National Fund for Sacred Places awards more than $9 million to 30 congregations

The National Fund for Sacred Places selected 30 historic congregations for capital grants of up to $500,000 each, totaling more than $9 million. The 2026 cohort came from 466 applicants and includes the program’s first Arkansas grantee.

Why it matters: - The grants will help congregations preserve historic religious buildings that also serve as community hubs. - The program combines capital funding with technical assistance for planning, community engagement and fundraising. - The 2026 awards come as many houses of worship face mounting preservation and funding pressures.

What happened: - The National Fund for Sacred Places awarded 30 historic congregations capital grants of up to $500,000 each on Oct. 20, 2026. - The total grant round tops $9 million. - The 2026 cohort was chosen from 466 applicants. - First Christian Church of Fayetteville in Fayetteville, Ark., is the program’s first Arkansas grantee.

The details: - The National Fund for Sacred Places is a program of Partners for Sacred Places in collaboration with the National Trust for Historic Preservation. - The program provides tailored technical assistance to support good planning, community engagement and enhanced fundraising. - The program is in its 11th year. - The National Fund describes itself as the only national program of its kind. - To date, the National Fund has awarded or pledged more than $42 million to 197 community-serving congregations. - Those congregations represent 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 National Fund says many participating congregations open their buildings to the community for social services, childcare, meeting space and arts programming. - The program also supports preservation of historical and ancestral records that might otherwise be lost. - The National Fund said the 2026 award total is the largest amount awarded in any grant round. - Lilly Endowment Inc. provides support for the National Fund for Sacred Places.

Between the lines: - The size of the applicant pool suggests growing demand as the religious landscape changes in the United States. - The inclusion of the first Arkansas grantee points to broader geographic reach for the program. - The National Fund frames sacred places as both houses of worship and civic infrastructure, which helps explain why preservation funding is being tied to community use. - Partners for Sacred Places and the National Trust are positioning historic congregations as part of the country’s cultural inheritance ahead of the United States' 250th anniversary.

What's next: - The 30 grantees will use the awards to advance preservation work and related planning. - The National Fund is directing congregations and interested applicants to more information on program eligibility and details. - Partners for Sacred Places and the National Trust are likely to continue using the program to channel preservation dollars toward community-serving religious properties.

The bottom line: - The 2026 round gives a record-size boost to historic congregations that anchor communities well beyond Sunday services.