What William G. Pomeroy Foundation does

The William G. Pomeroy Foundation is a private philanthropic foundation headquartered at 492 E. Brighton Ave., Syracuse, New York, founded in 2005-2006. It operates a portfolio of fully funded historical marker grant programs — Hometown Heritage, Legends & Lore, Hungry for History, National Register, NYS Historic, Historic Transportation, Patriot Burials, Trails Across America, Lafayette Trail, and others — that cover the entire cost of cast-aluminum markers, poles, and shipping for eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofits, nonprofit academic institutions, government entities, and tribal nations. Every grant is supported by primary source documentation reviewed by professional historians, and the Foundation has funded more than 3,000 markers across 49 states and Washington D.C. since inception.

The Foundation's technology footprint is limited to operational tools supporting its mission rather than commercial software: an interactive online marker map searchable and filterable by location (wgpfoundation.org/history/map), an online grant application interface hosted via grantinterface.com, and a multimedia program including the award-winning "A New York Minute In History" podcast and "History Happened Here" video series produced with WCNY. There is no commercial API or mobile app. The Foundation also runs a secondary initiative, the Beat Blood Cancer/Life Program, supporting donor matches and treatment access through organizations such as Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

The Foundation's business model is philanthropic grant-making rather than commercial revenue generation; all marker grants are fully funded with zero cost to recipients. Distribution is achieved through an online self-serve application portal combined with channel partnerships — including Rails to Trails Conservancy (Trails Across America), Texas Folklore Society, Virginia Folklife Program, National History Club (Pomeroy Education Program), and Sons of the American Revolution (Patriot Burials). Outreach is amplified through National Historic Marker Weekend, social media, webinars, email newsletters, and educational content. Founder Bill Pomeroy continues as Trustee; following Bill Brower's December 2025 transition from Executive Director to a consultative role, the Foundation is conducting a leadership search.

Name

William G. Pomeroy Foundation

Legal name

William G. Pomeroy Foundation

Website

https://wgpfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The William G. Pomeroy Foundation is a private Syracuse, NY-based philanthropic foundation that fully funds historical marker grants for nonprofits, governments, tribal nations, and schools, having placed 3,000+ markers across 49 states since 2006.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Philanthropic Grantmaking

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Arts, Culture & Humanities Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAJ), Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK)

Keywords

• Philanthropic grant funding
• Historical marker programs
• Community history preservation
• Nonprofit grantmaking
• Cultural heritage funding

Headquarters

HQ city

Syracuse

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Others, Supply Chain, Operations

Revenue model

1. Foundation Grant-Making: Private philanthropic foundation that provides fully funded grants for historical markers and blood cancer research. All marker grants cover the complete cost including marker, pole, and shipping at no cost to recipients.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Foundation's core offering is fully funded historical marker grants that cover the cost of the marker itself, the mounting pole, and shipping. These grants are awarded to eligible organizations for installation in public spaces to commemorate historically significant people, places, and events.

Product overview

The William G. Pomeroy Foundation operates a portfolio of grant programs rather than a traditional software product. Its core offerings are fully-funded historical marker grant programs, including signature programs (Hungry for History, Legends & Lore, National Register, Hometown Heritage, NYS Historic Markers, Historic Transportation) and partner programs (Patriot Burials, Trails Across America, Lafayette Trail, National Votes for Women Trail, and state-specific partnerships). The Foundation also runs the Pomeroy Education Program (PEP) for student-led marker projects and National Historic Marker Weekend, an annual community volunteer event. A secondary focus is the Beat Blood Cancer/Life Program supporting donor matches. Supporting digital offerings include an interactive marker map, multimedia content (videos, podcasts, webinars), and online grant application services. The Foundation is headquartered in Syracuse, NY and has funded over 2,600-3,000+ markers across 49 states since 2006.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Legends & Lore®: Marker grant program commemorating folklore, traditions, and storytelling that shape community identity
• Hungry for History®
• Hometown Heritage®
• Patriot Burials®
• Trails Across America
• National Historic Marker Weekend
• Pomeroy Education Program (PEP)

