The African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund (Action Fund), a program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, has announced it has awarded grants of $1 million each to: The First African Baptist Church (Beaufort, SC), Roberts Temple Church of God in Christ (Chicago, IL), Second Baptist Church (Los Angeles, CA) Mother Bethel AME Church (Philadelphia, PA), and Brown Chapel AME Church (Selma, AL).

The grants have been awarded through the Action Fund’s Preserving Black Churches (PBC) program. PBC is a $60 million initiative funded by Lilly Endowment Inc. that provides historically Black churches and their congregations with the funding and technical expertise needed to protect their historic assets and legacies through sustained stewardship planning that ensures these churches remain active, resilient institutions for generations.

“As we celebrate Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy today, we are honored to be awarding transformational funding to five iconic, historically Black churches across the United States, from Los Angeles, California to Beaufort, South Carolina. These churches represent multifaceted legacies spanning critical moments in American history and culture," said Brent Leggs, executive director of the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund and strategic advisor to the CEO of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. "Thanks to generous funding from the Lilly Endowment Inc. and our team's strategic partnership, the Action Fund is ensuring that these historic churches can continue to exist as civic spaces of faith, education, beauty, and belonging for generations to come.”

Historically Black Churches have played a pivotal role in shaping American history and have long been cornerstones of their communities, serving as sanctuaries of faith, centers of social change, and symbols of resilience and cultural achievement. These $1 million grants are awarded as part of a multi-year partnership wherein the Action Fund will provide each church with technical expertise and consultation services for long-term asset management and stewardship planning.

The First African Baptist Church (Beaufort, SC)
Constructed by freedmen in 1865 with an active congregation since 1863 that included Civil War hero and Reconstruction-era African American Congressman Robert Smalls, First African Baptist Church remains a place of worship and is now a site of public education as part of the Reconstruction Era National Historic Network.

"With the help of the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund, I find it ironic that a Church that teaches salvation is itself being saved by her neighbors and friends," said Pastor Alexander McBride of The First African Baptist Church. "The impact of this grant will give renewed life, longevity, and purposeful function to a historic site not ready to relinquish her history. Just like the visionary and activist, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., stated, we too have a dream and the Action Fund has helped us to realize this dream."

Roberts Temple Church of God in Christ (Chicago, IL)
The first bricks of Roberts Temple Church of God in Christ were laid by Bishop William Roberts and his deacons in 1922. Decades later, in 1955, the church would be cemented as a cornerstone of the Civil Rights Movement when it hosted the funeral of 15-year-old Emmett Till. “As the Bishop of Northern Illinois Jurisdiction Church of God in Christ, I extend congratulations and appreciation to Dr. Marvel Parker and the Preservation Team. I’m both honored and excited about the bright future this grant promises. It’s a moment of renewal that will strengthen our community’s foundation and uplift our shared spirit. It’s truly an opportunity to deepen our church’s roots and inspire everyone who is a part of it.” - Bishop Edwin M. Walker, Northern Illinois Jurisdiction Church of God in Christ, Inc.

“The Church of God in Christ wishes to express its sincere gratitude to the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund for granting $1 million to Roberts Temple Church of God in Christ as part of the Preserving Black Churches Initiative. The restoration of Roberts Temple, now honored as a National Monument, stands as a tribute to our esteemed Founder, Bishop Charles Harrison Mason. He appointed his Assistant Pastor, William Roberts, to lead a small congregation that originally began in the home of Mother Lillian Brooks Coffey. This recognition not only celebrates our rich history but also ensures that the vital role of Roberts Temple in the civil rights movement will be preserved and commemorated for future generations.” - J. Drew Sheard, Presiding Bishop & Chief Apostle, Church of God in Christ, Inc.

Second Baptist Church (Los Angeles, CA)
A spiritual and cultural pillar of Los Angeles, Second Baptist has long been a hub for community organizing, faith leadership, community service, and civic engagement in the city. The church has hosted several NAACP national conventions and served as the site of speeches by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X.

Mother Bethel AME Church (Philadelphia, PA)
Built in 1794, Mother Bethel AME Church rests on the oldest parcel of land continuously owned by Black Americans in the U.S. and is the birthplace of the African Methodist Episcopal denomination, founded by Rev. Richard Allen.

“We are profoundly grateful for this generous $1M grant from the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund, which will empower Mother Bethel to continue its vital work in the community and preserve our rich African American history. This contribution demonstrates the commitment to the historical significance of this landmark as a beacon for social justice and a critical institution in the founding of America.” - Rev. Carolyn C. Cavaness, Pastor of Mother Bethel AME Church

Brown Chapel AME Church (Selma, AL)
Built in1908 by formerly enslaved Black builder A.J. Farley, Brown Chapel A.M.E. is a living cornerstone of the Civil Rights Movement and served as the starting point for the Selma to Montgomery Marches for voting rights in 1965. The historic sanctuary has been restored and will reopen to the public in late 2026.

“We offer deep and eternal gratitude to the Action Fund for the preservation of Historic Black Churches. Their generous investment affirms that Brown Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church is not simply a Church, not simply an historic relic. Brown Chapel is a Living, Breathing Testimony to the Power of Faith in Action. As these doors open, again, we recommit ourselves to the work that began here: the work of God, the work of Justice, the work of Service, the work of Community, the work of Hope.” - Rev. Leodis Strong, Pastor of Brown Chapel AME Church

A media kit with select photographs of each of the churches is available via WeTransfer.

About the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund
The African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund is a division of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Since its founding in 2017, the Action Fund has raised $200 million and supported over 400 preservation projects, making it the largest national resource dedicated to the preservation of sites tied to Black history in the United States. With support from the Ford Foundation, Mellon Foundation, Freedom Together Foundation, Lilly Endowment Inc. and others, the Action Fund is safeguarding historic places tied to Black resilience, activism, and achievement. Learn more at savingplaces.org/actionfund.