Grant Eligibility

Hungry for History marker grants are available to 501(c)(3) organizations, nonprofit academic institutions, and local, state and federal government entities within the United States. Interested individuals are encouraged to contact an eligible local organization, such as a municipal historian or historical organization.

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Hungry for History Guidelines 

Qualifying applications for Hungry for History markers must meet the following criteria:

• Must be a prepared, ready-to-eat dish, such as an entrée or dessert
• Must contain a minimum of 2 ingredients
• Dish must be created prior to 1970
• Dish must be historically significant to the greater community or beyond
• Dish (or variation of dish) must have origins in the local or regional community
• Dish is still available/eaten today or in some form
• No brand names allowed (e.g. Hershey’s, Kraft, etc.)

In addition, Hungry for History applications will also be accepted in the following categories:

• Non-alcoholic drinks with more than one ingredient (e.g. egg creams)
• Dishes composed of a single food item that is only found within a specific location or region (e.g. Blue Point oysters from Great South Bay, Dungeness crabs from Pacific coast)
• Food-related events or festivals that celebrate an individual dish that is historically significant to the greater community (events held solely as fundraisers do not qualify) and must still be held at time of application. Please note, you cannot apply for separate markers celebrating a food dish and its related festival.

Criteria was updated in March 2023

For a complete program overview watch our Hungry for History webinar (11 minutes).

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Marker Design and Text Guidelines 

Hungry for History markers are black with yellow raised lettering and border. The top of each marker has the Hungry for History logo, which states the program name and depicts cutlery. Markers are 32” x 18” cast aluminum with a 7’ aluminum pole. 

The title line allows 15 characters and the five body lines can each have 27 characters, including spaces and punctuation. There is a required credit line at the bottom of the marker which is always included.

Please review our marker inscription style guide as you prepare your application:  Marker Style Guide

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Historical Accuracy 

The inscription on all Hungry for History markers must be proven historically accurate with primary source documentation (e.g. menus, business records, newspaper articles published at the time of the food’s origination). In addition, marker applications must include a list of ingredients used in the dish (e.g. the ingredients for Syracuse salt potatoes include: small new potatoes with skin still on, salt and butter).

The applying agency is responsible for supplying photocopies, scans or photos of the sources and specific statements used to verify historical facts. If selected, the strength of the supporting materials substantially lessens the time between acceptance and funding. If the Pomeroy Foundation cannot substantiate the historical accuracy of the proposed marker text based on the supporting documentation provided, the opportunity for approval is limited. 

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Application Deadline

Hungry for History marker grant applications are accepted on a rolling basis any time of the year. There is no application deadline for this program.

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Grant Application Procedure 

Letter of Intent (LOI)

A Letter of Intent (LOI) is a short online form which includes your proposed marker inscription and a list of the primary source documentation you plan to submit in the application stage to verify the historic accuracy of your proposed inscription. The LOI is required in order to gain access to the grant application. Once your LOI is reviewed and approved, you will receive email notification allowing you to begin the application.

Watch our short video below about how to submit your LOI.

Applications

Applications are only accepted online. To create an account and begin the application process, please use this link:  Apply for Grant

Applications must include the following:

• • • the applying agency’s information
    • contact information for the person responsible for the application
    • proposed installation location in specific detail (including GPS coordinates)
    • a brief description and historical significance of the food being commemorated
    • proposed inscription for marker

Additional required documents are:

• • • copies of the primary source documents supporting all the proposed text on the marker
    • a letter from the landowner granting permission for the marker to be installed**

Hungry for History marker grants cover the entire cost of a marker, pole, and shipping. There is no cost to you. If your application is approved, upon receipt of your signed Acceptance Letter, the Pomeroy Foundation will mail a check for the total amount made payable to the applying agency. Instructions for ordering your marker will be provided via email.

**The grant recipient is responsible for installation of the marker. If the subject of the marker is relevant to a larger region (rather than a more specific location), consider a public park, town square or other area of high visibility in the community.

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Marker Placement

Please carefully consider the location where the marker is to be installed.

• Markers should not be placed on high-traffic roadways or roadways where vehicles are traveling at a high rate of speed if there is no place for a vehicle to safely pull over out of traffic.
• Markers should not be placed where the visitor must intrude on private property to read it.

Before installing your marker, please be sure you are following all of your state’s guidelines around digging and excavation.

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Questions?

Contact Christy at info@wgpfoundation.org or 315-913-4060, Monday – Friday between 8:00 am and 4:30 pm (EST).

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The Hungry for History® program provides grants for culinary and food historical markers, and for the preservation and commemoration of culinary and food history.