To learn more about current and upcoming African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund grant opportunities, please subscribe to the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund’s email newsletter for up-to-date information on grant opportunities and so much more. You can also visit the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s grant portal, Foundant, to see current grant opportunities from across the National Trust’s programs.

Sections

• General Questions
• Grant Opportunity Questions
• Project Type Questions
• Application Webinars

General Questions

Eligibility

How do I know if my project is eligible for an African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund grant?

At a minimum, the historic resource that is the subject of your project must be at least 50 years old, and the historic resource must have significance to African American cultural heritage. You can find more information about the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund and available AACHAF grant opportunities at https://savingplaces.org/action-fund-grants. Be sure to carefully read the guidelines and program information for each grant opportunity.

Does the project site need to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places or be designated as a local landmark to apply for an AACHAF grant?

It is not required for properties to be formally listed or designated as an official historic place to apply for a grant. If you would like to know if your project site is listed or eligible for the National Register of Historic Places, please contact your State Historic Preservation Office.

Are grants from the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund available to applicants from any state or U.S. territory?

Yes, the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund accepts applications for projects from all U.S. states and territories.

Can my organization request funding for work that has already taken place?

No. Work that has been completed prior to receiving a grant award and an executed grant agreement is not eligible for funding.

Can organizations submit more than one grant application?

Organizations are strongly encouraged to apply for their highest priority project need keeping in mind that the project must be ready to begin upon award. For example, a building may need extensive repairs that are urgent and seem to fit as a Capital project, but the more competitive application may be the one that seeks Project Planning funds to plan how to repair the building first and assess future use options.

What types of projects are eligible for funding?

Eligible applicants can submit applications for the following project types: Capital Projects, Endowment and Financial Sustainability, Project Planning, Programming and Interpretation, and Organizational Capacity. Eligibility under each project type depends on the applicant and proposed activities. For details on project types, see below under Project Type Questions.

If my organization was awarded a grant from the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund in a previous grant round, are we eligible to apply again?

Yes, applicants that have previously received grants from any National Trust grant opportunity, including those offered by the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund, are eligible to apply for another grant opportunity provided that all previous grant requirements have been fulfilled and grants are in good standing.

In addition, you can apply for a grant filed under a different project type if a previous award has been made. For example, if a project previously received funding for planning, the applicant can then apply for capital funding for that same project in a future grant round.

Organizations may apply for the same project type as a previously awarded project if the focus of the current application is for a different project site or theme.

Are historic cemeteries eligible for funding?

Historic cemetery projects are eligible for Project Planning grants only. Work proposed to repair or maintain historic cemeteries is not eligible.

Can grant funds be used for staffing needs?

African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund grants can provide funding for staffing needs. Organizational Capacity project type grants are intended to support the creation of new staff positions to implement and manage preservation plans and projects. Funding cannot be used to support clergy or religious staff. Additionally, funding cannot be used to support janitorial, maintenance, or groundskeeping positions.

Can grant funds be used for audiovisual (AV) and technological improvements?

Grant funds can be used to support AV and technological improvements as part of a programming and interpretation project only if the improvements cannot be used outside of the project purpose. For example, purchasing Microsoft Windows 11 software would not be eligible because that can be used more generally.

Are Americans with Disability Act (ADA) accessibility projects eligible for AACHAF grant awards?

The African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund accepts applications for projects designed to improve building accessibility. Applications submitted for Capital Projects should demonstrate completion of all necessary ADA assessment and planning (engineering and architectural) by the application submission date. If planning work is not yet complete, it is recommended that applicants apply for a Project Planning grant to support development of an ADA assessment and plan.

Are mechanical projects eligible for AACHAF grant awards?

Yes. Mechanical projects, including electrical and HVAC, are eligible under the Capital Projects and Project Planning project types.

Are stained-glass window repair projects eligible for AACHAF grant awards?

Yes. Projects focused on repairing original architectural features are eligible under the Capital Projects and Project Planning project types.

Will applicants or grantees be required to have a UEI or active SAM/CAGE registration?

