Tindley Temple stands as a beacon of hope and unity in our community. Established over a century ago, it has been a cornerstone for spiritual growth and social change. Our journey is rich with moments of resilience, love, and community service. From hosting educational events to serving as a refuge during challenging times, Tindley has always aimed to uplift and empower those who seek solace and guidance.
Join Us in Preserving
Our History
Our church is home to artifacts that tell our story and hold our communitys faith. Sadly, many of these precious items are deteriorating due to environmental factors. If not addressed, we risk losing pieces of our heritage that have inspired generations. We believe it’s essential to preserve these relics so they can continue to inspire hope and unity in our community. Your support in our mission to create a humidity-proof room will help protect our cherished artifacts for future generations.
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The need for immediate action is clear. Without a controlled environment, not only do we face the risk of irreversible damage, but we also limit our ability to share these stories with our community. By funding the humidity-proof room, you play a vital role in safeguarding our history. Let’s come together and ensure the stories of faith and resilience continue to flourish within our walls. Your contributions matter. Together, we can make a lasting impact.
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How Your Support Helps Our Community
a Safe Haven
Your contributions will help us build a humidity-proof room, providing a safe space for our community gatherings and services.
educated youth
With your help, we can form educational programs that inspire all ages to grow and learn together, strengthening our community bonds.
a connected community
Together, we can create events and activities that connect people of all backgrounds, fostering unity and compassion within our community.
campaign faqs
A capital campaign is a targeted fundraising effort aimed at upgrading, preserving, and/or building renovations that take place over a defined time period. Capital campaigns are all-hands-on-deck projects, requiring a dedicated effort from the entire congregation to achieve the goal. Capital campaigns differ from other forms of fundraising in that they are massive projects. Therefore, their objectives are highly specific and clearly laid out as the campaign progresses, and their end goals are concrete and time defined.
The cost to build the Charles Albert Tindley Legacy Preservation Center (our new archive) is $350K. Therefore, the campaign purpose is to raise the funds. Our project must be finished and paid for by April 1, 2026.
Fundraising for the Charles Albert Tindley Legacy Preservation Center began in late 2024 but officially kicked off on April 27, 2025
Building and payment for the Charles Albert Tindley Legacy Preservation Center must be completed by April 1, 2026.
The Capital Campaign Committee is led by Jillian Patricia Pirtle and a team of dedicated team members. The Tindley Temple Leadership Board supports and administers the Campaign. Partners for Sacred Place and the Philadelphia Preservation Alliance guide and support our work.
When outside funders and donors see that a congregation has strong internal support, they are more motivated to commit their money. Funders find it more compelling to donate when they see that the congregation is enthusiastically onboard.
In 2025 our architect completed the drawings and general contractors were invited to bid on our project. Feedback from contractors and the architect indicated that the project would cost $350,000.
In 2024, Partners for Sacred Places (“Partners”), offered a grant program, the Philadelphia Fund for Black Sacred Places. Tindley applied and received a preservation matching grant. Tindley Temple needs additional income to build the Legacy Center archive and meet the match required.
Founded in 1989, Partners for Sacred Places (“Partners”) is the only national, non-sectarian, nonprofit organization focused on building the capacity of historic sacred places to better serve their communities as anchor institutions, nurturing transformation, and shaping vibrant, creative communities.
This Partners for Sacred Places (“Partners”) grant program helps Black congregations preserve their properties, cultural centers, and landmarks and expands access to neighborhood public spaces. Congregations apply for matching grants for up to $250K. Tindley received a 2:1 matching grant for $125K. This includes a $25K planning grant which has been allocated for program materials, and consultants leaving a net of $100K. We need to raise an addional $250Kincluding the grant match to complete the $350,000 project.
The architect is Michael Johns, President, of Mdesigns + MWJ Consulting LLC. Michael is a member of the American Institute of Architects College of Fellows (FAIA) and a former President of the Nation Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA). He is also a LEED Accredited Professional and a cerfied MBE and DBE.
No. This campaign is community-wide, and no sacrifice is too big or too small. We are asking every Tindley Temple member to make a commitment to the campaign (above their regular giving). There are also special giving levels:
Memorial Brick Category $500 - $25K; Pew Naming Dedication $5K - $20K; Plaque Naming Dedication $25K – 50K; Memorial Plaque Etching $75K - $200K.
Every gift is important! You can donate anytime right on this webpage. Scroll down to the giving page and click the links to make a pledge or one-time donation. If you use the giving portal, be sure to select Tindley Archival Wing Preservation from the drop-down menu. We also have paper pledge cards. Complete a paper copy of the pledge form, which you can get from If you need help, please leave a message for Lola Sergeant our Finance Chairperson at (215) 735-0442.
Timing for payments can be set up at your discretion. The Legacy Center, phase I of our capital campaign, ends March 31st 2026
If you have questions or need campaign materials, please contact the church office 215 735-0442 and leave a message.
If there’s something specific on your ind that we havent covered, don’t hesitate to reach out. Your thoughts and concerns matter to us, and we’re eager to assist you in any way possible. Together, we can create a brighter future for our community.
Your giving goes a long way
We are seeking to raise $250,000 to create a humidity-proof archive room for our community. Every contribution counts! Each one plays a vital role in safeguarding our cherished history. Together, we can create a humidity-proof archival space to protect our historical artifacts so that future generations can experience the stories and culture that shape us. Join us in making a difference in our community with each donation.
*Here is where we can also speak to the donor, acknowledging that there are other ways that they can donate to the capital campaign other than donating online. The list below this paragraph will outline HOW someone who may not be online-savvy can still donate to the capital campaign.*