Preserving Our Sacred Spaces: A Major Grant Opportunity for Historic Black Churches

Family,

Our churches are more than buildings. They hold generations of prayer, struggle, organizing, and triumph. Just like us, these sanctuaries need love, care, and attention. However, congregations can't always afford to handle the necessary upkeep, let alone make upgrades.

Fortunately, there's a grant program out there to offer support to congregations wanting to repair and improve their historic infrastructure or create programs that tell their history. Pastor Ambrose asked us to bring this opportunity straight to the GTC network because it was built specifically for the type of congregations that we interact with and cherish on a regular basis.

The Preserving Black Churches Grant Program, offered through the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, is now accepting applications. With this grant, there is a real chance to secure funding to preserve, restore, strengthen, or plan for the future of your historic church property.

How Much Is Available Under the Preserving Black Churches Grant Program?

Grant awards range from $50,000 to $500,000, depending on the project category and applicant.

What Can Grant Funds Go Towards?

Grants are allocated to align with five specific categories of projects:

• Capital projects: Restoration, rehabilitation, stabilization, and preservation of historic church buildings.
• Project planning: Building assessments, preservation plans, historic structure reports, climate adaptation plans, energy-efficiency studies, ADA accessibility studies, engineering and environmental assessments, and other planning work.
• Programming and interpretation: Development and operation of programs that highlight the history, cultural legacy, and community contributions of historically Black churches.
• Organizational capacity: Funding for a senior-level staff position dedicated to preservation and stewardship of the historic church.
• Endowment and financial sustainability: Establishing an endowment to support long-term preservation and stewardship.

What Churches or Buildings Can Qualify for the Grant?

The Preserving Black Churches Grant Program is designed to support historically Black houses of worship, including active congregations. Eligible churches include those affiliated with historically Black denominations such as AME, AME Zion, Baptist, CME, COGIC, and non-denominational congregations, among others.

Generally, the historic church property should be at least 50 years old and have significance connected to African American cultural heritage. Properties younger than 50 years may still be considered if they demonstrate exceptional historical, architectural, or cultural significance. Official historic designation is not required.

Basic Requirements to Be Eligible

• Your church must either own the property or have documented permission from the property owner to apply.
• You must have an active EIN or Tax ID.
• You must be able to serve as the fiscal agent or identify an approved fiscal agent.

Are Matching Funds Required?

Many such grant programs require the recipient (or some other backer) to put up initial funds that will then be matched by the grant. With the Preserving Black Churches Grant Program, only the endowment and financial sustainability category requires a 1:1 match.

For capital projects, project planning, organizational capacity, and programming and interpretation, no matching funds are required. 

How Do I Know If My Church Is a Good Candidate?

This opportunity may be especially relevant for congregations with historic buildings or significant church properties, and for those seeking support for preservation, accessibility, climate adaptation, building assessments, or projects that document and interpret their African American history and legacy.

Deadline to Apply and Other Key Details

Applications for the Preserving Black Churches Grant Program are due September 11, 2026, at 5:00 PM Eastern Time.

You can review the full guidelines and eligibility criteria under the Preserving Black Churches, National Trust for Historic Preservation website here: savingplaces.org/preserving-black-churches-guidelines

We encourage every church in our network to review the guidelines carefully to confirm that your congregation and proposed project meet the requirements. This initial work will help set you up for a greater chance of success while making it easier for the program to determine if you qualify.

If you have any questions about the grant, you can reach out to the Action Fund Grants team at [email protected].

An Amazing Opportunity for Beloved Community Institutions

The church has played a central role in the Black American community for centuries. This program is a chance to help our historic sanctuaries stand for many generations to come. Please share it widely with any churches you feel may be a good fit!

Grace and peace,
Green The Church