African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund Grants

The African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund Grants support the preservation of historic sites that reflect African American cultural heritage. Grants ranging from $50,000 to $150,000 assist projects in areas like Capital Projects, Organizational Capacity Building, Project Planning, and Programming. Eligible applicants include public agencies, accredited colleges, and nonprofits. The program emphasizes themes such as activism, innovation, and historically significant sites, aiming to foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of African American history.

Eligibility

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 one identified 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. The following list of eligible applicant types includes:Public agencies such as:State or local agencies including boards, commissions, and departmentsAccredited public colleges or universities, or public bodies or political subdivisions of the state or of a county or municipality such as:State or city historic preservation offices, county historic preservation commissions, and planning departmentsState and local commissionsPublicly owned historic sites and museums501(c)(3), and other (federally designated) nonprofit organizations such as:State and local preservation organizationsChurchesAccredited private colleges or universitiesHistoric sites or museumsHistorical societies and genealogical associationsEligible Project Types and ExpensesProjects must focus on African American cultural heritage sites. Grant awards are made across four project types: Capital Projects, Organizational Capacity Building, Project Planning, and Programming and Interpretation. Please note that multiple project types cannot be combined into a single application.  See more details here.

Ineligibility

Ineligible Activities and ExpensesCosts associated with planning for or constructing new buildings or structuresRenovation projects for non-historic buildingsFurniture and appliance purchasesAudiovisual (A/V) technology/equipmentCapital projects at cemeteries and burial groundsCosts associated with the construction of monuments and statuesCosts associated with the creation or maintenance of archival or museum collections, including display casesCatering, entertainment, food, and beverage costsExpenses incurred prior to the grant award date