Grants for Churches and Religious Organizations 2026

Churches and religious organizations provide essential community services — food pantries, after-school programs, housing assistance, addiction recovery, senior care — that rival or exceed what many government agencies provide. Yet many faith leaders believe their religious identity disqualifies them from federal grants. In most cases, that's incorrect. Grants for churches and religious organizations in 2026 are available through multiple federal programs, provided that grant funds are used for secular community services rather than inherently religious activities. This guide explains what's available, what the rules are, and how to apply.

Can Churches Apply for Federal Grants? Understanding the Rules

The legal framework governing faith-based organizations and federal grants was significantly clarified under the Charitable Choice provisions of the 1996 welfare reform law and subsequent executive orders establishing White House Offices of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships under multiple administrations.

The core principle is this: faith-based organizations are eligible to compete for and receive federal grants on the same basis as secular organizations, provided that grant-funded activities are not "inherently religious" — meaning they don't include worship, religious instruction, or proselytization as a funded program component.

What is permitted: Federal grant funds can support social services provided by religious organizations — food assistance, housing services, job training, childcare, healthcare, after-school programs, and community development — even when those services are provided on church property.
What is not permitted: Federal grant funds cannot be used for worship services, proselytization, religious instruction, or the construction of sanctuaries or spaces used primarily for worship.
Separation requirement: Grant-funded programs must be organizationally and financially separate from the religious activities of the organization. This typically means separate accounting, separate program staff, and physical separation (different rooms or facilities) between grant-funded services and religious programming.
Nondiscrimination in services: Faith-based organizations receiving federal grants must provide services to all eligible beneficiaries regardless of their religious beliefs and may not discriminate in service delivery.

The practical implication: a church that runs a food pantry, a shelter, a workforce development program, or a after-school tutoring program can apply for federal grants to support those programs. The religious character of the organization does not disqualify it — the use of funds for religious purposes does.

HUD Community Development Block Grants for Faith-Based Organizations

The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program is the federal government's most flexible community development funding stream and one of the most accessible for faith-based organizations. HUD provides CDBG funds to states, cities, and counties, which then allocate them through local competitive grant processes.

How CDBG works for churches: Local governments distribute CDBG funds through annual grant cycles. Faith-based organizations apply to their city, county, or state housing/community development department — not directly to HUD. This means application processes and priorities vary significantly by jurisdiction.
Eligible activities: CDBG funds can support acquisition of property, construction of community facilities, public services (up to 15% of a jurisdiction's annual CDBG allocation), economic development, and housing rehabilitation. Faith-based organizations that run qualifying activities are eligible.
National Objective requirement: All CDBG-funded activities must meet one of three national objectives: principally benefit low- and moderate-income persons, aid in the prevention or elimination of slums and blight, or meet urgent community development needs.
How to access: Contact your city's or county's community development department and ask about CDBG funding availability and application processes. Many jurisdictions accept applications annually in the fall for the following program year. Religious organizations routinely receive CDBG funding for food programs, housing assistance, and community centers.

USDA Rural Community Facility Grants

The USDA's Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant Program supports essential community facilities in rural areas. Religious organizations in rural areas that provide essential services to the community are eligible.

Eligible organizations: Public bodies, nonprofit organizations, and federally recognized tribes in rural areas with populations under 20,000. Faith-based nonprofit organizations qualify as nonprofits.
Eligible facilities: Healthcare facilities, childcare centers, public safety facilities, community centers, libraries, schools, and other community support facilities. A community center on church property that provides secular community services to all residents would qualify if it meets program requirements.
Grant amounts: Grants are based on the population of the area served and the median household income. Smaller, poorer rural communities receive higher grant percentages. Loans are often paired with grants.
How to apply: Contact your local USDA Rural Development office. Relationships with USDA staff are important — pre-application meetings significantly improve outcomes.