No. The National Trust is a nonprofit organization, not a federal agency.

What is an EIN and why is it required?

An EIN is an employer identification number that is issued by the IRS upon request. We use the EIN to determine if your organization or fiscal agent are tax-exempt. The IRS requires that as a non-profit organization, the National Trust for Historic Preservation only award funds to other non-profits or tax-exempt organizations.

In addition to an EIN, the organization must also have a determination from the IRS designating it as tax-exempt and that designation must be active. To determine if your organization has an EIN, call the IRS Business and Specialty Tax Line at 1-800-829-4933. To confirm your organization’s tax-exempt status, contact IRS Tax Exempt and Government Entities Customer Account Services at 1-877-829-5500. You must have the EIN when calling this office. You can also search the EIN or name of the organization at https://candid.org/ to confirm tax-exempt status. Without an EIN and active tax-exempt status, the applicant organization (whether yours or a fiscal agent, if using one) is ineligible for National Trust grant awards.

For church organizations applying with the EIN of a parent (or umbrella) denominational organization, verify that the EIN is valid as described above. Possession of a letter of determination (especially if it is dated more than three years from the application deadline date) is not sufficient. Follow the steps above to ensure that the organization’s EIN is active with a tax-exempt designation. Failure to do so may result in the church organization’s application being determined ineligible for award.

Do you verify our EIN before or after application submission?

We use the EIN provided in the organization’s profile created in Foundant to confirm applicant eligibility. Double-heck that the EIN is correctly entered. Typos could result in a determination of ineligibility.

What is a fiscal agent and when is one needed?

To receive a grant from the National Trust, the awardee must be a non-profit or tax-exempt organization. In some cases, the owner or project sponsor of the project either is not one of those types of organizations or cannot take on the responsibility of handling the financial aspects of the project. That is where a fiscal agent comes in. The fiscal agent is the organization that applies on behalf of the owner or project sponsor and will enter into an agreement with the National Trust should the project be awarded. It is the organization that is responsible for accounting for how grant funds are used and completion of the project. The fiscal agent must be a non-profit or tax-exempt organization.

What is a project sponsor?

The project sponsor is typically the applicant organization but in some cases the project sponsor is an organization that has received permission from the property owner(s) to implement the proposed project.

The application says that indirect costs are limited to 10% of the project award. What are indirect costs?

Grant funds can support indirect or overhead costs for all project types except for Endowment and Financial Sustainability and Organizational Capacity. Indirect costs are ongoing expenses that are required for an organization to operate, but that may not directly relate to performing their mission or executing a preservation project. These expenses are all subject to the 10% indirect costs cap identified in each applicable project type.

Please note that the cap is based on the grant award amount, not the total project cost. So, for example, if the project award is $50,000.00 and the total project cost is $100,000.00. The maximum amount that can be used for indirect costs attributed to grant fund use is $5,000.00 (or 0.10 x $50,000.00). Funds from other sources may be used to fully fund your indirect costs.

Key characteristics of indirect costs:

• Indirect: They are not directly traceable to a specific product or service.
• Ongoing: They are recurring expenses that must be paid regularly.
• Operational: They are essential for the organization to function.
• Fixed, variable, or semi-variable: They can be classified based on how they change with the level of organization activity.

Examples of eligible indirect costs:

• Rent and utilities for office space
• Insurance (liability, property, etc.) for the organization

The application says that project administration costs are limited to 5% of the project award. What activities or expenses can be included in Project Administration?

The focus of project administration is to assist in covering the costs of staff time to administer the project. Staff must be directly involved for a portion of their salaries to be included as project administration expenses. Oftentimes, their salaries are prorated based on the percentage of time they expect to work on the project along with their other routine duties. When including project administration costs in your budget be sure to identify the staff (by title) who will be administering the project, their salary (which can include fringe benefits), the percentage of their time estimated to be spent on the project, and the justification for that estimate.

Please note that the 5% cap is applied to the grant award amount, not the total project cost. So, for example, if the project award is $50,000.00 and the total project cost is $100,000.00. The maximum amount that can be charged to the grant funds for project administration is $2,500.00 (or 0.05 x $50,000.00). Funds from other sources may be used to fully fund your project administration expenses.

