A program of Partners for Sacred Places in collaboration with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the National Fund for Sacred Places provides financial and technical support for community-serving historic houses of worship across America.
Donor Name: National Fund for Sacred Places
State: All States
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant | Matching Grants
Deadline: 03/03/2026
Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
Funding Information
The National Fund provides matching grants of $50,000 to $500,000 to congregations undertaking significant capital projects at historic houses of worship, along with wraparound services including training, technical assistance, and planning support
Eligible Activities and Expenses
- National Fund for Sacred Places grants are awarded for capital preservation projects. Grants may be used for the restoration, rehabilitation, stabilization, and preservation of historic sites and structures, including bricks-and mortar construction and associated management of construction and design services.
- The property must possess historical, cultural, or architectural value and/or be listed on or eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. The property must have urgent repair needs related to structural components, walls, roof, and/or other elements of the building envelope that are integral to building preservation and longevity. Projects that improve functionality or improve accessibility of the property in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) are also eligible, as well as renovation projects that make vacant or underused space usable for community outreach, but applicants should demonstrate that urgent repair needs to the building envelope have already been identified by a building conditions assessment and addressed before proposing ADA or interior rehabilitation projects.
Eligibility Criteria
To determine if your building, congregation, and project are eligible before applying to the National Fund for Sacred Places program, please review the eligibility requirements below or read self-assessment questionnaire.
- The property must be located within the United States or its territories.
- The property must have been originally built to be a house of worship, and must be owned by an active community of faith.
- The congregation must be at least 3 years old.
- The applicant must be a religious congregation or closely affiliated nonprofit organization.
- The property must possess historical, cultural, or architectural value and/or be listed on or eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.
- The property must be occupied by a congregation that is community-minded and that serves nonmembers.
- The property must have urgent repair needs related to structural components, walls, roofs, and/or other elements of the building envelope that are integral to life safety.
- Anticipated capital projects must respect the property’s historic character and materials, and must adhere to the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation.
- The congregation must demonstrate a need for project funds that exceeds the congregation’s typical donor base and membership.
- The applicant must exhibit several signs of positive organizational health, including, but not limited to:
- Senior clergy (and/or lay leadership) is established in tenure; consensus around project goals; commitment to retaining and caring for the historic property; stable or growing membership; established partnerships with external entities; financial strength and stability; and if applicable, positive and supportive relationship with regional denominational offices.
- The congregation must work with Partners for Sacred Places and the National Trust for Historic Preservation prior to disbursement of the capital grant to ensure that all program requirements have been met.
- Recipients are required to: develop a comprehensive scope of work described by permit-ready documentation (100% Construction Documents) or equivalent documentation produced by an experienced, qualified building professional or team of professionals, typically including architects; develop a realistic budget and timeline for completing the work, including bids from qualified contractors, and select a contractor and bid(s); and develop a realistic fundraising plan.
For more information, visit National Fund for Sacred Places.
