The Maine Steeples Fund requires the following eligibility criteria:

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  1. The steeple must be part of a building that is an active or former church with historic, cultural, and community significance.

  2. It must be in need of restoration and/or repair.

  3. It must be located in a Maine municipality or township with fewer than 50,000 people.

  4. Church buildings must be owned by a religious institution, local nonprofit organization, municipality, or some combination of the above.

  5. The congregation or organization’s membership must be aware that the work that this program supports entails a patient and long term process, with no instant solutions.

  6. And they must be prepared to match grant dollars received within a specified time period, maintain the steeple after restoration, and follow the Secretary of Interior’s Standards for the Preservation of Historic Properties (or indicate areas where they may not be able to do so).

  7. Grants will not be issued for restoration work that has been taken on before a grant is awarded.