ABA Grant Award Program

The American Breweriana Association Inc. will award grants to organizations classified as tax-exempt under section 501 c (3) of the Internal Revenue Code with an ABA member(s) involvement in the project. The program also awards research grants to ABA members.

The ABA Grant Program awards funds in three categories:

  1. Breweriana Display

    For displays in public accommodations that would ordinarily not be displayed except for an ABA Grant Award. Long-term local breweriana displays have high priority for funding.

  2. Preservation of Breweriana

    For the preservation and restoration of brewery artifacts and documents that have been stored and are of significant historical value to the breweriana hobby. A high priority for funding is the preservation of historic small town brewery artifacts and documents.

  3. Researching Brewing History

    To organizations and ABA members for in-depth research of significant historical value to the breweriana hobby. The completed manuscript must be available to collectors in some public access such as the ABA Website.

How to Apply for an ABA Grant

An elaborate initial presentation is not necessary. The first step in applying for a grant is to submit a one-page summary. (The Grant Award Program will not cover expenses for media advertisements i.e. radio, television, newspaper, magazine, Internet or any travel expenses i.e. mileage, tickets, accommodations or meals). There are no deadlines for submitting letters of inquiry. The Grant Committee meets in January, May and October to review proposals. All proposals should be mailed to Darrell Smith, American Breweriana Association, PO Box 269, Manitowish Waters, WI 54545.

The One Page Summary

  • Name, address, telephone number and email address of the person in charge of the project
  • Name of the non-profit organization
  • Name of the ABA members supporting the project
  • How the non-profit organization is involved in the project
  • The ABA Grant Program category (Display, Preservation or Research
  • A brief statement of the purpose of the proposed project
  • A brief statement of the significance and impact to the breweriana community
  • If the project is research, will the manuscript be commercially published or self published
  • Does the project generate a financial gain to an individual or organization
  • Timeline for completion of the project
  • Estimated total cost of project and amount of funding requested from ABA

Disposition

The ABA Executive Director will immediately acknowledge receipt of the letter of inquiry along with the one page summary. The contact person will be notified by mail, usually within four weeks, if the request meets the general funding criteria and guidelines of the ABA Grant Award Program or if there is no prospect of funding the proposed project.

If the Grant Committee determines the project is thoughtfully conceived and carefully planned with a high level of success, an application package will be mailed to the contact person to complete and return to the Grant Committee. The contact person will be notified within two weeks of the Grant Committee board meeting if the application was approved or rejected.

The ABA Grant Award Program resources are limited. The applicant should understand proposals not chosen for funding in a given year do not necessarily constitute a judgment of the applicant or the program, but rather is the result of funding limitations.

Download these guidelines.