National Trust Awards 13.5 Million Dollars to Preserve Historically Black Churches in 2026

The African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund, a division of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, awarded 13.5 million dollars in 2026 to support historically Black churches across the United States through its Preserving Black Churches program.

The grants assist congregations with capital projects, organizational capacity building, and long-term financial sustainability. The program has become one of the largest dedicated funding sources for Black church preservation in the country.

One notable recipient is New Jerusalem Baptist Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, which received a 200,000 dollar grant to establish a preservation endowment. The church was founded in 1957 by survivors of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre and the subsequent urban renewal that displaced many Black residents from the Greenwood District.

Pastor Sean Jarrett of New Jerusalem Baptist said the grant allows the church to maintain its historic building without sacrificing its community outreach programs. He described Black churches as "the largest owner of Black land in America" and said they play a critical role in ensuring young people have access to resources and education.

The preservation effort comes as Black churches face mounting pressures. Black adult church membership has declined by roughly 20 percentage points over the past two decades. Gentrification has displaced hundreds of thousands of Black residents in urban areas, leading to the closure or sale of many church properties.

Pastor Jarrett also addressed the challenge of reaching younger generations, noting that some young people are trying to separate their faith in Jesus from the political actions of certain prominent Christian leaders, a tension he said the church must address directly.