Products and services

• Historical Marker Grant Program A grant program that provides fully funded historical markers, including the marker, mounting pole, and shipping, to eligible 501(c)(3) organizations, government entities, and tribal nations for commemorating historically significant people, places, and events.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 3,000 markers funded in 49 states since 2006
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Rails to Trails ConservancycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 April 2025National partnership to celebrate and preserve history along America's multiuse trails. The Trails Across America marker program funds cast aluminum historical markers along greenways, canal paths, and former rail lines converted to trails. RTC manages applications and helps communities identify eligible sites along 42,000 miles of trail corridors. Goal to install up to 20 new markers each year.
• The Lafayette TrailcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to commemorate General Lafayette's 1824-25 Farewell Tour across the United States. Pomeroy markers are installed at locations where Gen. Lafayette visited, preserving stories of his journey and celebrating his enduring legacy.
• Texas Folklore SocietycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOfficial partner for Texas-based Legends & Lore marker applications. Society helps communities across Texas recognize and share local stories, customs, and traditions passed down through generations.
• Virginia Folklife ProgramcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOfficial partner for Virginia-based Legends & Lore marker applications. Program introduces the Foundation's folklore marker program and helps Virginia communities apply for fully funded roadside markers.
• WCNYminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to produce the History Happened Here video series showcasing Pomeroy Markers across New York State through short vignettes.
• National History Club (NHC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on the Pomeroy Education Program (PEP), which guides students in researching primary sources to apply for Pomeroy Markers. NHC chapters nationwide engage students in authentic historical work.
• Sons of the American RevolutionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the Patriot Burials program to recognize those who fought in or were involved with the struggle for American independence. Grant-funded markers installed at locations where Revolutionary War patriots are buried.
• New York Genealogical & Biographical Society (NYG&B)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding provided for the Central New York Digitization Center in Syracuse, which opened in summer 2024 and doubled NYG&B's capacity to preserve and make available historical records.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Americana Corner: Americana Corner is a private history-focused foundation that funds the preservation and celebration of American heritage through grants and educational programming. It is one of the closest peer foundations to Pomeroy in mission, scale, and grantmaking model.
• 1772 Foundation: The 1772 Foundation is a private foundation that funds historic preservation projects, including signage and education, with a national grantmaking footprint. It directly competes with Pomeroy for nonprofit preservation applicants and uses a similar model of fully funded preservation grants.
• American Battlefield Trust: The American Battlefield Trust is a private nonprofit that preserves Revolutionary War, Civil War, and other battlefield land through acquisition and grant-funded educational programming. It is comparable to Pomeroy in using philanthropic capital to physically preserve and commemorate American historical sites.
• Americana Foundation: The Americana Foundation is a private Michigan-based foundation focused on American heritage, folklife, and historic preservation through grants and educational programs. It is comparable to Pomeroy in mission, family-foundation structure, and emphasis on cultural heritage grants.

Broad incumbents

• National Trust for Historic Preservation: National Trust for Historic Preservation is the largest U.S. private nonprofit focused on historic preservation, operating grant programs, advocacy, and a network of member sites. It is a broader incumbent that overlaps with Pomeroy's mission but operates at significantly larger scale across the entire preservation ecosystem.
• Save America's Treasures: Save America's Treasures is a public-private partnership grant program administered through the National Park Service that funds preservation of nationally significant artifacts and historic structures. It is a broader federal grantmaking incumbent addressing similar preservation funding needs at the national level.
• National Endowment for the Humanities: The National Endowment for the Humanities is the largest federal humanities grantmaking agency, funding history, preservation, education, and cultural projects nationwide. It is a broad incumbent in the historical grantmaking space with significantly larger scale and federal funding authority.
• Daughters of the American Revolution: The Daughters of the American Revolution is a lineage-based nonprofit that funds historical commemoration including marker dedications, preservation, and education. It is a broader heritage incumbent that operates its own historical marker program and frequently partners with state and local organizations on commemorative grants.

Regional players

• Virginia Humanities: Virginia Humanities is the state humanities council for Virginia and operates grant programs supporting history, folklore, and cultural preservation. It is a regional peer that already partners with Pomeroy on the Legends & Lore program and represents the state-level humanities council model that the Foundation replicates.
• Texas State Historical Association: The Texas State Historical Association is a regional nonprofit that promotes Texas history through marker programs, publications, and education. It is a regional peer with its own historical marker grants program that overlaps with Pomeroy's Texas-focused Legends & Lore offering.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/wgpfoundation
• Facebookfacebook.com/wgpfoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wgpfoundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/wgpfoundation
• YouTubeyoutube.com/wgpfoundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about William G. Pomeroy Foundation