Preserving Black Churches Grant Program

The Preserving Black Churches Grant Program, managed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, aims to support the preservation of historic Black churches. Grants range from $50,000 to $500,000 and fund various projects, including restoration, capacity building, and community engagement. The program encourages applications from active and non-active congregations, nonprofits, and public agencies, emphasizing the importance of these churches in their communities. This initiative seeks to strengthen heritage and foster cultural connections.

Funding Categories
Applicants may apply for one of five categories:
Capital ProjectFunding will be given for the restoration, rehabilitation, stabilization, preservation of historic buildings, parsonages, annex and educational buildings attached or directly adjacent to the historic Black church, including bricks-and-mortar construction and planning costs.Endowment and Financial SustainabilityActive Black Churches fundraising to increase existing or establish new preservation endowments for historic Black church buildings, with active congregations, to support activities such as cyclical maintenance of the building and grounds, insurance services, and other activities related to the perpetual stewardship of the structure.Organizational Capacity and OperationsCreation of new full-time staff, or part time staff to full-time positions which directly support the preservation and stewardship of historic Black church structures and advances preservation priorities: Preservation planning, project management, construction management, interpretation, etc. Clergy and religions ministry staff positions are ineligible.Funds can be used to support salaries and benefits for grant-supported staff.Programming and InterpretationDesigning and implementing innovative interpretive programs.Designing and implementing new art and culturally based programming.Collaborating with artists, creatives, and scholars to create and/or re-imagine interpretation and public programming that elevates the significance of the historic Black church, legacy, and contributions to the community, and that advances new approaches to storytelling and public educationProject PlanningObtaining the services of consultants with expertise in the areas such as preservation architecture and planning, landscape architecture, cemetery conservation, business development, engineering and environmental studies, legal issues, fundraising, organizational development, education, and trainings, etc. to develop plans for implementation by organization.Development of viable business plans for preservation organizations, pre-development planning activities, feasibility studies for market-driven revitalization projects, preservation plans, engineering and environmental studies, property condition assessment reports with cost analysis, historic structures reports, etc.Development of planning documents, guides, and assessment studies for historic Black cemeteries is eligible, but the cemeteries must be owned by and contiguously connected to a historic Black church.Obtaining the services of consultants to complete nominations for historical designation of historic Black Churches leading to listing on the National Register of Historic Places, designation as National Historic Landmarks and/or local landmarks.
Funding
Grants from Preserving Black Churches will range from $50,000 to $500,000.

Eligibility

For this grant, eligible applicants are entities representing Historic Black Churches.Historic Black Churches are defined as one or more of the following:Religious historic buildings built and erected by Black congregations and continuously occupied by active Black congregations.Religious historic buildings designed and/or constructed by Black architects builders, currently occupied by active Black congregations, or repurposed for Arts, Culture, Community, and Social Justice programs.Religious historic buildings not originally built by or for Black congregations, but continuously occupied by an active Black congregation for at least 50 years.Active historic Black congregations that are a part of historic Black religious denominations including, but not limited to 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), Non-denominational.Active historic Black congregations that are a part of traditional religious denominations including, but not limited to the Baptist Church, Episcopal Church, Lutheran Church, United Methodist Church, Presbyterian Church, Catholic Church, Non-denominational.Non-Christian Black congregations and churches* (non-Christian churches will be funded on a case-by-case basis in consultation with Lilly Endowment Inc.).Eligible Applicants include:Historic Black Churches with active and non-active congregations. Active congregations are those which hold regular worship services and public programming in historic religious buildings (defined above).501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations stewarding non-active Historic Black Church buildings reused and repurposed for community, programmatic, and interpretive uses are eligible to apply, including statewide and local preservation organizations, churches, 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 different aspects of heritage, and publicly owned historic sites and museums.Applicants that have received previous National Trust financial assistance are eligible provided that all grant requirements are current.Grant recipients of the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund’s National Grant Program are eligible to apply for a grant from the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund’s Preserving Black Churches Project. However, the existing grantee must submit the application under a different funding category than previously awarded. For example, a National Grant Program grant recipient of Capital Projects funding is not eligible to apply to Preserving Black Churches for a Capital Projects grant, and should apply through a new funding category such as Project Planning, etc.Eligible applicants can submit one application under each funding category. However only one type of grant will be awarded for each grant round. Matching RequirementsMatching funds are required for the Endowment & Financial Sustainability funding category.

Ineligibility

Existing funding received from the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund's National Grant Program cannot be used as match for the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund’s Preserving Black Churches Endowment & Financial Sustainability grants.Grants or any matching funds cannot be used directly or indirectly to influence a member of Congress to favor or oppose any legislation or appropriation.Ineligible Activities and ExpensesCertain kinds of sanctuary interior costs are ineligible, such as work solely focused on elements created to enhance the worship space or worship experience.However, replacement and repairs of altars, pipe organ restoration, and pulpit furniture may be eligible if a part of a larger rehabilitation project. Each proposal will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.Costs associated with planning for or constructing new buildings or structures, including the creation of monuments and statues, parking lots, re-pavement, and monuments and statues.Capital Projects involving cemetery restoration.Catering, entertainment, food, and beverage costs.Expenses incurred prior to the grant award date.Sound and AV equipment.Academic research (i.e., thesis, dissertation, genealogical research, published work) and conservation of records and archival materials.Consultant services (except as noted above) including media and marketing.Conferences and educational workshops.Acquisition of property or capital projects that have been completed prior to grant submission process.Mortgages or debt repayment.