Securing funding for your church’s mission can transform your ability to serve the local community. Yet many church leaders miss out on thousands in grant money simply because they don’t know where to look or how to apply. Behind every successful church community program is often a well-written grant that turned vision into reality.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore eight current grant opportunities specifically for churches in 2025, complete with:
Detailed eligibility requirements that help you quickly identify which grants match your church’s needs
Upcoming application deadlines to ensure you never miss an opportunity
Practical tips for creating compelling applications that stand out to funders
P.S., Teams using AI-powered grant writing tools like Grantboost can now handle their entire monthly grant workload in the time it used to take to complete just one application. This tool is revolutionizing the grant writing process, making it faster and easier for churches to apply for grants.
Stick around to learn more!
For individuals and teams looking to secure more funding with less effort. Streamline your grant-writing process, stay organized, and achieve better results with proven templates and AI-driven proposals.
| Grant Program | Eligibility | Amount | Deadline | Focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Versacare Foundation | Seventh-day Adventist affiliated; 501(c)(3) status; 2+ years operation | $2,500-$40,000+ | Year-round with quarterly reviews | Community engagement, education, health, youth initiatives |
| Baltimore-Washington UMC | Methodist churches in Baltimore-Washington Conference | Up to $2,500 (Micro); Varies (Strategic) | April 1 & Oct 1, 2025 | New outreach, leadership development |
| Historic Preservation | Churches on the National Register or with historical value | $5,000-$50,000+ | Varies; spring/fall cycles | Building preservation, repairs, accessibility |
| Lilly Endowment | Christian congregations | $5,000-$1,000,000+ | Multiple deadlines | Leadership, renewal, youth ministry, sustainability |
| Denominational Support | Membership in specific denomination | $1,000-$25,000 | Varies by denomination | Church planting, youth, worship, leadership |
| Trinity Church Real Estate | Parishes developing church property | $80,000-$350,000 | Inquiries: May 30; Applications: June 27 | Property development with community benefit |
| Walmart Spark Good | Churches with community projects | $250-$5,000 | Four cycles throughout 2025 | Food pantries, soup kitchens, clothing closets |
| Mustard Seed Migration | United Methodist churches in the US | $2,000 per church | Rolling until Sept 1, 2025 | Migrant and refugee support services |
| GCORR CORR Action | United Methodist Church entities | Up to $10,000 | May 15, 2025 | Immigration issues, conflict resolution, leadership |
Churches can access various types of grants depending on their needs, denomination, and project focus:
Program Grants: Fund-specific ministry initiatives, community outreach, or educational programs
Capital Grants: Support building renovations, repairs, or facility improvements
Operational Grants: Provide funding for day-to-day church operations and administrative needs
Denominational Grants: Offered by specific religious organizations to their member churches
Foundation Grants: Provided by private foundations with religious or community-focused missions
Government Grants: Available for historic preservation, community services, or cultural programs
Understanding these categories helps you target the right funding sources for your church’s specific needs. Let’s explore the current opportunities available for churches in 2025.
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Below are grant opportunities currently accepting applications from churches in 2025. Each listing includes detailed information about eligibility requirements, application deadlines, and grant amounts to help you quickly identify which opportunities are right for your church.
The Versacare Foundation supports programs and projects consistent with its mission and the mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The foundation offers different grant levels through its Versafund Grant Program.
Eligibility: Open to Seventh-day Adventist denominationally owned or operated entities and faith-based organizations affiliated with the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Organizations must have 501(c)(3) status and have been in continuous operation for at least two years.
Grant Amount:
K-12 Grant: Up to $10,000 depending on school size
Catalyst Grant: $2,500 to $10,000
Venture Grant: $10,001 to $40,000
Impact Grant: Over $40,000 (by invitation only)
Application Deadline: Applications accepted year-round with quarterly reviews
Project Focus: Church community engagement, disadvantaged communities, education, health and wellness, humanitarian efforts, social justice, and youth initiatives.
The Baltimore-Washington Conference of the United Methodist Church offers two types of grants: Strategic Growth Initiative grants and Micro-Grants to Reach New People.
Eligibility: United Methodist local churches, districts, regions, conference committees, or other affiliated organizations of the Baltimore-Washington Conference
Grant Amount:
Strategic Growth Initiative: Varies based on project
Micro-Grants to Reach New People: Up to $2,500
Application Deadlines:
Spring deadline: April 1, 2025 (funding starts in July)
Fall deadline: October 1, 2025 (funding starts in January)
Project Focus: Creating ministries that reach new people, develop leaders, and multiply impact beyond church walls.
