Preserving Black Churches is a project of the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund at the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Annual grants from Preserving Black Churches are intended to preserve historically Black houses of worship—including those with active congregations and non-active congregations—and advance ongoing preservation activities. Grant funding will strengthen capacity for historic congregations and preservation and community organizations to steward, manage, and better utilize their historic structures.

Funding Availability

The African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund’s Preserving Black Churches grants range from $50,000 to $500,000. The maximum award amount will depend on the project type (see “Eligible Project Types” and “Project Activities” below). Requests below $50,000 will not be considered for funding.

Grant Eligibility

Eligible Historic Sites

Eligible properties or sites are historically Black Churches and associated buildings and landscapes that are at least 50 years old. Sites less than 50 years old may be considered if they demonstrate exceptional historical, architectural, and/or cultural significance.

Example Sites:

• Historic religious buildings built and erected by Black congregations and continuously occupied by active congregations.
• Historic religious buildings designed and/or constructed by Black architects/builders and occupied by an active congregation or repurposed for public programming.
• Historic religious buildings or sites that were not originally built by or for a historically Black congregation but demonstrate documented historical, cultural, or social significance related to African American heritage.

Eligible Applicants

Eligible applicants must own the historic property that is the subject of the grant application (if a historic site is involved) or have documented permission from the owner to proceed with the application. Eligible applicants must also be able to act as the fiscal agent for the grant or have identified a fiscal agent that can expend and receive funds on the project’s behalf. If a fiscal agent has been approved for the project, a copy of the agreement between the applicant and the fiscal agent must be submitted with the application. Eligible applicants include:

• Historically Black Churches with active and non-active congregations. Active congregations are those which hold regular worship services and public programming in historic religious buildings (defined above). Examples of eligible congregations include:
  • Active historically Black congregations that are part of historically Black religious denominations including but not limited to the 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), and Non-denominational.
  • Active congregations that are part of traditional religious denominations including, but not limited to, the Baptist Church, Episcopal Church, Lutheran Church, United Methodist Church, Presbyterian Church, Catholic Church, and Non-denominational.
  • Non-Christian historically Black congregations and churches will be funded on a case-by-case basis in consultation with Lilly Endowment Inc., which provided the funding for this grant opportunity as part of a multi-year strategy.
• 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations that are stewarding non-active historically Black church buildings reused and repurposed for community, programmatic, and interpretive uses. Organizations include statewide and local preservation organizations, churches, accredited private colleges or universities, historic sites, museums, historical societies, and genealogical associations.
• Public agencies: State or local agencies including boards, commissions, departments, accredited public colleges or universities, offices, agencies, public bodies, or political subdivisions of the state or of a county or municipality. Examples include state historic preservation offices, city and county preservation offices and planning departments, state and local commissions focused on heritage, and publicly owned historic sites and museums.

While organizations may submit more than one application, only one application per organization is eligible to receive funding. We recommend that applicants submit proposals for their highest priority project.

Applicants that have previously received National Trust grant funding are eligible to apply for a Preserving Black Churches grant provided that all previous grant requirements have been fulfilled.

Organizations that have received past funding from the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund are eligible to apply for a Preserving Black Churches grant but must submit the application under a different project type than previously awarded.

• Example: Organization Y received funding for a Capital Project through the Action Fund National Grant Program in 2022. Organization Y is not eligible to apply for a Preserving Black Churches Capital Project grant, but is eligible to apply through a different project type such as Project Planning, etc.

Organizations may apply for the same project type as previous applications if the focus of the application is a different site.

Eligible Project Types and Project Activities

Projects must focus on religious historic buildings and sites as described in the above criteria. Grant awards support activities within the following five project types: Capital Projects, Endowment and Financial Sustainability, Organizational Capacity, Programming and Interpretation, and Project Planning. The maximum award amount depends on the project type. Project types cannot be combined. Requests below $50,000 will not be considered for funding.

