The Freedom Quilting Bee Legacy secures a seven-figure grant to preserve its historic home and boost organizational capacity.

ALBERTA, Ala — Freedom Quilting Bee Legacy has received a $1.15 million grant from the Mellon Foundation to preserve the historic home of the Freedom Quilting Bee and build the organization’s long-term capacity, the group announced.

The three-year Humanities in Place grant runs from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2029.

The Freedom Quilting Bee was founded in 1966 and became a nationally recognized quilting cooperative that created economic opportunity for Black women in rural Alabama. Through partnerships with national retailers, the women of the cooperative generated income for their families while preserving an artistic tradition and advancing economic justice during the Civil Rights Movement.

“This investment from the Mellon Foundation is a powerful affirmation of the national significance of the Freedom Quilting Bee story,” said Kim V. Kelly, executive director of Freedom Quilting Bee Legacy. “It enables us to preserve this historic place while building the organizational capacity needed to ensure these stories continue to educate and inspire generations to come.”

Credit: Freedom Quilting Bee Legacy
Freedom Quilting Bee Legacy has received a $1.15 million grant from the Mellon Foundation to preserve and strengthen its historic Alabama home.

The grant will fund upgrades to the historic structure, including modernized building systems, accessibility improvements and rehabilitation that preserves its historic character for continued use as a center for exhibitions, education, research and community engagement. It will also support hiring a development director to expand fundraising and donor engagement.

The award builds on previous support from the Alabama State Council on the Arts, the Daniel Foundation of Alabama and the Educational Foundation of America, which funded renovation of the Rev. Lonnie Brown Jr. Learning Center and other site improvements.

By 2029, the organization expects to have advanced preservation of the landmark while expanding exhibitions, educational initiatives, artist residencies and community partnerships.

More information is available at fqblegacy.org.