These grants are specifically designed to help Methodist churches expand their reach and develop innovative community programs that serve both church members and the local community.
Various organizations offer grants specifically for the preservation and restoration of historic church buildings. These grants help maintain architectural heritage while ensuring these spaces remain functional for community services.
Eligibility: Churches must typically be listed on the National Register of Historic Places or have significant historical or architectural value. Both religious and secular activities may be supported, though some funders have restrictions.
Grant Amount: Varies by program, typically ranging from $5,000 to $50,000+
Application Deadlines: Vary by program; many have spring and fall cycles
Project Focus: Structural repairs, architectural preservation, accessibility improvements, and systems upgrades
Key Providers:
National Trust for Historic Preservation
State Historic Preservation Offices
Denominational preservation foundations
Local historical societies
For churches with historic buildings, these grants can provide substantial financial assistance while helping preserve important cultural landmarks.
The Lilly Endowment offers various grant programs supporting Christian churches’ congregations, with a focus on leadership development, congregational vitality, and community engagement.
Eligibility: Primarily Christian congregations and related organizations; specific eligibility varies by program
Grant Amount: Varies widely by program, from $5,000 to over $1 million for major initiatives
Application Deadlines: Multiple programs with varying deadlines throughout the year
Project Focus: Pastoral leadership, congregational renewal, youth ministry, financial sustainability, and community service
Notable Programs:
Thriving Congregations Initiative
Clergy Renewal Programs
Religion and Cultural Institutions Initiative
The Lilly Endowment is one of the largest funders of religious organizations in the United States, making these grants particularly valuable for churches seeking substantial financial support for transformative projects.
Many denominations maintain grant programs specifically for their member churches. These grants often support a wide range of initiatives aligned with denominational priorities.
Eligibility: Membership in the specific denomination is typically required, along with good standing and alignment with denominational values
Grant Amount: Varies by denomination and program, typically $1,000-$25,000
Application Deadlines: Vary by denomination; many follow quarterly or bi-annual cycles
Common Focus Areas:
Church planting and revitalization
Youth and young adult ministry
Worship enhancement
Leadership development
Mission and outreach initiatives
Major Denominational Funders:
Presbyterian Church (USA) Foundation
United Methodist Church
Episcopal Church Foundation
Lutheran Church bodies
Baptist associations
These grants often have less competition than broader funding sources and may be more aligned with your church’s specific theological perspective and ministry approach.
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Trinity Church offers grants specifically for parishes through their Mission Real Estate Development initiative, helping churches build sustainable financial capacity and enhance their impact through the creative development of church property.
Eligibility: Open to parishes looking to develop church property with projects that serve the local community. Applicants must demonstrate how their development plans will benefit both the church and surrounding neighborhood.
Grant Amount: Typically range between $80,000 and $350,000
Application Deadlines: Inquiries due May 30, 2025; Applications due June 27, 2025
Walmart’s Spark Good Local Grants program explicitly includes churches as eligible recipients, specifically for projects that benefit the community at large, such as food pantries, soup kitchens, and clothing closets.
Eligibility: Churches with a proposed project that benefits the community at large. Churches must have a Spark Good account and be verified by Deed, Walmart’s third-party verification service provider.
Grant Amount: $250 to $5,000
Application Deadlines (2025 cycles):
March 10 – April 15, 2025
May 1 – July 15, 2025
August 1 – October 15, 2025
November 3 – December 31, 2025
The Mustard Seed Migration Grant program, offered by the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), aims to encourage local United Methodist churches to actively support migrants and refugees in their communities.
Eligibility: Open exclusively to local United Methodist churches in the U.S. for new, one-time community-based service projects focused on migrants and refugees
Grant Amount: $2,000 per church
Application Deadline: Rolling basis until September 1, 2025, or until all 100 grants have been disbursed (first-come, first-served)
Project Focus: Supporting migrants and refugees through church-based ministry initiatives such as:
Church-operated food pantries for migrant communities
Church-sponsored educational support programs
Church facilities being used to distribute emergency assistance
Church-led community integration services
The General Commission on Religion and Race (GCORR) offers CORR Action Fund grants specifically for United Methodist Church entities, supporting church initiatives promoting equity, intercultural competency, and justice.
Eligibility: For U.S. initiatives, eligible applicants include local United Methodist Church congregations, church clusters, districts, campus ministries, and UMC-affiliated colleges and universities. For Central Conferences, eligible applicants include local churches, districts, conferences, UMC-affiliated schools, and other UMC-affiliated entities.
