Yes! Churches Can Apply for Grants

Tired of thinking about ways to balance your budget? Is there a fabulous new ministry that you’d like to fund? Looking for new revenue streams?
 
Maybe it’s time to write a grant.
 
Deciding that this is a possibility is the first step.
 
The second? Crystalizing what it is that you want or need to get funded. Here’s the big hint: It will be easier to get funding for programs that don’t solely benefit the people in your pews.
 
No, most grants will not fund (shocker!) Sunday School or your choir director.

What they will fund are programs that benefit the community.
 
That Food Bank you run? Could be a perfect fit.

A music program that invites the community in for free lessons? Some funder will love it.

Installing showers or washing machines for houseless people to use? It could be appealing to a foundation working on that issue.
 
Writing the first grant is always the hardest one to do. And you can guess why:

• Finding a foundation that matches their interests with yours
  

• Articulating why your program should be funded over others (it’s called “persuasive writing”)
  

• Gathering your church’s documents. These might include:

  • Legal documentation that you are a church and have nonprofit status

    • If you’re not a 501c3, the UMC’s General Council on Finance and Administration (GCFA) may be able to provide you with the documentation you need. If that doesn’t help, you can reach out to them via email.

  • Annual Budget

  • Budget for your program/project (usually one-page, income/expenses)

  • Current balance sheet

  • An audit (this may prove to be a great reason to get one)

  • List of your leadership

  • And whatever else the foundation requests

                  Pro tip: When I was writing grants, I found it helpful to have a separate file just for “attachments.” Always handy, always ready.

• Making time.

  • To think about what you hope this program/project will accomplish.

  • To wonder how your community will be different because of it

  • To plan how you will implement your idea (a major benefit of writing a grant).

  • To develop a timeline

  • To determine how you will fund the program/project beyond the life of the grant (it’s called “sustainability”)

  • To make sure others in your organization are on board with your Big Idea

Once that first grant is under your belt – remember, it’s the hardest one to do – then you’ll have a blueprint to adapt to other grant requests.
 
Grant writing isn’t your thing? Maybe there’s someone in your congregation who does this for a living, or there’s someone who has written grants just for fun. Ask them for their assistance in writing or reviewing the grant you want to submit.
 
For years, the church has thought “I can’t apply for grants…we’re a church.” That’s simply not true. There are funds out there.
 
Is it work? Yes, it is.
 
Will you get a grant if you don’t apply? You know the answer.
 
Will you get every grant you apply for? Highly doubtful.
 
But when you do get that grant and you’re able to fund a program that makes a deep impact in the community and for your congregation…you bet, it will all be worthwhile.
 
Have you had experience with grant writing for your church? What’s it been like? Drop me a line and let me know!
 
Bonus content: In the pre-pandemic days (I barely can remember them), I did a one-hour Grant Writing 101for Church Leaders webinar with Ken Sloane for Discipleship Ministries. You might find it useful.

And one more bonus article: The Pastor’s Guide to Church Grants: Why, How, and When to Apply

Photo credit: Jose Aljovin@ Usplash
 
*** Reminder! Julia Frisbie, Executive Director of the Faith Foundation Northwest and I will be leading a webinar on September 18 from 6:30-7:30: Pledge Campaign Best Practices. It will be recorded. Be sure to sign up now! ***

Cesie Delve Scheuermann (pronounced “CC Delv Sherman,” yes, really) is a consultant in stewardship, development, and grant writing. For 25 years, while working as a volunteer and part-time consultant, she has helped raise over three million dollars for numerous non-profit organizations. Here’s a little Dan Levy meme for all you grant writers.

You can reach Cesie at inspiringgenerosity@gmail.com or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/inspiringgenerosity or at CesieScheuermann.com.
 
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