Foundant (Grant Management Tool)

How do I reset my password?

Please follow this link for options on how to reset your password: Password Reset Options – Foundant Technologies. If these options do not work, please send an email to actionfundgrants@savingplaces.org detailing your issues and efforts to fix it.

Does the primary contact on the account have to be the same as the authorized official submitting the application?

Yes, the primary contact does have to be a signatory authority or other executive level official.

How do I know if my organization has an existing account in the National Trust grant application portal?

We prefer applicant organizations and entities to use their existing account even if past applications have not been successful. To learn if an account exists, please first check with your colleagues to learn if your organization has applied for National Trust grants before. If you are still unsure or cannot find your login information, please reach out to us at actionfundgrants@savingplaces.org to share the name of your organization and EIN, and our staff will let you know if an account exists and share login instructions.

I’m assisting with a grant application. How do I create an account in Foundant?

Contact the primary contact or another person who has access to the organization’s account. Ask them to add you to the account as a contact or to the application as a collaborator. You can also send a request to us at actionfundgrants@savingplaces.org and must include a statement or letter from the primary contact stating their approval of your addition to the organization’s account.

There are several of us working on a grant application. How do I add additional users?

The primary contact is also welcome to add other users to their organization’s account using the collaboration tool in Foundant. To learn how, please review this tutorial on the Foundant website.

I have not received email communications about my AACHAF grant application. How do I make sure I have not missed something?

Please add administrator@grantinterface.com to your email address book. This is the email address from which you will receive confirmation that your application has been received, notifications about the status of your application, reminders about reporting, and other updates. Note: Occasionally emails from this address go to spam or junk folders, so please follow these instructions to ensure you receive our communications.

Foundant won’t let me submit my application. When I try to submit it, I keep getting an error message saying I’ve exceeded the character limit, but no specific question shows that error. What do I do?

This can occur if you paste in content with hidden HTML code. To correct it, download your application as a pdf file. Scan through the responses looking for words and phrasing that do not make sense.

For example, this type of text is hidden HTML code that adds to the characters in your response:

Once you have found the response(s) with the hidden HTML, copy the response(s) and paste it back into Foundant using the "Paste as plain text" option. That should remove the hidden text and make your response conform to the character limits.

Application Process

How do we apply for an African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund grant?

Applicants must submit an application through Foundant by the deadline listed for the grant opportunity. Late submissions will not be accepted. Applications and/or additional information submitted by email, fax, or physical mail will NOT be considered.

Do we need to hire a professional grant writer to apply for an African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund grant?

No. While applicants are permitted to use a professional grant writer, we encourage the leader(s) and member(s) of an organization and/or individual(s) who knows the historic resource well to fill out all application materials and work collaboratively as a team. The African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund cannot cover fees associated with grant writing.

What is the process for applying and awarding African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund grants?

All applications must be submitted by the deadline listed in the guidelines for that particular grant opportunity. If there is a Letter of Intent (LOI) process involved, applicants must meet the requirements of the LOI and AACHAF staff will notify applicants as to whether they can submit a full application. Once the deadline has passed, staff will review the applications. The top applicants will be notified and given the opportunity to revise their applications based on staff advice. Revised applications must be submitted by the final deadline and staff will review applications and make final selections. Lastly, applicants are notified of their award status, and a public announcement is made.

Do you have to create a Foundant account in order to submit an application?

You may view a blank version of the application in Foundant, the National Trust’s grant portal. But, in order to complete an application, an account must be created for the organization applying for the funds unless an account already exists. You can find instructions for how to do this on the Foundant website.

Will you provide a copy of the grant application questions?

Available grant opportunity applications are available to view in Foundant. Please note that application questions will vary when completing an application depending on the project type selected. Previews of the application will include questions from all eligible project types. The applicant will not answer all of the questions shown in the preview.

Can organizations submit more than one grant application?

