By Victoria Mejicanos 
AFRO Staff Writer 

The African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund at the National Trust for Historic Preservation is providing grants from the Preserving Black Churches fund ranging from $50,000 to $500,000.

The grants are intended to preserve historic houses of worship by providing funding for both active congregations as well as churches that are being repurposed for community use. Applications for this grant cycle are due September 12 at 5pm EST. 

The Preserving Black Churches program highlights the historically Black Church’s legacy of spirituality, history, and community service. According to Dr.Henry Louis Gates, Jr., renowned historian and advisor for the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund, “No pillar of the African American community has been more central to its history, identity, and social justice vision than the ‘Black Church.”

The grant serves 5 areas: capital projects, project planning, organizational capacity, programming, and endowment building. None of the categories require matching funds except endowment grants.  Funding can cover everything from fixing stained glass and updating heating systems to supporting community programs and hiring staff.

The African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund will select grantees by considering the following among other points, according to the grant application website:

• Historical Significance: The site is more than 50 years old and is important for its ties to African American cultural heritage.
• Impact of Assistance: The requested support will significantly aid in preserving, restoring, interpreting, or managing the historic site, including what other funds might be leveraged by an existing or anticipated award.
• The amount of additional resources being brought to the project, either through additional cash investments or donated materials and services.
• The potential for the project to be a catalyst for further positive action to benefit other historic properties, neighborhoods, or communities.
• Project Readiness: The quality of project plans and organizational capacity for future maintenance and continuation of activities and the ability and willingness of the applicant to carry out the proposed plans within the project’s time frame.

All applicants will be notified of their status via email by February of 2026. All questions regarding the grant can be sent to  actionfundgrants@savingplaces.org. Those eligible can apply using the Preserving Black Churches application form.