The African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund (Action Fund), a division of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, announced it has received a $40 million gift from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott. This gift builds on her prior $20 million investment in the Action Fund in 2021.

“The scale and impact of MacKenzie Scott's continued investment in historic preservation is leaving an enduring mark on our nation's history, and we are grateful for her philanthropic leadership,” said Brent Leggs, executive director of the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund. “As we approach America's 250th anniversary, this transformative support demonstrates the power of philanthropy and the Action Fund’s work to protect and expand the American story for generations to come.”

“Thank you to MacKenzie Scott for her far-reaching vision and for recognizing the purpose and singular impact of the Action Fund,” said Carol Quillen, President and CEO of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. “This investment is a testament to Brent Leggs’ extraordinary leadership, and it underscores the distinctive power of historic preservation to honor the lives, achievements and contributions of all Americans so that together we can build a shared future.”

Founded in 2017, the Action Fund is the largest privately funded resource dedicated to the preservation of sites associated with African American history in the United States. To date, it has received funding requests that are collectively valued at more than $1.2 billion from thousands of preservation projects, demonstrating the significant support needed to preserve African American historic sites nationwide.

With this gift, and the support of other philanthropic institutions including the Ford Foundation, Freedom Together Foundation, Lilly Endowment Inc., Mellon Foundation, and others, the Action Fund has now raised nearly $200 million and supported over 378 preservation projects across the country. However, additional resources will be needed to ensure that this important work remains central to the National Trust’s mission and to our country’s national narrative in the future.

About the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund

In November 2017, the National Trust for Historic Preservation launched its African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund (Action Fund) to make an important and lasting contribution to the American landscape by preserving sites of Black activism, achievement, and resilience. It has raised nearly $200 million and supported over 378 grantees nationwide. The Action Fund’s work is guided by Founding Executive Director, Brent Leggs, a team of highly skilled preservation professionals, and a National Advisory Council that includes thought leaders in the arts, academia, business, government, philanthropy, and preservation. Learn more about the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund at www.savingplaces.org/actionfund.