Funds raised will protect the nation's historic places and the laws that safeguard them against urgent threats emanating from Washington

WASHINGTON, Sept. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Brent Leggs, the newly appointed President and CEO of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, today announced the establishment of the Historic Preservation Defense Fund, an ambitious $10M fundraising campaign to protect and honor our nation's shared civic and cultural inheritance. The Fund will provide resources for legal defense, public advocacy, and community action whenever historic places and the laws that protect them are under threat. Leggs made the announcement during his keynote address at the 2026 National Preservation Summit.

"This is an urgent, pivotal moment for historic preservation. Our nation's iconic, historic buildings and places, and with them the foundational stories of our country, are now under a generational threat," said Brent Leggs, President and CEO of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. "Ensuring America's tangible heritage survives these ongoing assaults will require bold, coordinated action across the field and the Historic Preservation Defense Fund will be the bedrock of our efforts. The funds raised will provide investment and support for a united preservation movement as we mount a shared defense against current and emerging threats."

From the White House to the Grand Canyon, from the Statue of Liberty to the Golden Gate Bridge, the future of America's historic places is in jeopardy. This moment requires preservation organizations, law firms, journalists, concerned citizens, and communities across the country to act together. The Historic Preservation Defense Fund will provide the preservation movement with the resources needed to meet this challenge.

The National Trust's 2026 National Preservation Summit—currently in its inaugural year—is hosting more than 500 preservation, business, and policy leaders at Washington National Cathedral. With a theme of All People Are Created Equal, the Summit brings together an extraordinary range of voices and perspectives, reflecting the breadth of the historic preservation movement and its connections to architecture, law, history, civil rights, community development, and civic life.

Over the course of the day, guests will explore issues ranging from the effort to weaken Section 106 regulations, place-based economic development, community revitalization, and how to chart a bold new course for preservation's next chapter.

Speakers include Harvard scholar and author Sarah Lewis; civil rights lawyer and legal scholar Sherrilyn Ifill; AIA President-elect Yiselle Santos Rivera; and U.S. Senator Bill Frist, among many others.

The 2026 National Preservation Summit is made possible thanks to the generous support of the 1772 Foundation and the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund, among others.

About the National Trust for Historic Preservation
The National Trust for Historic Preservation is a privately-funded nonprofit organization dedicated to helping communities maintain and enhance the power of historic places. Chartered by Congress in 1949 and supported by partners, friends, and champions nationwide, we help preserve the places and stories that make communities unique. Through the stewardship and revitalization of historic sites, we help communities foster economic growth, create healthier environments, and build a stronger, shared sense of civic duty and belonging. 

Contact: Elliot Carter, ECarter@SavingPlaces.org

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SOURCE National Trust for Historic Preservation