Matching Requirements

Grants from Preserving Black Churches may be used to fund up to 100% of the proposed project for the following project types: Capital Projects, Project Planning, Organizational Capacity, and Programming and Interpretation. A 1:1 match is required for the Endowment and Financial Sustainability project type. While matching funds are only required for the Endowment and Financial Sustainability project type, projects that leverage additional investments are encouraged. Funding received from National Trust grant programs, including the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund, cannot be used to meet match requirements for any National Trust grant programs.

Eligible Project Types Summary

Capital Projects

This project type supports physical repairs to the historic building. The maximum request for Capital Projects depends on the applicant organization type. Please read below.

• Eligible activities include restoration, rehabilitation, stabilization, and preservation of historic buildings, parsonages, annexes, and educational buildings located on the same parcel of land as the church building. This includes brick-and-mortar construction and limited planning costs. Funding cannot support the construction of new buildings or new building additions.
• Restoration, rehabilitation, and preservation of interior sanctuary features such as historic church pews, pulpits, altars, baptismal fonts and pools that are fixed in place are also eligible.
• Churches with active congregations can apply for up to $500,000 and can direct up to 15% of awarded grant funds towards architectural planning and construction documents (e.g., architectural and engineering plans). 501(c)(3) and other non-profit organizations established by (or affiliated with) an active congregation with a mission to preserve and interpret a historically Black church with an active congregation may also request up to $500,000.
• 501(c)(3) Not-for-Profit Organizations and Public Agencies that own or have a long-term lease on a historically Black church that is repurposed for public and interpretive programming (non-active congregation) can request up to $250,000 and can direct up to 15% of awarded grant funds towards construction planning and documents.
• Eligible applicants can direct up to 10% of awarded funds towards indirect support costs associated with project management.
• Recipients of Capital Project grants must have all pre-development, planning, and construction documents reviewed and approved by Action Fund staff prior to receiving funding for those activities.
• Projects must conform to the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties.
• Capital Projects must be completed within 24 months of the initial grant disbursement date. Requests for extensions will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Endowment and Financial Sustainability

This project type supports active congregations in the development of endowments for historic church buildings. Endowments are meant to support activities such as cyclical maintenance of the church building, insurance services, and other activities related to the perpetual stewardship of the structure. Please read below.

• Applicants should have completed a comprehensive restoration or rehabilitation of the historic church building within the last 10 years. If this is not the case, then the applicant must demonstrate that an active restoration or rehabilitation project for the building will be completed within two years of receiving a grant award.
• Eligible applicants should have completed a fundraising or capital campaign plan with a strategy specific to an endowment or demonstrate a process for development of the plan(s).
• Awarded 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.
• Awarded funds must be invested in a preservation endowment managed by a reputable financial institution. Proof of endowment management is required. Endowment grants must be invested in the financial institution for a period of three years before an annual draw is taken. Annual draws should not be greater than 5% of the principal endowment.
• Non-profit organizations established by or affiliated with an active congregation are eligible to apply. The nonprofit must have an organizational mission and leadership role in stewarding a historically Black church.
• Grant funds cannot be used for active capital projects, planning, programming, indirect support, or operational needs.
• Projects must be completed within three years of the initial grant disbursement date. Requests for extensions will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
• Eligible applicants can apply for an Endowment and Financial Sustainability grant up to $500,000.

Organizational Capacity

This project type supports the creation of one new, senior level paid staff position or the transition of an existing volunteer staff position to a paid position that directly supports the preservation and stewardship of the historic church building and advances preservation priorities (i.e., preservation planning, project management, construction management, interpretation, etc.)