Historic Preservation Grants for Religious Buildings

Many church buildings are historically significant structures that qualify for preservation grants. These grants specifically address the physical building, making them a category where the religious use of the space is less of a compliance concern:

National Park Service Historic Preservation Fund grants: The NPS distributes Historic Preservation Fund money to State Historic Preservation Offices (SHPOs), which then award grants for rehabilitation of historic properties. Religious properties listed on or eligible for the National Register of Historic Places frequently receive these grants. Contact your SHPO for current grant programs.
Save America's Treasures: This NPS program funds preservation and conservation work on nationally significant historic properties and collections. Significant historic churches and their collections (artwork, documents, artifacts) are eligible.
Preserve America grants: Preserve America provides grants to communities for heritage tourism, education, and planning activities related to historic sites, including religious sites.
State and local historic preservation grants: Many states and municipalities have their own historic preservation grant programs. Search "[your state] historic preservation grants" for current opportunities.
Important note on historic preservation and religious use: Historic preservation grants for the physical structure of a church building are not subject to the same restrictions as social services grants. Preserving a historic building does not constitute government support for religion even if the building is used for worship.

Social Service Grants Churches Can Apply For

Beyond CDBG and USDA programs, multiple federal grant programs fund social services that churches commonly provide:

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): SAMHSA funds prevention, treatment, and recovery services for substance use disorders and mental health conditions. Faith-based organizations providing recovery programs can apply for SAMHSA grants, provided that grant-funded services are secular and available to all.
Administration for Children and Families (ACF): ACF funds childcare, early childhood programs, child welfare, and family support services. Faith-based organizations that run Head Start programs, afterschool care, or family counseling services can apply for ACF grants.
Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP): FEMA administers the EFSP, which provides grants to local organizations providing food, shelter, and other emergency services. Local boards in each community distribute EFSP funds, and faith-based organizations are among the primary recipients.
USDA TEFAP (The Emergency Food Assistance Program): TEFAP provides USDA food commodities and administrative funding to food banks and food pantries, including those operated by religious organizations.
DOJ Byrne JAG grants: Department of Justice grants for criminal justice, delinquency prevention, and reentry programs are available to nonprofits including faith-based organizations with qualifying programs.

Faith-Based and Community Initiatives Programs

The White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships works to ensure that faith-based organizations have equal access to federal grant programs. Every major federal department has a Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships that serves as a resource for religious organizations seeking federal grants.

HHS, HUD, DOL, DOJ, USDA, DOEd, and other agencies all have Faith-Based Centers that can answer questions about specific grant programs and eligibility.
The Centers host free trainings, webinars, and technical assistance programs specifically for faith-based organizations seeking federal grants.
Contact the relevant agency's Faith-Based Center before applying for any federal grant to confirm eligibility and get guidance on compliance requirements.

Private Foundation Grants for Religious Organizations

Private foundations provide an additional funding stream that is separate from federal compliance requirements:

Lilly Endowment: One of the largest funders of religion-related programming in the United States, Lilly Endowment provides grants for theological education, leadership development, and community development through religious institutions. Applications are by invitation only, but their programs fund a range of church activities beyond what federal grants can support.
Local community foundations: Most community foundations in the United States fund organizations based on impact rather than religious identity. Faith-based organizations providing community services frequently receive community foundation grants for their social service programs.
Corporate foundations: Many corporate foundations fund social services provided by faith-based organizations without restriction on religious identity. Search corporate foundations in your region that fund your program area.

How to Separate Religious Activities from Grant-Funded Programs

Structural separation is the most important compliance requirement for faith-based organizations receiving federal grants. Here's what reviewers and auditors look for:

Separate financial accounts: Grant funds must be deposited and tracked in accounts that are separate from the general operating or religious programming funds of the organization.
Separate staff time: If staff members spend time on both religious programming and grant-funded services, time and effort must be documented carefully, with grant funds paying only for documented time spent on grant activities.
Separate space when possible: Grant-funded services provided in a different room or building from religious activities are easier to document and defend. If space is shared, the scheduling of secular services during grant-funded times should be documented.
Notice to beneficiaries: Federal grant recipients must notify beneficiaries of their right to receive services from an alternative provider if they object to receiving services from a faith-based organization.
Separate program marketing: Grant-funded programs should be marketed separately from religious programming and identified clearly as funded by [Federal Agency] grants.

Conclusion: The Opportunity Is Real

Faith-based organizations deliver billions of dollars in community services annually, often with greater efficiency and community trust than government agencies. The legal framework that allows them to access federal grants exists precisely because policymakers recognize this value. Churches and religious organizations that run qualifying social services should not leave grant funding on the table out of mistaken assumptions about eligibility.

Explore current grant opportunities for nonprofits and community organizations on GrantLocate's nonprofit grants directory and browse the full federal grant database for currently open programs.