Eligibility
Second Presbyterian Church of Chicago by Second Presbyterian Church of Chicago
Guidelines and Eligibility
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 our self-assessment questionnaire.
1. The property must be located within the United States or its territories.
2. The property must have been originally built to be a house of worship, and must be owned by an active community of faith.
3. The congregation must be at least 3 years old.
4. The applicant must be a religious congregation or closely affiliated nonprofit organization.
5. The property must possess historical, cultural, or architectural value and/or be listed on or eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.
We do not ask for any official documentation of historic or cultural significance. Please refer to the National Register criteria for significance to determine which criteria apply to your congregation.
6. The property must be occupied by a congregation that is community-minded and that serves nonmembers.
Congregations that share space and partner with other nonprofit organizations are prioritized.
7. 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 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 condition assessment and addressed before proposing ADA or interior rehabilitation projects.
8. 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.
9. The congregation must demonstrate a need for project funds that exceeds the congregation’s typical donor base and membership.
10. 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.
11. 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 construction documents with cost estimates produced by an experienced, qualified building professional or team of professionals, typically including architects; develop a realistic budget and timeline for completing the work; and develop a realistic fundraising plan.
12. Grants of $50,000 to $175,000 require a 1:1 match. Grants of $175,001 to $500,000 require a 2:1 match.
One-quarter of the required matching funds must be raised or pledged before any portion of the grant can be disbursed. Funds that have been pledged before entry into the program cannot count toward the required match.
13. A limited number of grants above $250,000 will be awarded per application cycle.
Congregations requesting a grant above $250,000 must be exceptional in all of our evaluation criteria and must exhibit a high level of fundraising readiness. The majority of grant awards will be in the $50,000 to $250,000 range. Grant awards are determined by National Fund program staff when grantees are admitted into the program. We strive to fully fund grant requests but retain the discretion to reduce the award amount to meet program goals, particularly for grant requests over $250,000.
Apply For A Grant
Learn more about project eligibility, grant requirements, the application process, and how you can get started.
Saint Peter’s Church by Beatriz Ciafuentes
Am I Eligible?
Is your congregation located in the United States or its territories?
YES – You may be eligible.
NO – You are not eligible. Congregations must be located in the United States or its territories in order to apply. Learn more about what we’re looking for.
Is your building purpose-built (originally built as a place of worship)?
YES – You may be eligible. Please note that the historic place of worship does not need to have been purpose-built for your specific congregation or your congregation’s original location, it just needs to have been purpose-built as a place of worship.
NO – You are not eligible. The property must have been originally built to be a house of worship and must be owned by an active community of faith.
Is your congregation at least 3 years old?
YES – You may be eligible. Please refer to the Eligibility Requirements listed above for additional details.
NO – You are not eligible. In order to apply, congregations must be at least 3 years old.
Are you a religious congregation or closely affiliated nonprofit organization?
YES – You may be eligible. We typically define a closely affiliated nonprofit organization as a separate nonprofit organization tasked with maintaining and managing the historic facility and/or serving as the fiscal agent to receive grants and other funds for building-related costs, such as a “Friends Group” or associated preservation trust. If you are closely affiliated in some other way, please explain that in your application.
NO – You are not eligible. The applicant must be a religious congregation or closely affiliated nonprofit organization.
Does your property have architectural, cultural, or historic value that is of regional or national significance?
YES – You may be eligible. We do not ask for any official documentation of significance, but a special emphasis will be placed on sites that have had a prominent physical and/or historical place in their community. One way to determine if your property has historic significance is to see whether it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places or in a local historic landmark district, but official historic designation is NOT required.
NO – If you cannot demonstrate that your building has architectural, cultural, or historic value that is of regional or national significance, you are most likely not eligible.
Is your congregation community-minded?
YES – You may be eligible. We are looking for congregations that have a demonstrated interest in providing outreach ministries that benefit both members and nonmembers. Special emphasis will be placed on congregations that share space and partner with other organizations to make the most of their building as an asset for community renewal and service.
NO – If you cannot demonstrate that your congregation is community-minded, you are most likely not eligible.
Do you have a solid understanding of your building’s needs? Have you had it assessed by a qualified architect who has experience working with older buildings?
YES – You may be eligible.
