National Trust Awards 13.5 Million to Preserve Historic Black Churches
The National Trust for Historic Preservation awarded $13.5 million to more than 170 Black churches in 2026 through its Preserving Black Churches program. The grants cover structural repairs, organizational capacity building, and endowment creation. New Jerusalem Baptist Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, received $200,000 to establish an endowment for its 70-year-old building.
WASHINGTON — The National Trust for Historic Preservation awarded $13.5 million to more than 170 historically Black churches in 2026, the largest single-year investment in the Preserving Black Churches program since its launch.
The funding came in two rounds. Five churches received $1 million each on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. A second round on February 24 distributed $8.5 million to 33 additional congregations. Smaller grants went to dozens more churches for planning and capacity work.
New Jerusalem Baptist Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, received $200,000 to establish an endowment. The 70-year-old building has served as a community anchor for decades, but the congregation has struggled to balance the cost of maintaining the structure with funding its social service programs.
"Black churches are the largest owners of Black land in the United States," said Pastor Sean Jarrett of New Jerusalem. "Keeping these buildings standing is about more than history. It is about keeping Black communities rooted."
The grants support capital projects such as roof repairs and structural stabilization, as well as organizational work to help churches build long-term financial sustainability. Some funds go toward creating preservation endowments so congregations are not forced to choose between building maintenance and community programs.
The program, run through the National Trust's African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund, has now supported hundreds of churches across the country. Organizers say the need far exceeds available funding, with many historic Black churches facing deterioration and closure due to aging infrastructure and shrinking congregations.
