named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
Building Restoration Initiative
Multi-phase project to stabilize, restore, and expand the historic church, including returning the interior to its 1849–1913 appearance and constructing an accessible annex.
Historic Church Tours and Docent Program
Trains and deploys docents to lead educational tours of the Michigan Street Baptist Church, sharing its history related to the Underground Railroad, civil rights, and community activism.
Public Educational Events
Hosts virtual and in-person panels and events exploring connections between the church’s history and broader African American cultural legacies, such as the Fisk Jubilee Singers and the Underground Railroad.
activities · 2 groups
What they do
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Local History Preservation and Education 2 activities
- Docent training and volunteer engagementProvides docent training to equip individuals to lead educational tours about the church’s history, members, and impact on Buffalo. Engages volunteers in preservation and historical outreach efforts.
- Educational programming and public toursProvides guided tours that highlight the church’s historical connections to the Underground Railroad, Progressive Movements, and Civil Rights movements. Hosts public events such as virtual panels, including one exploring links between the Fisk Jubilee Singers and the Underground Railroad.
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Historic Building Restoration and Preservation 2 activities
- Historical research and documentation of the churchHired preservation planners and researchers in 2013 to produce a 374-page Historic Structures Report documenting the history and significance of the Michigan Street Baptist Church.
- Restoration and preservation of the Historic Michigan Street Baptist ChurchConducts structural restoration and ongoing preservation of the Historic Michigan Street Baptist Church, including completion of the first phase of structural stabilization by October 2022. Secured $204,845 in federal funding for rehabilitation efforts.
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financials · form 990 · fy2023
revenue
Total revenue$723K
Contributions & grants$723K100%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$385K
Program expenses82%
Admin / overhead12%
Fundraising6%
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineProfessional Fees
balance sheet
Total assets$73K
Cash$60K
Investments$0
Liabilities$14K
Net assets$59K
Liquid reserves1.9 mo
3 years on record · 2021–2023 · YoY revenue +192.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2023
Who runs it
board members · 9
- DaShawn Hines — Director
- Janice Ferguson — Director
- Larry Goins — Director
- Paul McDonnell — Director
- Rachel Henderson — Vice Chair
- Richard Berger — Director
- Simone Ragland — Director
- Talisa King — Director
- Tiffany Perry — Director
relationships · 16
Who they work with
- Crawford & Stearns Architects and Preservation Planners Partner — Hired to prepare a Historic Structures Report for the Michigan Street Baptist Church.
- Department of the Interior Government — Oversees the National Park Service and the Historic Preservation Fund that supports the grant.
- Fisk Jubilee Singers Partner — Co-hosted a virtual panel on the legacies of the Fisk Jubilee Singers and the Underground Railroad.
- Historic Michigan Street Baptist Church Partner — Partner organization whose heritage is preserved and promoted by the coalition
- Historic Preservation Fund Government — Source of funding for the African American Civil Rights Grants Program.
- Historical New York Research Associates Partner — Collaborated on the preparation of a Historic Structures Report for the Michigan Street Baptist Church.
- Michigan Street African American Heritage Corridor Commission Coalition — Member organization collaborating to share resources and secure funding for restoration projects.
- Michigan Street African American Heritage Corridor Commission Partner — Partner organization that collaborates on docent training for sharing the history of Michigan Street Baptist Church.
- Michigan Street Baptist Church Partner — Collaborates on docent training to educate visitors about the church's history and impact.
- Michigan Street Baptist Church Partner — Collaborates with the Buffalo Niagara Freedom Station Coalition on support and restoration efforts.
- Michigan Street Baptist Church Partner — Collaborates with the Michigan Street Baptist Church, a historic institution involved in the Underground Railroad and civil rights movement.
- Michigan Street Baptist Church Partner — Core institutional partner in preservation and heritage advocacy efforts
- Michigan Street Baptist Church Partner — Hosts information about the Buffalo Niagara Freedom Station Coalition Inc and shares leadership, indicating a close organizational partnership
- Michigan Street Baptist Church Partner — Hosts visitation and historical programming in partnership with Buffalo Niagara Freedom Station Coalition Inc.
- Michigan Street Baptist Church Partner — Partner in preserving and promoting the church's historical and cultural significance.
- National Park Service Government — Administers the African American Civil Rights Grant program through which BNFSC received funding.
strategies · 3
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Community-Led Cultural Heritage Preservationmethodology: community-led_preservationBy engaging local stakeholders and community coalitions in restoration and programming, we preserve culturally significant sites and promote sustained community ownership, because collective stewardship strengthens both heritage continuity and civic engagement.
- Cultural Education Through Historical Memory and Musicmethodology: cultural-education-through-musicBy using music and historical narratives tied to the Underground Railroad and civil rights legacy, we educate the public about African American heritage, because experiential and emotionally resonant programming deepens understanding and engagement more than factual dissemination alone.
- Partnership-Based Capacity Building for Heritage Interpretationmethodology: partner-based_trainingBy training docents through partnerships with cultural commissions, we ensure authentic and knowledgeable storytelling about the church’s history, because institutional collaboration enhances credibility and reach in public education.