NO – You may still be eligible even if you have not done a comprehensive building assessment. Congregations are not required to have developed a finalized repair plan, budget, timetable, or fundraising plan prior to acceptance into the program. However, we would encourage you to consider doing this type of planning work whether you apply for the National Fund or not. It will be a tremendous resource to you as you steward your historic house of worship. If you are accepted into the National Fund program, you will be expected to develop a comprehensive building repair plan with a qualified building professional or team of professionals, typically including an architect. There are several sources of grant funding that can help support the creation of a comprehensive building assessment, including National Trust Preservation Funds, grants from your State Historic Preservation Office, or a Certified Local Government. Please note that the congregation is not required to have developed a finalized repair plan, budget, timetable, or fundraising plan prior to acceptance into the program.
Does your project address urgent repair needs, address building code issues, improve usability or ADA accessibility, or make vacant or underutilized space more functional or welcoming?
YES – You may be eligible. We are looking for projects that 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 condition assessment and addressed before proposing ADA or interior rehabilitation projects.
NO – If you cannot demonstrate that your project addresses urgent repair needs, code or accessibility upgrades, or necessary repairs to make space more functional or welcoming, you are most likely not eligible.
Will your project respect the property’s historic character and materials?
YES – You may be eligible. Please note that projects must adhere to the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation.
NO – You are likely not eligible. Anticipated projects must respect the property’s historic character and materials, and must adhere to the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation. Demolitions to a historic building are not eligible. Additions to a historic building may or may not be eligible.
Is your congregation ready to undertake a significant capital campaign?
YES – You may be eligible. Projects must be able to raise matching funds. Grants of $50,000 to $100,000 require a 1:1 matching rate. Grants from $100,001 to $250,000 require matching funds of 2:1.
NO – You may not be eligible. Applicants must demonstrate a need for project funds that exceed the congregation’s typical donor base and membership.
Has your congregation already begun construction work on your capital project?
YES – You may not be eligible, unless the National Fund grant would go to support work that HAS NOT already begun. Work that has been completed prior to acceptance into the National Fund program and/or the completion of the Capital Grant Submission process is not eligible.
NO – You may be eligible, if your project meets the other program eligibility criteria.
Has your congregation already begun raising the match for a potential National Fund grant?
YES – Any funds raised prior to acceptance into the National Fund program would NOT be eligible for a match. Grant funds are intended to support projects not yet completed. Funds solicited, applied for, pledged, or secured prior to the congregation’s official acceptance into the program will not be counted toward the required project match. However, if your National Fund project is part of a larger, multi-phase campaign, and you have already raised funds for other phases of your project (phases that are not supported by the National Fund), that is fine, and will help demonstrate your ability to raise necessary matching funds.
NO – You may be eligible. If you are awarded a National Fund grant, you will be required to match the grant funds either 1:1 or 2:1, depending on the grant amount. We have found that the National Fund grant is often a strong incentive for attracting new and expanded gifts toward capital campaigns. Learn more about matching fund requirements.
Would you consider your congregation stable and healthy?
YES – You may be eligible. Congregations must exhibit several signs of positive organizational health, including: senior clergy (or lay leadership) is established in tenure; consensus around project goals; commitment to retaining and caring for the historic property; stable or growing membership; financial strength and stability; and, if applicable, a positive and supportive relationship with regional denominational offices.
NO – You may not be eligible.
Vernon AME Church by Don Thompson
Mission Concepcion by Rebecca Simmons/El Camino de San Antonio
Eligible Activities and Expenses
National Fund for Sacred Places grants are awarded for capital preservation projects. 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 condition assessment and addressed before proposing ADA or interior rehabilitation projects.
Ineligible Activities and Expenses
The National Fund does not fund the following activities:
- Demolition of character-defining architectural features
- Purchase or lease of property
- New construction
- Landscaping or fencing
- Cemeteries
- Parking lots
- Religious art restoration such as mural restoration
- Pipe organ restoration or replacement
- Purchase of audio-visual equipment
- Pew replacement
- Staff salaries or volunteer reimbursements
- Organizational overhead costs
- Catering or entertainment costs
- Consultant services for any activity other than design services or construction management
- Historic structure reports or historic resource surveys
- Academic research
- Conferences and educational workshops
- Media and marketing
- Expenses incurred prior to entry into the program (defined as the date of written notification of acceptance)
- Expenses incurred prior to capital grant submission and approval (National Fund staff review project documentation before work begins to ensure that all work is consistent with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Historic Preservation)
- Mortgages or debt repayment
Frequently Asked Questions
Have questions about the National Fund for Sacred Places program, what we offer, or how to get started? Read our FAQs to find answers to the most common questions.
Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church by Richie Diesterheft