Awards

The National Preservation Honor Awards recognize the efforts of individuals, nonprofit organizations, public agencies, and corporations whose skill and determination have given new life to their communities through preservation. These efforts include citizen attempts to save and maintain important landmarks, as well as architects, craftspeople, and developers whose exemplary work restores the richness of the past.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation is particularly interested in nominations that:

Showcase historic preservation as a strategy to renew the viability of diverse older neighborhoods
Revitalize the livability of older communities
Protect historic resources on America’s public lands
Meet community needs through the rehabilitation and active use of individual landmarks
Demonstrate that older buildings are excellent examples of “green” and sustainable construction
Demonstrate that historic preservation supports economic, environmental and cultural sustainability in communities
Broaden the ethnic and cultural diversity of historic preservation
Use innovative, replicable strategies that create new models for historic site interpretation, stewardship, and/or reuse
Involve properties that benefited from the Historic Preservation Tax Incentives Program, which promotes historic preservation and community revitalization by encouraging private investment in historic building rehabilitation

National Preservation Honor Award nominees are judged for the success they have achieved in the preservation, rehabilitation, restoration, and interpretation of our architectural and cultural heritage.

The general evaluation criteria include the following:

Impact of the nominee’s project or effort on the community, including economic impact
Quality and degree of difficulty of the nominee’s project or effort
Degree to which the nominee’s project or effort is unusual or pioneering, or serves as an example that influences others

Louise du Pont Crowninshield Award

The Louise du Pont Crowninshield Award is the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s highest national recognition. The award is made with the greatest care and only when there is indisputable evidence of superlative achievement over time in the preservation and interpretation of our cultural, architectural or maritime heritage, including buildings, architecture, districts, archeology, cultural landscapes, and objects of significance in the history and culture of the United States.

Factors that weigh heavily in consideration for the award include depth and breadth of achievement over time, volunteer commitment, significant national involvement in historic preservation, and recognition of achievement from other organizations. Both individuals and organizations are eligible. Posthumous awards are not made, and self-nominations are not allowed. Members of the National Trust for Historic Preservation Board of Trustees, Board of Advisors, and staff are not eligible during the period of their active service and for three years thereafter.

The American Express Aspire Award: Recognizing Emerging Leaders in Preservation

The American Express Aspire Award recognizes an emerging leader in the preservation field who has made significant achievements in preservation, and to highlight the promise and potential of the preservation field through its talented emerging leaders.

To be considered for this award, nominated individuals must meet the following criteria:

Have ten or fewer years of experience in the preservation field
Demonstrate a serious commitment to preservation through their work, both paid and volunteer
Raise the visibility of preservation through their efforts
Be an innovator in the field and demonstrate measurable impacts of their work
Have influence in their community

The Trustees’ Award for Organizational Excellence

This award recognizes a nonprofit organization, large or small, that has demonstrated sustained and superlative achievement in historic preservation and has accomplished the following goals:

Achieved outstanding success in historic preservation over a sustained period of time
Broadly and effectively communicated the value of historic preservation to its constituents
Exhibited leadership in issues of importance to historic preservation
Demonstrated integrity in its dealings, including financial management
Made appropriate efforts to be inclusive in the composition of its board, staff, membership, and programs

Nominations should include relevant information regarding budget, paid staff, and volunteer support.

Peter H. Brink Award for Individual Achievement

This award recognizes an individual who has made extraordinary contributions toward saving a historic place. The award is made based on significant personal intervention, advocacy, or development efforts. Nominations for this award are judged according to the following criteria:

Outstanding individual, on-the-ground achievement that goes beyond the normal course or boundaries of a person’s job or profession
Efforts beyond those typically associated with successful preservation work
Contributions associated with a specific threat to a building, location, or region
Efforts that have taken place, whole or in part, within the past year
If not successful in saving the place, achievements that have made an impact or effected demonstrable change

The National Trust/HUD Secretary’s Award for Excellence in Historic Preservation

This award recognizes organizations and agencies for their success in advancing the goals of historic preservation while providing affordable housing and/or expanded economic opportunities, particularly for low- and moderate-income families and individuals.

In addition to the general evaluation criteria outlined under the National Preservation Honor Awards category, the following criteria should be addressed when nominating a project for a National Trust/HUD Award:

Does the nominated project or activity provide for the adaptive use of historic structures and districts for affordable housing and/or economic development opportunities for low- and moderate-income residents?
Is the project or activity in an area that is part of a locally developed, overall community revitalization effort or part of a community revitalization plan?
Describe the financial structure and any creative elements, including all sources of funding.
What is the project’s income range target, if any?

Although HUD funding or other HUD participation in nominated projects is not required, the nomination should clearly state what role, if any, HUD played in the nominated project or activity.

To review descriptions of previous award-winning projects, go to www.huduser.org. Projects are listed under Secretary’s Awards.

Note: All nominations received for the HUD award category that are not selected will be considered in the judging for the National Preservation Honor Awards, unless the nominator requests otherwise by checking the appropriate box on the nomination form. All other award nominations submitted for special category awards will only be considered in that category.

The National Trust/Advisory Council on Historic Preservation Award for Federal Partnerships in Historic Preservation

The National Trust/Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) Award honors outstanding partnerships that advance the preservation of important historic resources and have an impact on the community. It celebrates a project or program in which a federal agency and one or more non-federal partners have achieved an exemplary preservation outcome.

In addition to the general evaluation criteria outlined under the National Preservation Honor Awards category, the following criteria apply to the National Trust/ACHP Award nominees:

Extent to which the completed project or established program demonstrates an exemplary federal role and a sustained federal/non-federal partnership and can serve as a model for other partnerships.
Preservation of a significant historic resource through a creative team approach.
Demonstrated commitment to furthering a federal preservation ethic.
Long-term projects or programs are eligible if substantial achievements have been made within the last three years.

Nominations should specify the federal agency and non-federal partners contributing to the success of the project or program. List significant partners as co-nominees and provide contact information for each. Strong agency employee participation is necessary in addition to any contractor participation.

Note: All nominations received for the ACHP award category that are not selected will be considered in the judging for the National Preservation Honor Awards, unless the nominator requests otherwise by checking the appropriate box on the nomination form. All other award nominations submitted for special category awards will only be considered in that category.

Nomination Form

Thank you for reading the nomination requirements! To begin your nomination, you will need to create a login for our application system here.

PLEASE NOTE: This system will ask you for a tax ID number as part of your registration. You do not have to be a nonprofit to apply for a National Preservation Award. If you are not a nonprofit, feel free to enter 11-1111111 (or any other number with the correct number of digits) as your tax ID number. This system also serves as our grant application system, which is why you are prompted for a tax ID number.

Once you have logged into the system, click "apply" on the left-hand side of the screen and select the Richard H. Driehaus National Preservation Awards application.