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San Xavier del Bac Mission by Mark Lipczynski
Am I Eligible?
What We Offer
Application Deadlines & Process
Applications for the National Fund for Sacred Places are accepted annually. Typically, 12-15 congregations that meet all of the eligibility requirements and exemplify the core criteria are awarded entry into the program in October. All application submission steps take place through our online grants management system, Foundant.
Letter of Intent Launched
January 11, 2023
Letters of Intent through the Foundant grant system will be accepted from any eligible congregation.
The National Fund for Sacred Places is not currently accepting LOIs. Please check back in January 2024.
Full Application Notifications
June 2023
After careful review, a select number of congregations will be invited to complete a full application through the Foundant grant system. Full applications will be due in July.
Final Notifications
October 2023
Final decisions will be made with the Advisory Committee, and congregations will be notified in October.
We are particularly interested in applicants from the following locations where we have not previously funded projects: Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, West Virginia, U.S. Territories, including the U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam.
Application Process
There is a three-step process to receive a capital grant from the National Fund for Sacred Places program:
1. Letter of Intent (LOI): A preliminary indication of interest and capacity. The LOI should address the National Fund’s core criteria: historic, cultural, or architectural significance; community-serving congregations; project scope and need; readiness; healthy congregations; and strong applications. The deadline for 2023 LOIs is February 24.
2. Application: After review of the LOIs, a limited number of congregations will be invited to submit a full application in May 2023. The application should detail congregational traits, leadership, programming, and the proposed capital repair project. Full applications are due July 2023.
3. Capital Grant Submission: If a congregation is accepted into the National Fund program, a required period of consultation and technical assistance led by Partners for Sacred Places in collaboration with the National Trust will be initiated. Congregations that successfully complete the consultation and technical assistance will be invited to complete a Capital Grant Submission form. Successful submissions will provide permit-ready documentation describing the scope of work supported by the National Fund and documentation that one-quarter of the matching funds have been raised or pledged. After the submission has been approved by our review team, the first half of the award is disbursed, and work may begin on the National Fund project. The final half of the grant award is released once the project is completed and the finished work has been reviewed by the National Fund team.
Application
Letter of Intent
Full Application
Program
Training
Intake Call
Preliminary Site Visit
Technical Assistance/Consultation
Planning Grant Submission (optional)
Planning Grant Disbursement (if applied)
Mid-Program Evaluation
Capital Grant Request
Consult with National Fund Staff on Progress of Project
Capital Grant Submission
Capital Grant Agreement
First 50% of Funds Disbursed
Completion
Construction Completed
Matching Funds 100% Raised
Final Report Submission
Final Site Visit
Final Disbursement of Grant Funds
Additional Resources
Find more information about other sources of funding, partner organizations, capital project planning tips, and more.
Urban Grace by Stuart Isett
Frequently Asked Questions
Have questions about the National Fund program, what we offer, or how to get started? Read our FAQs to find out answers to the most common questions.
Stories and Media Coverage
Read more about how the National Fund for Sacred Places is helping congregations around the country rehabilitate their sacred places.
Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church by Luis P. Gutierrez