Preservation Action

What Preservation Action does

Preservation Action is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization founded in 1974 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., that operates as the national grassroots lobby for historic preservation. The organization coordinates federal advocacy on behalf of State and Tribal Historic Preservation Offices, local preservation nonprofits, and individual advocates, focusing on three primary policy areas: funding and reauthorization of the Historic Preservation Fund (HPF), protection and modernization of the Federal Historic Tax Credit, and Historic Trades workforce development. Its core products and programs include the annual National Historic Preservation Advocacy Week (co-hosted with NCSHPO, drawing 200+ attendees from 46 states), the weekly Legislative Update newsletter, the monthly Advocacy Leaders call, the Congressional Candidate Survey, the Action Center self-service lobbying toolkit, the Preservation Action Hero recognition program, and the newly established Preservation Action Political Action Committee (launched 2024, the first PAC by a national preservation organization). The 501(c)(3) charitable arm, Preservation Action Foundation (founded 1998), runs the Bruce MacDougal Advocacy Scholars Program and the annual PAF Auction.

The organization generates revenue through a diversified nonprofit funding model: organizational membership dues scaled at $100 per $100,000 of member budget, individual and student memberships, tax-deductible donations to the 501(c)(3) arm and direct donations to the 501(c)(4), corporate sponsorships (directable to specific programs), PAC contributions capped at $5,000 per individual per calendar year, legacy gifts via the '74 Legacy Circle, and auction proceeds. GTM is community- and event-driven, mobilizing a national network of preservation advocates to contact Congressional representatives, coordinated through the Washington, D.C. headquarters with an 11-person staff led by Honorary President Russ Carnahan (former U.S. Congressman), Associate Director Rob Naylor, and Operations & Communications Director Emilie Evans, under oversight of a 100+ member Board.

Name

Preservation Action

Legal name

Preservation Action

Website

https://preservationaction.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Preservation Action is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit founded in 1974 that serves as the national grassroots lobby for historic preservation, coordinating federal advocacy on the Historic Preservation Fund, Historic Tax Credit, and preservation workforce through a Washington, D.C.-based staff of 11.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Historic Preservation Advocacy

NAICS

Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Historic Preservation & Landmarks Conservation (BPAGAHAE)

Keywords

• Historic preservation advocacy
• Federal lobbying services
• Grassroots policy advocacy
• Preservation policy lobbying
• Nonprofit advocacy organization

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Preservation Action generates revenue through annual membership dues. Organizations are encouraged to select membership levels based on their annual budget at $100 per $100,000. Individual and student memberships are also available.
2. Donations: The organization accepts tax-deductible donations through Preservation Action Foundation (501(c)(3)) and direct donations to Preservation Action (501(c)(4)). The organization maintains a '74 Legacy Circle' for legacy donors.
3. PAC Contributions: Preservation Action PAC accepts contributions from members up to $5,000 per calendar year to support Congressional candidates who advocate for preservation-friendly policies.
4. Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors can direct contributions to specific programs including Advocacy Week, Congressional Briefings, monthly advocacy calls, and the PAF Auction.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Preservation Action is the national grassroots lobby for historic preservation, founded in 1974. It organizes and coordinates federal advocacy on behalf of preservationists and preservation organizations, lobbying Congress on the Historic Preservation Fund, the Federal Historic Tax Credit, historic trades workforce development, and the National Historic Preservation Act. Its core deliverables include an annual Advocacy Week convening in Washington, D.C., a weekly Legislative Update newsletter, a Political Action Committee, congressional candidate surveys, formal letters and testimony, and an Action Center of grassroots lobbying resources for members and partner organizations.

Product overview

Preservation Action is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization founded in 1974 that serves as the national grassroots lobby for historic preservation. The organization operates as a single integrated advocacy platform rather than a product company. Its core offerings include: National Historic Preservation Advocacy Week (an annual lobbying event); the Preservation Action PAC (a political action committee for federal candidate support); weekly Legislative Updates and monthly Advocacy Leaders Calls (communication programs); Congressional Candidate Surveys and Letters/Testimony (policy engagement tools); the Preservation Action Hero recognition program; and Action Center resources for member advocacy. The organization focuses its advocacy on three main policy areas: Historic Preservation Fund funding and authorization, Historic Tax Credit protection and modernization, and Historic Trades workforce development. Educational offerings include the Bruce MacDougal Advocacy Scholars Program and annual PAF Auction fundraiser. The organization also maintains the Historic Preservation Caucus in Congress and publishes annual briefing papers for advocates.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Bruce MacDougal Advocacy Scholars Program: Program for students, young professionals, or those in mid-career shifts in historic preservation with interest in preservation policy or federal advocacy, providing training and participation in National Historic Preservation Advocacy Week.