Organizations are strongly encouraged to apply for their highest priority project need keeping in mind that the project must be ready to begin upon award. For example, a building may need extensive repairs that are urgent and seem to fit as a Capital project, but the more competitive application may be the one that seeks Project Planning funds to plan how to repair the building first and assess future use options.

Can multiple people work on the same application?

Only one email address can be linked to an application, but you can use the “collaborate” feature in the application to invite others to review, edit, and/or submit the application. You can learn more about this feature via this tutorial.

The application references the “historic resource.” What does this mean?

The historic resource is a building, site, structure, landscape, district or neighborhood that is at least 50 years old and has historic significance to African American cultural heritage at either the local, state or national level. It is not required that a resource have an official historic designation to be considered an historic resource. Please include the name and location of the historic resource in the “Historic Resource Information” section of the application.

Is there a specific budget form I should attach to my grant application?

Yes, the budget form linked within the grant application must be used. An application submitted without the required budget form will be determined ineligible and not considered for award.

Where can we find the budget template and tutorial video in the application?

The budget forms are specific to the project type selected. You must first select a project type for that section to appear. You will find links to both the budget template and tutorial in the project type description section.

Will I need to upload a budget, financial statements, or planning documents with the application?

Yes. All required information is indicated in the application and must be included.

How can organizations know that they are submitting a competitive African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund grant application?

It is essential that applicants read and familiarize themselves with the grant guidelines specific to the grant opportunity prior to beginning the application. Competitive applications:

• demonstrate a clear understanding of the intent of the grant opportunity
• can demonstrate that the project meets the eligibility criteria.
• provide a clear and concise project description that does not heavily rely on artificial intelligence (AI).
• include project activities that are all confined to the project type selected and
• identify the need for the project and how the proposed approach to meeting that need was explored to determine that it is the best way.
• have clearly defined and reasonable budgets based on at least one recent estimate (i.e., one completed within the last 12 months). The expenses proposed for grant funding are eligible. The budget narrative explains the expenses found in the budget (where needed); and the project description, budget, and budget narrative all agree with one another.
• demonstrate the applicant’s ability to cover grant project expenses once the initial disbursement has been issued until all grant requirements are fulfilled and an interim or final reimbursement is issued.

Do letters of support need to be addressed to a specific staff person of the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund?

The letters can be addressed to the applicant or to the staff person identified in the application. The most important thing is that the letter is specific to the project for which you are requesting funds or in support of the organization as a whole. As a reminder, do NOT mail letters of support. These must be attached to the application. Support letters received outside of the application will not be considered.

What do I do if my supporting documentation files are too large?

The application has a maximum file size limit. If your files are larger than what that question allows, try condensing the file by saving is as a pdf file. If it is already a pdf file, try saving it as a condensed pdf file which is an option when selecting “Save As.”

What do I do if I want to attach multiple files?

If you have a question where you have multiple files you would like to upload but there is only one option, consider combining the files into one. This can be done by saving all the files as one pdf file. This can be done even if the individual files are different types of files like a Word, Excel or pdf. Another option is to print and then scan them all into one file. The Additional Supporting Documents section of the application is also a place to upload additional information you think would be helpful in evaluating your organization’s application. Be sure to clearly identify what the files are and if they relate to a specific application question or topic.

Can you provide examples of successful AACHAF applications?

We do not make successful applications public, but you can find a list of recently awarded projects on each grant opportunity’s webpage.

• Conserving Black Modernism
• Descendant and Family Stewardship Initiative
• HBCU Cultural Heritage Stewardship Initiative
• National Grant Program
• Preserving Black Churches

Can I get feedback on my National Trust grant application before I submit it?

Unfortunately, we do not have the staff capacity to read grant proposals and provide feedback prior to their submission.

My organization’s grant application was denied. Can the AACHAF staff provide feedback on my application?

Due to staff capacity, we do not provide feedback on denied grant applications. Each of the AACHAF’s grant opportunities receive hundreds of applications. There may not be anything wrong with your application; it may just be that there were so many excellent projects but only so much funding. We encourage you to apply again. It is common for an organization’s first application not to be awarded.

