From Activism to the Apex: Brent Leggs' Remaking of American Preservation

WASHINGTON, DC – June 22, 2026 – The National Trust for Historic Preservation, an organization chartered by Congress in 1949 to safeguard America’s past, has unanimously elected Brent Leggs as its 11th President and CEO. This is not merely a leadership transition; it is a clear signal of strategic evolution. Leggs, who began his career at the Trust as a graduate intern over two decades ago, is the architect of the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund (Action Fund), a transformative initiative that has fundamentally altered the landscape of preservation in the United States.

His appointment, effective immediately, comes at what the organization rightly calls a “pivotal moment,” as communities across the country grapple with whose stories are told, whose landmarks are saved, and what the physical record of our history should look like. For business leaders and strategists, the implications are profound. Leggs’ leadership represents a shift from viewing preservation as a static act of conservation to seeing it as a dynamic engine for social equity, economic development, and community resilience.

A Vision Forged in Action

To understand the future of the National Trust under Brent Leggs, one must first understand the Action Fund. Launched in 2017 in the wake of the violent clashes in Charlottesville, Virginia, the fund was a direct response to a national crisis of identity. Leggs channeled the turmoil over Confederate monuments into a constructive, forward-looking mission: to make an “enduring contribution to the American landscape” by preserving the sites of Black achievement, struggle, and resilience.

The results have been nothing short of staggering. In just under a decade, Leggs has raised over $200 million, creating the largest preservation resource of its kind in the nation. This capital has been deployed to support over 400 projects, providing not just funding but critical expertise and project management to local organizers. The portfolio is a rich tapestry of American history that had long been underfunded and overlooked: the New York estate of Madam C.J. Walker, America’s first female self-made millionaire; Joe Frazier’s gym in Philadelphia; and the birthplace of musical genius Nina Simone in North Carolina.

This is preservation as activism. It is a deliberate effort to correct the record and ensure, in Leggs’ own words, that “every American can see themselves reflected in our shared cultural landscape.” By saving the physical evidence of these stories, the Action Fund has built a powerful counter-narrative, demonstrating that the full American story is one of complex, multi-layered, and diverse experiences.

The Business of Preservation

Leggs’ approach transcends cultural advocacy; it is rooted in a pragmatic understanding of the economic and social value embedded in historic places. He has proven that preservation is not a cost center but a catalyst for growth. “Our work is not only about safeguarding important places,” Leggs stated upon his appointment, but also about deepening public understanding of preservation’s role in “supporting environmental resilience, and fostering economic development.”

This philosophy is best exemplified by the revitalization of Hinchliffe Stadium in Paterson, New Jersey, a Negro Leagues ballpark that had fallen into ruin. Through the Action Fund’s support, the stadium was not just restored but reimagined as the centerpiece of a broader downtown revitalization strategy, complete with affordable housing for seniors and a new museum. This is the Leggs model in action: leveraging cultural assets to generate tangible community benefits, from job creation to increased property values and tourism.

His leadership brings a formidable financial acumen to the helm of an already robust organization. The National Trust, with reported total assets of $527 million in 2024, is in a solid financial position. Leggs’ demonstrated ability to attract nine-figure investments from major philanthropic players like the Ford and Mellon foundations signals an era of even greater financial ambition. His strategy is not just about raising money, but about aligning capital with a clear, compelling vision that delivers measurable returns—socially, culturally, and economically.

Furthermore, this vision directly addresses one of the most pressing challenges for modern leaders: sustainability. By championing the adaptive reuse of existing structures, historic preservation is inherently a green practice. It reduces demolition waste, conserves the embodied energy in original materials, and promotes dense, walkable communities. Initiatives like the National Resilience Initiative, a partnership to help historic coastal communities prepare for climate change, show that the Trust under Leggs is poised to lead on building a more resilient future by learning from the past.

A Foundation for Change

Leggs inherits an organization prepared for this evolution. His predecessor, Carol Quillen, who served since January 2024, is credited with raising the organization’s national visibility and shifting the public’s perception of preservation’s relevance. This groundwork created the conditions for a leader like Leggs to take the mission to the next level.

The board’s unanimous decision underscores its confidence in this new direction. “As a national leader in preservation practice and academia, he has shown that preservation can honor history while also promoting community resilience, inclusion, and long-term sustainability,” said Phoebe Tudor, chair of the National Trust’s Board of Trustees. Her comments reflect a clear strategic choice to embed the innovative, equity-focused principles of the Action Fund into the core DNA of the entire organization.

Leggs’ personal journey from a graduate intern from Paducah, Kentucky, to the CEO’s office embodies the very idea of building on a firm foundation. His two decades of experience provide him with an intimate understanding of the organization’s mechanics, while his work with the Action Fund demonstrates his capacity as a visionary disruptor. It is this unique blend of institutional knowledge and transformative zeal that makes his appointment so significant.

The Path Forward: From Sites to Stories

With Leggs at the helm, the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund will continue its vital work as a division of the Trust, led by senior members of the team he built. This ensures the continuity of its mission, which continues to break new ground with initiatives like the Preserving Black Churches program, which recently awarded $13.5 million in new grants.

Leaders from across the philanthropic and cultural sectors have voiced their support. Darren Walker, president of Anonymous Content and co-chair of the Action Fund’s National Advisory Council, expressed his confidence in Leggs’ ability to “bring that same innovation and mission-driven focus to a broader scale at the helm of the National Trust.” As the nation approaches its 250th anniversary, a moment that demands a deep and honest reflection on the full American story, Leggs’ leadership positions the National Trust as an essential institution in that national dialogue.

His ascension marks a definitive statement about the future of heritage in America. It is a future where the preservation of a place is inextricably linked to the empowerment of its people, where the stories of the marginalized are moved to the center, and where the act of saving our history is recognized as one of the most powerful ways to build a more equitable and prosperous future.