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 properties.

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 varies according to project type and applicant organization type. Requests below $50,000 will not be considered for funding.

Program Eligibility

Eligible properties 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. Official designation at the local, state, or national level is not a requirement.

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 Applicant Organizations

Historically Black Churches with active and non-active congregations:

• “Active congregations” are congregations that currently hold regular worship services and public programming in a historic church building.
• “Non-active congregations” are historic church sites that are not currently utilized by a congregation for regular worship services and may have been repurposed for another use. Example: a historic church building that is currently used as a cultural center.

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 steward non-active historically Black church buildings repurposed for community, programmatic, and/or interpretive uses. Organizations include statewide and local preservation organizations, 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.

Please note: All applicants must provide an active Employer Identification Number (EIN)/Tax ID in their application.

Applicants must own the historic property that is the subject of the grant application OR have documented permission from the owner to proceed with the application. 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.

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

Guidance for Prior National Trust Grantees

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 can apply for funding for a different project type such as Project Planning, Organizational Capacity, 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

Grant awards support activities within the following five project types: Capital Projects, Endowment and Financial Sustainability, Organizational Capacity, Programming and Interpretation, and Project Planning. Projects must focus on historic religious buildings and sites as described in the above criteria. 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

Preserving Black Churches grants can 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. While no match is required for these project types, projects that leverage additional investments are encouraged. A 1:1 match is required for the Endowment and Financial Sustainability project type.

For organizations that receive a grant, a portion of the grant award is disbursed upon receipt of an executed grant agreement and other documentation. After this initial payment, the award is a reimbursement grant. All requests for funds after the initial payment must be accompanied by proof of paid project expense invoices.

Funding received from National Trust grant programs, including the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund, cannot be used to meet match requirements for other National Trust grant programs. Matching funds must come from an external source.

Eligible Project Types Summary

Capital Projects

This project type supports physical repairs to historic buildings. Eligible activities include restoration, rehabilitation, stabilization, and preservation of historic church buildings. Parsonages, annexes, and educational buildings located on the same parcel of land as the church building may be included in the project if the buildings are at least 50 years old. Funding cannot support the construction of new buildings or new building additions. All projects must conform to the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties.

The property must have essential repair needs related to structural components, walls, roof, and/or other elements of the historic building that are integral to its preservation and longevity. Competitive Capital Project applications will demonstrate prior completion of building assessments that inform the proposed project.

Restoration, rehabilitation, and preservation of interior sanctuary features such as historic church pews, pulpits, altars, baptismal fonts, and pools that are fixed in place architectural features are also eligible project components. Applicants should demonstrate that urgent repair needs to the exterior building envelope have already been addressed before proposing interior rehabilitation projects.

Projects that improve functionality or improve accessibility of the property in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) are also eligible. Applications 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. Applicants should demonstrate that urgent repair needs to the building envelope have already been identified by a building conditions assessment and addressed before proposing ADA improvement projects.

Kitchens, HVAC, and Restrooms
Kitchen modernization projects are not eligible.
Proposals to replace HVAC systems must connect replacement of the system with a pressing building preservation-related issue.
While proposals to modify existing restrooms to improve accessibility are eligible, proposals must be based on recommendations from an accessibility study completed within the last five years. General restroom renovation projects are not eligible.

Please read below.

• 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 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 programming or other uses (non-active congregation) can request up to $250,000 and can direct up to 15% of awarded grant funds towards architectural planning and construction documents (e.g., architectural and engineering plans).
• 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.
• Capital Projects must be completed within 24 months of the initial grant disbursement date.

Endowment and Financial Sustainability

This project type supports active congregations in the development of an endowment for their historic church building. Endowments are meant to support activities such as cyclical maintenance of the historic church building, insurance services, and other activities related to the perpetual stewardship of the historic property. Applicants can apply for up to $500,000.

1:1 match funding is required. Projects must be completed within three years of the initial grant disbursement date.

Please read below.

• Applicants must have completed a comprehensive 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 rehabilitation project for the building will be completed within two years of receiving a grant.
• Applicants must have completed a fundraising or capital campaign plan with a strategy specific to an endowment OR demonstrate a process for development of this plan in their application.
• 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 if the funding 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.

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. Positions should directly support the preservation and stewardship of the historic church building and advance preservation priorities (i.e., preservation planning, project management, construction management, interpretation, etc.) Applicants can apply for up to $300,000 for a three-year period.

• Funding can only support salary and benefits for the grant-funded staff person.
• 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 and new arts and culture-based programming. Projects may include collaboration between artists, creatives, and scholars to create programming that elevates the significance of the historically Black church’s cultural legacy and contributions to the community while advancing new approaches to storytelling and public education.

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.

Project Planning

This project type supports building/site assessments and the development of plans to guide the preservation, management, and/or interpretation of the historic church property. Eligible projects must result in a deliverable document with implementable recommendations. Recommendations provided in project planning deliverables must conform to the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties.

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.

Examples of eligible planning assessments/projects include:

• Property Conditions Assessments (PCAs) with cost estimates
• Historic Structure Reports (HSRs)
• Preservation plans
• Conservation Management Plans (CMPs)
• Interpretation plans
• Energy efficiency studies
• Climate adaptation plans
• Engineering and environmental assessments/studies
• Business development and organizational leadership plans for non-profit preservation stewards
• Fundraising and financial sustainability plans
• Pre-development planning activities
• Feasibility and reuse studies for market-driven revitalization projects
• Landscape conservation plans
• ADA accessibility studies
• Plans to address legal issues
• 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.

Ineligible Activities and Expenses

• Costs associated with planning for or constructing new buildings or structures
• Monuments and statues
• 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)
• Creation or maintenance of archival or museum collections
• 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

Preserving Black Churches grants are awarded through a competitive award process. 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 significant 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 property.
• Project Readiness: The quality of the project plans, the ability of the applicant to carry out the proposed plans within the project’s time frame, and the applicant’s organizational capacity for future maintenance and continuation of activities.

Timeline

• Application Opens: August 5, 2026
• Application Deadline: September 11, 2026
• Applicants will receive an update on the status of their application by October 30, 2026.
• Final award notifications will be provided in February of 2027.

Application

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

Applications must be submitted through the online portal by September 11, 2026, at 5:00 PM Eastern Standard Time. Late submissions will not be accepted.

Please direct questions to actionfundgrants@savingplaces.org.

Access the Preserving Black Churches application form.

Applicants will be redirected 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 Foundant, the grant application portal, please view this video.