Foundant won’t let me submit my application. When I try to submit it, I keep getting an error message saying I’ve exceeded the character limit, but no specific question shows that error. What do I do?

This can occur if you paste in content with hidden HTML code. To correct it, download your application as a pdf file. Scan through the responses looking for words and phrasing that do not make sense.

For example, this type of text is hidden HTML code that adds to the characters in your response:

Once you have found the response(s) with the hidden HTML, copy the response(s) and paste it back into Foundant using the "Paste as plain text" option. That should remove the hidden text and make your response conform to the character limits.

Award and Project Implementation

Is there a minimum grant request amount?

Yes, for all grant opportunities, the minimum request is $50,000. Maximum requests vary by grant opportunity and project type. Check the Grant Opportunity Questions section below for more information. Applications that do not request at least the minimum amount will not be considered for award.

When will I know if my organization received a grant from the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund?

All applicants will be notified of their status via email and through Foundant. For more details, please refer to the grant opportunity’s guidelines.

Are matching funds required for African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund grants?

Matching funds are required for Endowment and Financial Sustainability project grants before grant funds are disbursed at the end of the fundraising effort.

For all other project types (Capital Projects, Project Planning, Programming and Interpretation, and Organizational Capacity), an award is a reimbursable grant meaning that costs must be incurred (billed to the grantee) and paid (by the grantee) before payment from the National Trust is made to the applicant. The exception to this is the first payment which is made upon execution of the grant agreement, receipt of other necessary documents, and an approved scope of work and budget. In order to receive interim and final payments, the grantee must be able to pay those expenses prior to requesting AACHAF disbursements so that proof of payment can be submitted along with the grant disbursement requests.

When are awarded funds disbursed to applicants: before or after expenses have been incurred and paid by the applicant?

The timing of the disbursement of funds depends on the type of project under which funds were awarded. A specific timeline is included in the grant agreement along with all requirements that must be met for those disbursements to occur.

Typically, initial funds are disbursed upon the National Trust’s receipt of an executed grant agreement, any other documentation requested to enable electronic payments, and a final scope of work and budget. One exception is for Endowment and Financial Sustainability projects. Payment is only disbursed once proof is submitted that the required funds have been raised and the proper financial arrangements have been made.

Subsequent (interim and final) disbursements for all other project types require that the grant recipient submit invoices along with proof of payment. All project expenses must be paid prior to submitting the final report. Proof of payment of all project expenses must be submitted with the final report in order for the final payment to be processed.

Are there procurement requirements for African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund grant awards?

All procurement of goods and services must allow for open and free competition and consideration of minority and women-owned business enterprises. If the good or service being procured is greater than $50,000, the grantee must try to obtain at least three (3) competitive bids or quotes. (This applies to any procurement greater than $50,000 that is a part of your project, whether or not that part of the project is financed with National Trust funds). Exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis based on the availability of those goods and services in the project’s surrounding areas.

When are awarded projects expected to start and end?

The project period begins on the date of the first grant award disbursement. This disbursement will be deposited after all required documentation has been returned and approved. The length of the project period depends on the project type selected in the application. For more information on the eligible project types, please review the applicable grant opportunity guidelines.

Grant Opportunity Questions

Preserving Black Churches

What organizations are eligible to apply for African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund grant awards?

Eligible applicants for a Preserving Black Churches grant include historically Black churches with active and non-active congregations; 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations stewarding a historically Black church building with or without an active congregation; and public agencies.

What is a historically Black church?

Historic Black church buildings are typically at least 50 years old and meet one or more of the following criteria:

• A religious historic building built and erected by a historically Black congregation and continuously occupied by an active congregation;
• A historic religious building designed and/or constructed by Black architects/builders, occupied by an active congregation, or repurposed for public programming; or
• A historic religious building that was not originally built by or for a historically Black congregation, but demonstrates documented historical, cultural, or social significance related to African American heritage.

Historic resources less than 50 years old may be considered if they demonstrate exceptional historical, architectural, and/or cultural significance.

What is an active congregation?