Grant Amount: Up to $10,000
Application Deadline: May 15, 2025
Project Focus:
U.S. Church Initiatives: Projects addressing immigration issues that directly impact immigrant communities, build alliances with organizations serving immigrants, and engage church leadership in GCORR’s Immigration Vital Conversations curriculum
Central Conferences Churches: Projects focusing on conflict resolution, education of the oppressed, intercultural competency, or leadership development among youth and young adults
Grant Period: August 1, 2025, to July 31, 2026 (12 months)
Securing grant funding requires more than just finding the right opportunities. You need to present your church’s vision and needs in a compelling way that resonates with funders. Here’s how to maximize your chances of success:
Before applying for any church grant, ensure you have:
Updated 501(c)(3) documentation or equivalent tax-exempt status
Clear project description with specific goals and objectives
Detailed budget with accurate cost estimates
Evidence of church leadership approval and support
Data demonstrating community development or need
Implementation timeline and sustainability plan
Evaluation metrics to measure success
Having these elements prepared in advance will streamline the application process and demonstrate to funders that your church is well-organized and serious about its proposed project.
A successful church grant application typically includes:
Explain why your project is necessary, using specific data and examples. Connect your church’s needs to the funder’s priorities and demonstrate how your project addresses a gap in services or opportunities in your community.
Example: Rather than simply stating “Our church needs a new roof,” explain how “Our leaking roof has forced us to cancel three community meal programs serving 150 low-income residents monthly, and threatens our ability to host the neighborhood’s only free mental health support group.”
Define what success looks like with concrete metrics and outcomes.
Example: “Through our youth mentorship program, we will match 25 at-risk teens with trained adult mentors, resulting in a 30% improvement in school attendance and a 20% increase in academic performance over 12 months, as measured by quarterly progress reports.”
Demonstrate that your church has the expertise, experience, and resources to successfully complete the project.
Example: “Our congregation includes three certified teachers who will lead curriculum development, a licensed social worker who will provide training to volunteers, and our youth pastor who has 10 years of experience in similar programs.”
Present a detailed, well-researched budget that shows exactly how grant funds will be used.
Example: Instead of a vague line item for “Program Supplies - $2,000,” break it down to “30 curriculum workbooks @ $15 each = $450; 5 laptop computers for student use @ $300 each = $1,500; Art supplies for creative expression activities = $50.”
Explain how the project will continue after grant funding ends.
Example: “After the initial grant period, our food pantry will be sustained through a combination of: 1) Annual budget allocation of $3,000 approved by our church board; 2) Monthly food drives yielding approximately 500 pounds of donations; 3) Partnership with Local Grocery Co. for weekly donations of fresh produce.”
Grant writing can be time-consuming — we get it. That’s why Grantboost generates proposal drafts based on industry best practices, providing you with ready-to-submit content that aligns with your team’s unique voice.
Read Next:
Winning Grant Application Examples to Fuel Your Proposal Success
The Best AI Grant Writing Tools to Streamline Your Proposal Writing
Even the most promising church projects can be rejected for funding due to avoidable mistakes in the application process:
Missing application deadlines or required attachments: Create a grant calendar to track all deadlines and requirements.
Submitting generic proposals not tailored to specific funders: Research each funder’s priorities and customize your application accordingly.
Requesting amounts outside the funder’s typical range: Be realistic and align your request with the funder’s guidelines.
Focusing too heavily on religious aspects for secular funders: Emphasize community impact when applying to non-religious foundations.
Failing to demonstrate community impact beyond church members: Show how your project will benefit the broader community, not just your congregation.
Not following application instructions precisely: Read all guidelines carefully and follow them exactly.
Neglecting to build relationships with funders: When possible, connect with program officers before applying.
By avoiding these common pitfalls, you can significantly increase your church’s chances of securing grant funding.
For individuals and teams looking to secure more funding with less effort. Streamline your grant-writing process, stay organized, and achieve better results with proven templates and AI-driven proposals.
With so many potential funding sources available, it’s important to focus your efforts on the opportunities that best match your church’s specific needs and characteristics.
Effective ways to find suitable grant opportunities include:
Joining denominational grant notification networks: Many denominations maintain email lists or websites that alert member churches to relevant funding opportunities.
Subscribing to nonprofit funding newsletters: Services like GrantStation, Instrumentl, or the Foundation Center offer regular updates on new grant opportunities.
Networking with similar churches: Connect with other churches in your area or denomination to learn about their successful grant experiences.
Connecting with local community foundations: These organizations often maintain lists of funding opportunities specifically for local nonprofit organizations, including churches.
