National Fund for Sacred Places to Award More Than $9 Million to 30 Congregations to Preserve Historic Religious Properties

Today, the National Fund for Sacred Places awarded 30 historic congregations with capital grants of up to $500,000 each, for a total of over $9 million. The program of Partners for Sacred Places in collaboration with the National Trust for Historic Preservation also provides tailored technical assistance to support good planning, community engagement, and enhanced fundraising.

In its 11th year, the National Fund for Sacred Places, the only national program of its kind, will be providing financial and professional resources to help congregations steward architecturally significant sacred places that serve as community hubs in their regions. To date, the National Fund has awarded or pledged over $42 million to 197 community-serving congregations representing 29 denominations and faith traditions across 46 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. For every $1 invested by the National Fund, participating congregations have raised nearly $5 in additional funding for their projects.

"The 2026 National Fund for Sacred Places congregations embody spirituality, community, and resilience," said Bob Jaeger, president of Partners for Sacred Places. "Their historic buildings have long histories as civic spaces and community gathering places, and it is our honor to be part of this chapter in their story. This is also the first year we have welcomed a congregation from Arkansas, as the need for sustainable funding sources continues to grow throughout the country."

As the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary, it is more apparent than ever that houses of worship across the nation have played a crucial role in its history and culture. Many congregations in the National Fund have a tradition of opening their religious buildings to the community, providing social services, childcare, meeting space, and venues for the arts, in addition to maintaining historical and ancestral records that may otherwise be lost.

"Thanks to the strategic and generous investment by Lilly Endowment Inc., the National Trust for Historic Preservation is proud to collaborate with Partners for Sacred Places in awarding over $9 million to 30 historic churches, the largest amount awarded in any National Fund for Sacred Places grant round," said Brent Leggs, President and CEO of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. "Historic houses of worship have a robust power to shape the identities and values of Americans. They are uniquely significant as places of faith and belonging and stand as cultural landmarks and beacons to communities in times of celebration or hardship. Investing in these congregations ensures that our nation's diverse religious heritage is preserved and thriving."

This year 466 congregations submitted applications to the National Fund for Sacred Places program, reflecting the growing need to preserve these buildings as the religious landscape evolves in the United States.

"This diverse cohort of congregations represents the types of stories we need to preserve as part of our national heritage," said Rachel Hildebrandt, senior director of the National Fund for Sacred Places. "Many of these buildings have played important roles in social change movements that have made our country what it is today. We are deeply committed to supporting the National Fund congregations in restoring and maintaining these community hubs for future generations."