• Funds can only be used to support salaries and benefits for grant-funded staff.
• Eligible applicants can apply for up to $300,000 for a three-year period.
• Ineligible positions and costs:
  • Clergy and religious ministry staff positions
  • Janitorial and general maintenance staff positions
  • Indirect support and overhead costs

Programming and Interpretation

This project type supports:

• The development and implementation of interpretive public programming.
• The development and implementation of new arts and culture-based programming.
• Collaboration with artists, creatives, and scholars to create programming that elevates the significance of the historically Black church’s legacy and contributions to the community while advancing new approaches to storytelling and public education.
• Eligible applicants can request up to $100,000 and can direct up to 10% of awarded funds towards indirect support and overhead costs associated with project management.
• Projects must be completed within one year of the initial grant disbursement date. Requests for extensions will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Project Planning

This project type supports the development of assessments, plans, and strategies to guide preservation, management, and/or interpretation of the historic church building. Eligible projects should result in a deliverable document with implementable goals.

Eligible planning activities include, but are not limited to:

• Business development and organizational leadership plans for non-profit preservation stewards
• Plans to address legal issues
• Fundraising and financial sustainability plans
• Pre-development planning activities
• Feasibility and reuse studies for market-driven revitalization projects
• Architectural preservation plans
• Energy efficiency and climate adaptation strategies
• Engineering and environmental studies
• Property condition assessment reports with cost analyses
• Historic structures reports and conservation management plans
• Landscape conservation plans
• ADA accessibility studies
• Plans/studies for historic cemeteries that are owned by and contiguously connected to a historically Black church.
• Nominations for historical designation leading to listing on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), designation as a National Historic Landmark (NHL), and/or designation as a local landmark.
• Recommendations provided in project planning documents/deliverables must conform to the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties.
• Applicants can request funding up to $100,000 and can direct up to 10% of awarded funds towards indirect support and overhead costs associated with project management.
• Projects must be completed within one year of the initial grant disbursement date. Requests for extensions will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Ineligible Activities and Expenses

• Costs associated with planning for or constructing new buildings or structures, monuments and statues, and parking lots or re-pavement projects
• Renovation projects for non-historic buildings
• Furniture and appliance purchases
• Cleaning, repair, and landscape work for historic cemeteries
• Catering, entertainment, food, and beverage costs
• Expenses incurred prior to the grant award date
• Sound and AV equipment
• Exhibit equipment purchases
• Academic research (i.e., thesis, dissertation, genealogical research, published work)
• Conservation of records and archival materials
• Consultant services (except as noted above) including media and marketing
• Conferences and educational workshops
• Site or room rentals
• Acquisition of property
• Mortgages or debt repayment

Evaluation Criteria

The African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund will select grantees by considering, among other points, the following criteria:

• Historical Significance: The site is more than 50 years old and is important for its ties to African American cultural heritage.
• Impact of Assistance: The requested support will significantly aid in preserving, restoring, interpreting, or managing the historic site, including what other funds might be leveraged by an existing or anticipated award.
  • The amount of additional resources being brought to the project, either through additional cash investments or donated materials and services.
  • The potential for the project to be a catalyst for further positive action to benefit other historic properties, neighborhoods, or communities.
• Project Readiness: The quality of project plans and organizational capacity for future maintenance and continuation of activities and the ability and willingness of the applicant to carry out the proposed plans within the project’s time frame.

Timeline

• Application Opens: August 4, 2025
• Application Deadline: September 12, 2025
• All applicants will be notified of their application status via email by February of 2026.
• Please direct questions to actionfundgrants@savingplaces.org.

Application

Application questions will vary based on the project type. Please read the grant guidelines in their entirety prior to starting the application.

Applicants must submit a complete application to be considered for a Preserving Black Churches grant. Applications must be submitted through the online application system by September 12, 2025, at 5:00 PM Eastern Standard Time. Late submissions will not be accepted.

Access the Preserving Black Churches application form.

Applicants will be taken to the National Trust grant application system where they will need to create a user profile for their organization. If the organization has previously applied for a National Trust grant, including Action Fund grants, applicants will sign in using their existing organization profile. For assistance using the grant application system, please view this video.