 Local Religious Property Assistance Programs
Preservation
Architecture
General Religious Resources
Fundraising
Useful Non-Profit Organizations
Denominational Directory Websites
- Cornerstones Community Partnership
Cornerstones strengthens and organizes small communities in New Mexico by providing technical and fundraising assistance to churches. The program emphasizes the training of community residents and volunteers in repair techniques for adobe walls and has made building materials available at a low cost for repair or stabilization projects.
- Historic Boston Incorporated: The Steeples Project
In 1992, Historic Boston Incorporated initiated the Steeples Project in order to help Boston's religious property owners maintain their buildings and thus continue the invaluable services they provide in the needy areas of Boston. Under the Steeples Project, Historic Boston raises funds from charitable foundations, and then re-grants this money in the form of competitive matching grants to targeted historic religious properties.
- New Haven Historic Preservation Trust
The New Haven Historic Preservation Trust provides training and other services to congregations in and around the New Haven area.
- New York Landmarks Conservancy: Sacred Sites Program
The Conservancy's program covers the entire state of New York and offers workshops, technical assistance and grants. Additionally, the Conservancy publishes Common Bond, a quarterly magazine with technical information on repairs and maintenance. (See "Technical Information" below for more details).
- Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation: Historic Religious Properties Initiative
Each year, Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation awards between $50,000 - $60,000 in small grants to historic religious institutions for bricks and mortar projects.
Technical assistance is also awarded to several institutions each year. The Historic Religious Properties grant and technical assistance program is funded through contributions from Landmarks members and trustees.
- Prairie Churches of North Dakota
Through community volunteer projects, self-help publications, awards and on-site technical assistance, this program demonstrates how North Dakota's historic rural churches can be adapted to meet contemporary needs and continue their historic role as centers of community life.
- Preservation Alliance of Minnesota: Sacred Sites Initiative
The Alliance's Sacred Sites Initiative defines its purpose as to, "serve as a resource and networking center for the preservation and restoration of Minnesota places and properties associated with worship and religion or otherwise considered sacred."
Local Religious Property Programs Without Web Sites
These programs typically offer technical assistance to diagnose building problems and guide capital work; identify architects, engineers, and other contractors experienced in working with historic properties; and sponsor educational workshops, conferences, and publications.
- Friends of Sacred Structures
c/o Westport Presbyterian Church
201 Westport Road
Kansas City, MO 64110
(816) 561-3717
Friends of Sacred Structures provides technical assistance and training to congregations with historic buildings in the Kansas City area.
National/International Organizations
- The American Glass Guild
The American Glass Guild is an organization dedicated to the open and widespread dissemination of correct information and intelligent, informed opinions about stained, leaded and decorative glass. We are an inclusive organization and we actively seek the participation of all people with an interest in these diverse arts.
- The Association for Gravestone Studies
The Association for Gravestone Studies was founded in 1977 for the purpose of furthering the study and preservation of gravestones. AGS is an international organization with an interest in gravemarkers of all periods.
- International Survey of Jewish Monuments
The International Survey of Jewish Monuments is an independent, non-profit, membership based, educational organization dedicated to the documentation, study, care and conservation of historic Jewish sites throughout the world. The organization supports research, exhibition, publication and conservation of the material culture of the Jewish people.
- National Trust For Historic Preservation
The Trust is a private, non-profit organization chartered by Congress to encourage public participation in the preservation of sites, buildings and objects significant in American history and culture. Regional offices of the National Trust can be found under Local Contacts on the Trust's home page.
- National Park Service
The Park Service includes a Heritage Preservation Services program, which has a Technical Preservation Services Branch. This branch publishes technical briefs and collects useful information on building conservation approaches. The Park Service also manages the National Register of Historic Places which lists properties that are significant to the nation, the states or local communities for historical, architectural and cultural reasons.
- World Monuments Fund (WMF)
WMF's goal is "to bring a concern for the built environment to the global conservation agenda." It is the only non-profit, private organization in the world that provides funding for historic preservation on a global basis. It sponsors on-site preservation as well as related research, training and advocacy.