Products and services

• Membership Program Annual paid membership program for preservation organizations, individuals, and students that provides access to the organization's advocacy resources, weekly Legislative Update, and the ability to contribute to the Preservation Action PAC. Organizational membership levels are determined by annual budget at $100 per $100,000, with individual and student rates also available.
• National Historic Preservation Advocacy Week Flagship annual event hosted in Washington, D.C. bringing together more than 200 preservation advocates from 46 states and territories for congressional meetings, policy briefings, training, and networking. Participants conduct hundreds of Hill meetings during the week to lobby members of Congress on preservation priorities.
• Legislative Update (Weekly Email Newsletter) Weekly email newsletter providing subscribers with federal legislative updates, action alerts, policy information, and advocacy resources related to historic preservation. Distributed by Preservation Action on a regular cadence to members, advocates, and the public.
• Preservation Action Political Action Committee (PAC) PAC established in 2024—the first PAC of its kind for a national preservation organization—that supports Congressional candidates who advocate for sound preservation policies. The PAC accepts individual contributions up to $5,000 per calendar year from members.
• Action Center Online self-service resource center providing preservation advocates with grassroots lobbying tools, including how-to-lobby guides, scripts for calling representatives, report card templates, candidate forum planning guides, letter-writing tips, and a "lobby from home" portal.
• Bruce MacDougal Advocacy Scholars Program Educational scholarship program run by Preservation Action Foundation providing students and early-career preservationists with complimentary Advocacy Week registration, travel stipends, training, mentoring, and networking opportunities in federal preservation advocacy.

Quantifiable outcome

• 96% of surveyed candidates supported robust HPF funding; 95% support Historic Tax Credit enhancement
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers (NCSHPO)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026NCSHPO co-hosts the annual National Historic Preservation Advocacy Week with Preservation Action, bringing together advocates from all 50 states for congressional meetings and policy briefings. This is the flagship annual event for both organizations.
• Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPreservation Action works closely with ACHP on Section 106 policy issues and regularly monitors and responds to ACHP regulatory proposals, including the 2026 proposed revisions to Section 106 regulations.
• National Trust for Historic PreservationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPreservation Action collaborates with the National Trust on shared advocacy priorities including Historic Preservation Fund funding, Historic Tax Credit protection, and coalition letters on preservation policy.
• National Association of Tribal Historic Preservation Officers (NATHPO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNATHPO represents Tribal Historic Preservation Officers and works with Preservation Action on HPF funding and tribal consultation policy issues.
• Historic Preservation Caucus (House)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerBipartisan Congressional caucus co-chaired by Rep. Mike Turner (R-OH) and Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández (D-NM) that supports preservation and economic development policy.
• National Trust Community Investment Corporation (NTCIC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNTCIC supports Historic Tax Credit advocacy and programs, participating in Preservation Month briefings and coalition efforts.
• Historic Tax Credit CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition of organizations advocating for the Federal Historic Tax Credit, coordinating advocacy for the HTC-GO Act and related legislation.
• Campaign for Historic TradesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization working to address the shortage of skilled historic trades workers and promote workforce development in preservation.
• American Cultural Resources Association (ACRA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerACRA represents cultural resource management firms and collaborates on preservation policy advocacy and Section 106 issues.
• PlaceEconomicsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch organization conducting economic impact studies of historic preservation, contributing to policy research and advocacy.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• National Trust for Historic Preservation: The largest U.S. private preservation nonprofit, the National Trust also advocates for HPF funding and Historic Tax Credit protection while running a much broader portfolio (historic sites, grants, preservation awards). It is comparable because it pursues the same federal policy priorities but from a much larger, multi-program platform that overlaps and competes for the same donor and member base.

Direct peers

• Cultural Heritage Partners: Cultural Heritage Partners is a preservation-focused law and policy firm that provides legal strategy and comment-letter guidance to Preservation Action and its partners (e.g., on the Section 106 rewrite). It is comparable because it operates in the same federal preservation regulatory space and supports the same advocacy community.
• National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers (NCSHPO): NCSHPO represents the 59 State Historic Preservation Officers and co-hosts Preservation Action's flagship Advocacy Week. It is a direct peer because it works the same federal HPF funding and Section 106 policy agenda, often coordinating joint sign-on letters and Hill meetings with Preservation Action.
• Campaign for Historic Trades: The Campaign for Historic Trades addresses skilled-trades workforce shortages in preservation, a third core policy pillar of Preservation Action. It is comparable because it pursues adjacent federal advocacy goals and partners with Preservation Action on coalition efforts.
• National Trust Community Investment Corporation (NTCIC): NTCIC is an affiliate of the National Trust that supports Historic Tax Credit advocacy and programs, participating in Preservation Month briefings and coalition efforts. It is comparable because it operates in the same HTC policy ecosystem and shares coalition work with Preservation Action.
• PlaceEconomics: PlaceEconomics conducts economic-impact research on historic preservation that directly feeds Preservation Action's policy messaging. It is comparable because it generates the underlying evidence Preservation Action uses in Hill briefings and HTC advocacy.
• National Association of Tribal Historic Preservation Officers (NATHPO): NATHPO represents Tribal Historic Preservation Offices on federal preservation policy, especially HPF funding and Section 106 tribal consultation. It is a direct coalition partner to Preservation Action on the same federal advocacy priorities.
• American Cultural Resources Association (ACRA): ACRA represents cultural resource management firms and collaborates with Preservation Action on Section 106 regulatory advocacy. It is comparable because it engages the same federal preservation regulatory process and shares preservation-policy coalition work.
• Historic Tax Credit Coalition: The Historic Tax Credit Coalition is a coalition of organizations advocating for the Federal Historic Tax Credit and HTC-GO Act, a core Preservation Action priority. It is comparable because it pursues the same legislative agenda and shares coalition partners and Hill-meeting logistics.

Others

• Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP): ACHP is the federal agency responsible for Section 106 implementation and a primary lobbying target/partner of Preservation Action. It is comparable because it sits at the center of the same preservation regulatory framework Preservation Action influences, though it is a government body rather than a peer nonprofit.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/PreservationAct
• Facebookfacebook.com/PreservationAction
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/preservationaction
• Instagraminstagram.com/preservationaction

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Preservation Action