Following potential funders on social media: Many foundations announce new funding opportunities through their social media channels.
Creating a systematic approach to grant research ensures you don’t miss opportunities that could benefit your church’s mission.
To find the best match between your church’s needs and available grants:
Identify your church’s core strengths and unique offerings: What makes your church special? What do you do particularly well?
Categorize projects by focus area: Is your project primarily about education, hunger relief, housing, youth development, or another area?
Research funders with histories of supporting similar projects: Look at who has funded comparable church initiatives in the past.
Look for alignment between your mission and funder priorities: The strongest matches occur when your church’s goals naturally align with a funder’s interests.
Start with smaller, local grants to build a track record: Success with smaller grants can lead to larger opportunities as you demonstrate your ability to use funds effectively.
By strategically matching your church’s strengths and needs to appropriate funding sources, you can focus your efforts on the opportunities most likely to succeed.
Looking to apply for multiple grants but feeling overwhelmed? Grantboost can help!
Simply paste or input grant opportunity details, and the AI will extract and analyze the information to craft effective, tailored responses—saving you time and ensuring your proposals align with each grant’s specific requirements.
Developing a systematic approach to grant seeking can help your church maximize its funding potential while minimizing the administrative burden on staff and volunteers.
Develop a comprehensive calendar tracking:
Application deadlines for target grants
Required reporting dates for active grants
Internal review timelines for draft proposals
Follow-up schedules for submitted applications
A well-maintained grants calendar ensures you never miss important deadlines and gives your team adequate time to prepare high-quality applications.
Effective church grant teams typically include:
Grant co-ordinator: Staff or volunteer who oversees the entire process
Financial manager: Person responsible for budget development and financial reporting
Program staff: Those who will implement the funded project
Church leadership: Pastor or board members who provide approval and vision
Subject matter experts: Members with specialized knowledge relevant to the project
By distributing grant-related tasks among a dedicated team, you can create stronger applications without overwhelming any single individual.
Modern churches are increasingly using technology to streamline their grant processes:
Grant management software: Tools like Foundant or Blackbaud Grantmaking help track opportunities and deadlines
AI-powered writing tools: Platforms like Grantboost generate professional proposals based on your project information
Data collection systems: Digital tools to measure and report outcomes
Cloud collaboration tools: Use tools like Google Workspace or Microsoft Teams for team coordination
Digital document management: Systems to organize grant requirements and supporting materials
P.S., Grantboost’s AI-powered grant writing tool is particularly valuable for churches with limited staff, helping transform basic project information into compelling grant narratives through a simple survey approach.
This makes professional-quality grant writing accessible even to those without extensive experience.
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Successful grant seeking is about more than just application…it’s about relationships 🤝:
Research the funder’s values, priorities, and previous grants: Understanding what matters to a funder helps you align your application with their interests.
Attend information sessions or webinars when available: These events provide insights into what funders are looking for and how to apply successfully.
Request informational meetings before applying: Many program officers are willing to discuss your project and provide guidance before you submit an application.
Invite potential funders to church community events: Giving funders firsthand experience of your church’s work can create powerful connections.
Follow up with progress reports even when not required: Keeping funders informed about your success builds trust and may lead to future funding.
Express gratitude regardless of funding decisions: Maintaining positive relationships is important even if your application isn’t funded.
Share success stories and outcomes from funded projects: Demonstrating impact encourages continued support.
By treating grant funders as partners rather than just sources of money, you can build lasting relationships that benefit your church for years to come.
Read Next: How Long Does It Take to Get a Grant? Your Essential Timeline Guide
Whether your church needs funding for building improvements, community outreach, or innovative ministry programs, grants can provide crucial financial support without adding debt burden.
Remember:
Research is essential - identify grants that align with your church’s specific mission and needs
Preparation matters - gather all required documentation before starting any application
Compelling storytelling wins grants - connect your church’s needs to community impact
Deadlines are non-negotiable - mark your calendar and submit applications with time to spare
Relationship building with funders significantly increases your long-term funding success
With Grantboost’s AI-powered grant writing assistance, you can create customized, compelling applications more efficiently. Our simple survey-based approach makes professional-quality grant writing accessible to churches of all sizes—allowing you to focus more time on your ministry and less on administrative tasks.
Ready to transform your church’s grant applications? Start your free trial today and see how much time you can save on your next church grant application!
For individuals and teams looking to secure more funding with less effort. Streamline your grant-writing process, stay organized, and achieve better results with proven templates and AI-driven support.