Local and State Preservation Programs
- National Trust For Historic Preservation: State Links
A list of different state wide preservation organizations as well as National Trust activities in each state.
- State Historic Preservation Offices
Each state maintains a State Historic Preservation Office, which helps administer the National Register program; distributes grant monies for the survey and repair of historic buildings; and provides technical guidance and council to historic property owners.
Technical Information
- National Center for Preservation Technology and Training
NCPTT is an interdisciplinary effort by the National Park Service to advance the art, craft, and science of historic preservation in the fields of archeology, historic architecture, historic landscapes, objects and materials conservation, and interpretation. The NCPTT Web site provides centralized access to preservation-related Internet resources, including information about jobs, grants and conferences, as well as links to Web sites, databases, libraries, archives, and museums.
- The National Park Service's Preservation Briefs
Preservation Briefs are part of the Park Service's Heritage Preservation Sercives. There are over forty Preservation Briefs on subjects ranging from stained glass repair, to masonry cleaning and repointing, to making properties handicapped accessible.
- New York Landmark Conservancy's Common Bond
This magazine presents clear and helpful advice specifically for those interested in historic religious properties, not only covering the care of the building, but also how to raise money, hire a contractor, buy insurance, etc.
- Interfaith Coalition on Energy (ICE)
ICE offers a range of services and publications to help congregations reduce their heating, cooling and other energy costs. ICE provides intensive services in the Philadelphia area, but is also available to perform energy audits, provide workshop training, distribute educational materials, and assist in the formation of other local energy coalitions throughout the nation. ICE publishes an excellent, inexpensive newsletter entitled Comfort & Light.
- Traditional Building: The Professional's Source for Historic Products
This website is the gateway to more than 300 leading suppliers of traditionally styled products and related services. These products are appropriate for restoration and renovation of older structures -- as well as traditionally styled new buildings. This site has been assembled primarily for design and construction professionals, and owners and managers of historic buildings.
Religious Structures
- John Wiley and Sons, Inc.
This publishing company prints a useful series of preservation-related titles including America's Religious Architecture: Sacred Places for Every Community by Marilyn J. Chiat.
- Hoffmann Architects' JOURNAL is a technical publication written and published by the firm for building owners, facility managers, and other building professionals. Each issue addresses a specific aspect of building envelope rehabilitation, from the latest in roofing technologies to the restoration of historic limestone and marble.
General Reference
- The Athenaeum of Philadelphia
The Athenaeum is a non-profit special collections library in Philadelphia which houses much information regarding architectural history.
- The Getty Trust
This site provides an impressive searchable database on architecture and art history that includes the Avery Index of Architectural Periodicals.
Other Sites of Interest
- The Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience
The Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience (MSJE) is a private, not-for-profit corporation which interprets, documents, and preserves the long and rich tradition of Jewish life in the South through exhibits, public programs, publications, historic preservation, and community outreach. It is run under the auspices of the Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life.
- National Building Museum
Created by an act of Congress, the National Building Museum is America's premiere cultural institution dedicated to exploring and celebrating architecture, design, engineering, construction, and urban planning.
- Society of Architectural Historians
Founded in 1940, the Society provides an international forum for those who care about architecture and its related arts. It encourages scholarly research in the field and promotes the preservation of significant architectural monuments that are an integral part of our worldwide historical and cultural heritage.
Other Web Pages with Good Links
- Internet Resources related to preservation housed at ICOMOS
The International Council on Monuments and Sites is a non-governmental organization of professionals, dedicated to the conservation of the world's historic monuments and sites.
- International Facility Management Association (IFMA) is a professional association for facility management, supporting more than 18,500 members. This website is IFMA's online buidling resource.
- Preserve/Net
Cornell University's site is another good source for information on historic preservation and provides a number of links to other related resources.
- Yahoo's Preservation Links
Selections from this popular Internet search engine.
- The Alban Institute
The Alban Institute is an interfaith organization that provides various resources for religious organizations. They provide for congregations through book publishing, educational services, research and consulting services.