Active congregations are those which hold regular worship services and/or conduct public programming from a historically Black church building (defined above).

Active historically Black congregations that are a part of historic religious denominations include, but are not limited to: African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME), African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church (AMEZ), the Baptist Church, Christian Methodist Episcopal Church (CME), Church of God in Christ (COGIC), Episcopal Church, Lutheran Church, United Methodist Church, Presbyterian Church, Catholic Church, and Non-denominational churches.

Can we apply for Preserving Black Churches and the National Fund for Sacred Places?

Yes. Eligible applicants can apply to both the National Fund for Sacred Places and Preserving Black Churches grant opportunities. Please note: National Trust grants, including grants from the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund, cannot be used as matching funds for other National Trust grant opportunities. Matching funds must come from an external source.

Are historic cemeteries eligible for funding?

Historic cemetery projects are eligible for Project Planning grants only. Work proposed to repair or maintain historic cemeteries is not eligible.

Are stained-glass window repair projects eligible for Preserving Black Churches?

Yes. Projects focused on repairing original architectural features are eligible under the Capital Projects and Project Planning project types.

Can grant funds be used for worship-related building elements?

Preserving Black Churches accepts applications for the restoration, rehabilitation, and preservation of interior sanctuary features such as historic church pews, pulpits, altars, baptismal fonts and baptismal pools.

Is Preserving Black Churches open to applicants of all faith traditions?

Applications from non-Christian faiths will be considered on a case-by-case basis. For more information, contact actionfundgrants@savingplaces.org.

Can grant funds be used to repair an historic pipe organ?

Projects focused on elements created to enhance the worship space or worship experience will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Please email actionfundgrants@savingplaces.org for guidance prior to submitting an application.

Are parsonages, annexes, and education buildings eligible for Preserving Black Churches funding?

Auxiliary buildings must be located on the same lot and within the property line of the church and must also meet the historic building requirements as well. Please email actionfundgrants@savingplaces.org for guidance prior to submitting an application.

Will you provide examples of eligible Endowment and Financial Sustainability projects?

Endowment and Financial Sustainability grants can only be used for the development of endowments for historic church buildings. All funding must be invested in a preservation endowment and cannot be used for fundraising, capital campaign planning, or project management. Grant funds will not be provided until proof of the required 1:1 fundraising match is secured. For example, a $200,000 grant must be matched with at least $200,000 of new investment to establish an endowment. An eligible match can include secured funding or pledged gifts received prior to the grant award, as long as it was received for the expressed purpose of endowment growth and has not been invested. Existing invested endowment principal is not eligible as match. For more information on the Endowment and Financial Sustainability project type, visit the Preserving Black Churches grant guidelines.

Is a match required for Preserving Black Churches grants?

Matching funds are required for Endowment and Financial Sustainability grants in order for any grant funds to be disbursed. For all other project types (Capital Projects, Project Planning, Programming and Interpretation, and Organizational Capacity), a portion of the award is disbursed upon receipt of an executed grant agreement and other documentation necessary to register your organization in the National Trust finance system. After this initial payment, the award is a reimbursement grant. All other requests for funds must be accompanied by receipts showing proof of payment.

Project Type Questions

For more detailed information on the project types, please review the applicable grant opportunity guidelines.

¹ Preserving Black Churches funds have extended grant periods for Capital (24 months) and Organizational Capacity (36 months) projects.

Do I have to have a consultant or contractor already selected before my organization can apply?

No, this is not a requirement. If your organization’s application is awarded, all contractors and consultants on the project must be approved by the National Trust before the project begins.

Do I need to secure three bids for the work outlined in my application?

This applies to grantees if the work funded by the National Trust Grant (and any required match) is a single expenditure of $50,000 or above. This is a matter of good business practice, and we want to encourage fair and open competition. We do not require you to choose the lowest bid. For example, if you are using grant funds to replace the roof of your historic property and the project costs $75,000, we ask that you request at least three bids from three different companies for this scope of work. Using this example, you would be required to obtain three bids even if the National Trust’s grant was $25,000 toward the overall $75,000 cost.

