Philadelphia Fund for Black Sacred Places

The Philadelphia Fund for Black Sacred Places (PFBSP) is a three-year project of Partners for Sacred Places and the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia—working in close collaboration with Black Clergy of Philadelphia and other Black religious leaders—to expand equitable access to quality public spaces in Philadelphia’s neighborhoods and support Black congregations’ efforts to maintain their properties, cultural centers, and neighborhood landmarks for future generations.

PFBSP provides:

  • Up to $10,000 in planning grants and up to $250,000 in 1:2 matching grants ($2 granted for each $1 raised) for the planning and execution of projects that expand equitable access to quality community spaces at Black-led historic sacred places, including both capital and program expenses.
  • Training, capacity building, and technical assistance to ensure that congregations are able to successfully complete the funded capital project (including raising matching funds) and increase long-term capacity to operate a community space (including fostering partnerships with community organizations outside of the congregation).
  • Training and optional 1:1 support from Green Building United to incorporate sustainable and resilient building principals into the funded capital project and building operation through the William Penn Foundation’s Climate Ready Capital Project Program.

For a congregation to be eligible to participate in the program, it must:

  • Be a Black-led congregation in Philadelphia with an active community of faith.
  • Have a purpose-built religious property with historic, cultural, or architectural value.
  • Use grant funds for the restoration, rehabilitation, stabilization, and preservation of existing indoor or outdoor structures, including bricks-and-mortar construction and associated management of construction and design services. Eligible projects also include bringing a building up to codes and standards, improving usability or ADA accessibility, and renovating vacant or underutilized space. New construction is not eligible. For purposes of this project, this space will be referred to as the “Community Space.”
  • Guarantee that the Community Space will be freely accessible to the public (e.g., access periods clearly communicated) and operated in ways that are welcoming and inclusive. A portion of grant funds may be used for salaries or other program expenses directly related to keeping the Community Space freely accessible to the public and operated in ways that are welcoming and inclusive.

The Philadelphia Fund for Black Sacred Places is guided by an Advisory Committee of religious, academic, and community leaders. Partners and the Preservation Alliance thank and recognize the following Advisory Committee members for their leadership and guidance:

  • The Rev. David Brown, Assistant Dean of Communications, Temple University
  • The Hon. Rev. Dr. W. Wilson Goode, Sr., Chair and CEO Philadelphia Leadership Foundation and former Mayor, City of Philadelphia
  • The Rev. Dr. Martini Shaw, Rector, African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas
  • Dr. Anthea Butler, Chair, Department of Religious Studies, University of Pennsylvania
  • Dr. Amber Wiley, Chair, Center for Civil Rights Studies, University of Pennsylvania
  • Tya Wynn, Executive Director, Community Design Collaborative
  • Ian Smith, Architect, IS-Deign Group
  • Judith Robinson, North Philadelphia Community Activist
  • The Rev. Robert Collier, Sr, Galilee Baptist Church and President of Philadelphia Black Clergy
  • The Rev. Naomi Washington-Leapheart, Professor, Villanova University & Harvard Divinity School
  • The Rev. Gregory Holston, Advisor, Philadelphia District Attorney
  • Emmanuel Kelly, Principal Architect, Kelly Maiello Architects
  • Patricia Wilson Aden, Philadelphia Cultural Alliance
  • Deborah Gary, Society to Preserve Philadelphia African American Assets
  • Faye Anderson, All That Philly Jazz
  • The Rev. Alyn Waller, Enon Tabernacle Church
  • The Rev. Bill Moore, Tenth Memorial Baptist

Inquiries about The Philadelphia Fund for Black Sacred Places can be sent to Betsy Ivey at bivey@sacredplaces.org.

 

QUESTIONS? VISIT OUR FAQ PAGE

SPONSORS AND COLLABORATORS

Lead Support for The Philadelphia Fund for Black Sacred Places is provided by The William Penn Foundation.

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