- Center for the Study of American Religion and Culture at Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis
The Center for the Study of Religion and American Culture is a research and public outreach institute devoted to the promotion of the understanding of the relation between religion and other features of American culture.
- Church and Ecumenical Resources
This World Council of Churches site provides links to religious organizations from around the world.
- The Congregational Resource Guide
With this Internet listing of resources, the Alban Institute and its Indianapolis Center for Congregations wish to establish a forum to help congregational leaders. This forum identifies and shares the best resources for helping us to meet our greatest challenges and also to learn together how to best use those resources.
- Divinity Library, Vanderbilt University
A particularly good collection of materials for the study of American religion.
- Indianapolis Center for Congregations
Affiliated with the Alban Institute, this organization provides help to congregations in the central Indiana metropolitan area. They are able to connect congregations that need help to resources across the country.
- American Association of Fundraising Council
Since 1935, the American Association of Fundraising Counsel and its member firms have embraced and embodied the core values of ethics, excellence, and leadership in advancing philanthropy. Serving clients of every size and purpose, from local institutions to international organizations, AAFRC member firms embrace the highest ethical standards and maintain a strict code of fair practices.
- Association of Fundraising Professionals
A professional association whose mission is to advance philanthropy through advocacy, research, education, and training programs. They host national and local conferences.
- Chronicle of Philanthropy
A news source, in print and on line, for charity leaders, fundraisers, grant makers and other people involved in the philanthropic enterprise. - The Foundation Center
Excellent site for those interested in researching foundations; the Center also publishes many guides for funding of non-profit organizations which are available on their site.
Click here to find a Foundation Center Cooperating Collection location near you.
- Grassroots Fundraising Journal
Practical tips and tools to help you raise money for your organization.
- Groundspring.org
Provides affordable internet fundraising, email and advocacy services for nonprofits to succeed online.
Fish this well-stocked pool for books, videos, articles, web links, stories, sermons, quotations, and much more! Most of these resources are free to copy or download from this site; some you can send away for, or ask permission from the publisher to use.
- Ministry of Money
Christian ministry that encourages all to live out God's call for their lives and resources. They do workshops, retreats and pilgrimages.
- The Nonprofit Times
News, research and practical information on fundraising, management, marketing, volunteers and governance.
- American Association For State and Local History
The Association's Mission: To promote and enhance an appreciation of the origins, development, and continuities of the North American experience. The American Association for State and Local History, a nonprofit membership organization, provides leadership for and service to those who practice and support history in North America.
- American Association of Museums
Founded in 1906, the American Association of Museums (AAM) is dedicated to promoting excellence within the museum community. Through advocacy, professional education, information exchange, accreditation, and guidance on current professional standards of performance, AAM assists museum staff, boards, and volunteers across the country to better serve the public.
- The Asset-Based Community Development Institute
A part of the Community Development Program at Northwestern University, the ABCD works to help communities in their development. By the use of various tools, the Institute is able to provide numerous resources.
- The Children's Defense Fund
The Children's Defense Fund exists to provide a strong and effective voice for all the children of America, who cannot vote, lobby, or speak for themselves. For more than 15 years, the Children's Defense Fund has worked in partnership with the religious community to respond to the needs of children through worship, direct service, education, community outreach, and advocacy.
- National Council of Nonprofit Associations
Based in Washington, DC and founded in 1989, the National Council of Nonprofit Associations (NCNA) is a network of 37 state and regional associations representing more than 12,000 nonprofits in the country. They have publications for sale, a calendar of events, and links to state associations, public policymakers and national resources.
- Pennsylvania Downtown Center
The mission of the PA Downtown Center is to advance the sense of place, quality of life and economic vitality of Pennsylvania's traditional neighborhood business districts and nearby residential areas. The Pennsylvania Downtown Center is committed to helping communities through education, training, strategic partnerships, and advocacy efforts.
These websites are official pages for the denomination. Where available, the links allow you to search for a congregation within their denomination.
For other sites not listed here try Denomination Homepages from Hartford Institute for Religion Research.
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