$50K to $500K per church. Five project types. Capital projects, endowments, planning, programming, and organizational capacity. If your church has been standing for 50 years or more, it may already qualify.
$50K – $500K per grant · $60M total initiative · 200+ churches funded
The Program, In Plain English
A $60M initiative by the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund at the National Trust for Historic Preservation, supported by Lilly Endowment Inc.
$60M
Total initiative funded by Lilly Endowment
200+
Churches supported since launch
$13.5M
Awarded in 2026 cycle alone
$50K–$500K
Per grant, depending on project type
The Preserving Black Churches program funds both active congregations and church buildings in need of a steward. Grants cover preservation work, financial sustainability, and community programming — with no repayment required.
Note: You can apply for one project type per cycle — but you can apply again in future years under a different type. Don't try to cram everything into one application. Grants cover up to 100% of eligible costs (except Endowment projects, which require a 1:1 match).
Check Your Eligibility
Answer a few questions to see if your church or organization qualifies for the Preserving Black Churches grant program.
Is your church building or site at least 50 years old (built before 1976)?
Use the next 10 weeks wisely. Gather photos, get contractor quotes, draft your historical narrative, and confirm your 501(c)(3) status. Every item you complete now is one less thing to scramble for in August. No Letter of Intent (LOI) required — you submit the full application directly.
Need Help Navigating This?
You don't have to figure it out alone.
Your Church Deserves This Grant. Let's Make Sure You're Ready.
I help DFW churches find the right grant type, build the documentation package, and scope any technology work that belongs in the application. The consultation is free and takes 15 minutes.
Important: This guide reflects the most recent published guidelines as of June 2026. Grant program details can change each cycle — always confirm requirements directly at savingplaces.org before submitting.