Where can I find a copy of the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation?

The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation can be found on the National Park Service’s website under Technical Preservation Services. Please be sure to review these standards. The African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund requires that projects adhere to the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation. We encourage applicants to work with architects and contractors that have experience with preservation projects to ensure the standards are met.

Capital

Are historic cemeteries eligible for funding?

Historic cemetery projects are eligible for Project Planning grants only. Work proposed to repair or maintain historic cemeteries is not eligible.

Are Americans with Disability Act (ADA) accessibility projects eligible for AACHAF grant awards?

The African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund accepts applications for projects designed to improve building accessibility. Applications submitted for Capital Projects should demonstrate completion of all necessary ADA assessment and planning (engineering and architectural) by the application submission date. If planning work is not yet complete, it is recommended that applicants apply for a Project Planning grant to support development of an ADA assessment and plan.

Are mechanical projects eligible for AACHAF grant awards?

Yes. Mechanical projects, including electrical and HVAC, are eligible under the Capital Projects and Project Planning project types.

Are stained-glass window repair projects eligible for AACHAF grant awards?

Yes. Projects focused on repairing original architectural features are eligible under the Capital Projects and Project Planning project types.

Endowment & Financial Sustainability (currently available only with Preserving Black Churches grant awards)

Will you provide examples of eligible Endowment and Financial Sustainability projects?

Endowment and Financial Sustainability grants can only be used for the development of endowments for historic church buildings. All funding must be invested in a preservation endowment and cannot be used for fundraising, capital campaign planning, or project management. Grant funds will not be provided until proof of the required 1:1 fundraising match is secured. For example, a $200,000 grant must be matched with at least $200,000 of new investment to establish an endowment. An eligible match can include secured funding or pledged gifts received prior to the grant award, as long as it was received for the expressed purpose of endowment growth and has not been invested. Existing invested endowment principal is not eligible as match. For more information on the Endowment and Financial Sustainability project type, visit the Preserving Black Churches grant guidelines.

Organizational Capacity

Can grant funds be used for staffing needs?

African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund grants can provide funding for staffing needs. Organizational Capacity project type grants are intended to support the creation of new staff positions to implement and manage preservation plans and projects. Funding cannot be used to support clergy or religious staff. Additionally, funding cannot be used to support janitorial, maintenance, or groundskeeping positions.

Planning

Are historic cemeteries eligible for funding?

Historic cemetery projects are eligible for Project Planning grants only. Work proposed to repair or maintain historic cemeteries is not eligible.

Do I have to have a consultant already selected before my organization can apply?

No, this is not a requirement. It is required that if your organization’s application is awarded, all contractors and consultants on the project must be approved by the National Trust before the project commences.

Are Americans with Disability Act (ADA) accessibility projects eligible for AACHAF grant awards?

The African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund accepts applications for projects designed to improve building accessibility. Applications submitted for Capital Projects should demonstrate completion of all necessary ADA assessment and planning (engineering and architectural) by the application submission date. If planning work is not yet complete, it is recommended that applicants apply for a Project Planning grant to support development of an ADA assessment and plan.

Are mechanical projects eligible for AACHAF grant awards?

Yes. Mechanical projects, including electrical and HVAC, are eligible under the Capital Projects and Project Planning project types.

Are stained-glass window repair projects eligible for AACHAF grant awards?

Yes. Projects focused on repairing original architectural features are eligible under the Capital Projects and Project Planning project types.

Programming & Interpretation

Can grant funds be used for audiovisual (AV) and technological improvements?

Grant funds can be used to support AV and technological improvements as part of a programming and interpretation project only if the improvements cannot be used outside of the project purpose. For example, purchasing Microsoft Windows 11 software would not be eligible because that can be used more generally.

Do I have to have a consultant already selected before my organization can apply?

No, this is not a requirement. It is required that if your organization’s application is awarded, all contractors and consultants on the project must be approved by the National Trust before the project commences.

Application Webinars

If your question has not been answered, please reach out to actionfundgrants@savingplaces.org.

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