National Trust Awards 13.5 Million Dollars to Preserve 38 Historically Black Churches

The African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund announced 13.5 million dollars in grants to 38 historically Black churches in 2026, the latest round of funding from its Preserving Black Churches program.

The grants support capital projects, endowment building, organizational capacity, and programming. The National Trust for Historic Preservation administers the program, which recognizes historically Black churches as vital anchors of Black faith, culture, and community life.

The Preserving Black Churches program has grown significantly since its launch, responding to the urgent need to protect church buildings that often serve as the oldest surviving institutions in Black communities. Many of these structures face deteriorating conditions, rising maintenance costs, and limited financial resources.

Grant recipients span multiple states and denominations. Each church receiving funding was selected based on its historical significance, community impact, and preservation needs.

The National Trust said the 2026 grants reflect a recognition that these churches are not just religious spaces. They are community centers, gathering places, and living records of African American history.

Several of the funded churches date back to the Reconstruction era and have served their communities for more than a century. Some were stops on the Underground Railroad. Others were sites of Civil Rights organizing.

Church leaders who received grants said the funding will allow them to repair roofs, restore stained glass windows, upgrade electrical systems, and expand programming for youth and seniors.

The Preserving Black Churches program has now awarded tens of millions of dollars since its founding, making it one of the largest dedicated preservation efforts for African American religious heritage in the country.