Eligibility

These grants are intended to provide funding for an Episcopal ministry (or ecumenical ministry with an Episcopal presence) in a diocese, congregation, or college/university that is currently engaging in or seeking a new relationship with young adults on and off college campuses.

Competitive Grant Requirements

In accordance with Canon I.4.6, grant applicants must understand that the recipient’s diocese’s failure to pay its assessment in full or to apply for and receive a waiver shall render the diocese ineligible to receive grants or loans from the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society unless approved by Executive Council.

• The applicant’s diocese pays its full assessment.
• The applicant’s diocese has been granted a waiver for years (list).
• The applicant’s diocese has made application for a waiver but has not been advised regarding a determination.

The applicant understands that the applicant’s diocese’s failure to pay its assessment in full or to apply for and receive a waiver shall render the diocese ineligible to receive grants or loans from the DFMS approved by Executive Council.

Amount, Duration, and Categories of Grants

A total of $135,000 is available for this cycle. These grants are for the 2025-26 academic year. Deadline for submitting grants is November 18, 2024. There are four categories of grants:

1. Development Grant: establish a new, restore a dormant, or reenergize a current ministry. Grant ranges from $8,000-30,000 and can be used over a two-year period. Development Grants can only be awarded to a specific ministry once every 5 years.
2. Campus Ministry Program Grants: provide seed money to assist in the start-up of new, innovative campus ministries or to enhance a current ministry. Grants $1,000-8,000.
3. Young Adult Ministry Program Grants: provide seed money to assist in the start-up of new, innovative young adult ministries or to enhance a current ministry. Grants $1000-8,000.
4. Project Grants: provide money for a one-time project that will enhance and impact the campus or young adult ministry. Grants $100-2,000.

Discernment and Planning

Developing a grant application is best done in a community where colleagues and supporters can discern and explore where God is calling your ministry to grow, change, or do something new. If you are a solo minister, we invite you to think about who you should gather together to help you in this process. Many turn to their board or vestry, advisors, student ministers, and/or colleagues from your school or diocese to begin praying and exploring together. We strongly encourage you to use the Discernment and Planning Guide.

Selection Criteria

Projects must:

• address how you might incorporate new learning, leadership development and/or training of young adults. 
• show how the ministry will be supported by the diocese, congregation, and/or ministry at the end of the grant term. (if applicable)
• (if you are applying for a Development Grant) be discussed and run by the Provincial Coordinator of your region. If you do not know who your provincial coordinator is, please look here: https://www.episcopalchurch.org/ministries/young-adult-and-campus-ministry/council/ or contact the YACM office.
• be approved by the bishop of the diocese in which the ministry is to be located. Each diocese that receives a grant shall appoint someone to oversee the grant and make appropriate financial reports to The Episcopal Church and the Office of Young Adult and Campus Ministries.
• include a one-to-two-minute video telling us why and how this grant will impact your community, how this grant will help your ministry grow, change, or do something new. (have fun with this – we don’t need a PowerPoint presentation, but to hear from you and your ministry.)
• be formatted correctly and fall within the length specified in each grant – each must include the summary page, description, goals, and evaluation and continuation of ministry, video, and budget worksheet on the application.
• be submitted online. If you cannot submit the application online, please contact us before November 11 to make other arrangements.
• be received on or before November 18, 2024 by 10 pm Eastern time.

Selection Preferences

In addition to the above criteria, the selection process will also reflect several preferences. Though these are not requirements, we will give preference to projects that:

• are collaborative and bring members of the community together.
• utilize innovative digital strategies for engagement and gathering.
• reach those who are traditionally least likely to seek out a campus ministry or other Episcopal young adult ministry.
• address specific priorities of General Convention. (Wondering what the priorities are? You can search here using keywords or dates : https://www.episcopalarchives.org/e-archives/acts/). Please cite the resolution if you are pointing to the priorities outlined by any act of convention such as: 2015-A027.

Budget

The specific ways you propose to use grant funds will be a major factor in the selection of projects for funding.

• Include a detailed budget that includes both expense and income to conduct the project.
• Prepare your budget using the form provided. This is the budget for your grant application, not the budget for your organization.
• Expenses should include any costs such as space usage, supplies and mileage.
• Income should include participant fees, contributions and in-kind donations, as applicable. Be specific and detailed about the budget for your project, including any other anticipated revenue.
• If additional grants are being sought, these should be included and identified as either confirmed, anticipated, or pending.
• Detail any additional grants that are being sought, and identify whether these funds are confirmed, anticipated, or pending.

Grant Cycle Timeline

• September 2024: Application forms and grant discernment released. Gather a team to discern.
• September and October 2024: Write your grant if you have discerned that this is the year to apply. Make your video. Get signature of your bishop!
• September 18, 2024: Online grant submission opens.
• October 16, 2024 at 3pm Eastern: join us for a Grant Webinar! Sign Up Here
• November 18, 2024: Grant Applications are due by 10pm Eastern Time.
• November 2024: Grant readers consider applications received.
• December 2024:  Grant readers meet to discern the grants and projects.
• December 2024:  Recommendations sent to Executive Council for approval at their January meeting.
• February 2025: Decisions announced.

Expectations and Further Information

Ministers in charge of ministry grants are expected to attend at least one churchwide gathering of campus or young adult ministers sponsored by The Episcopal Church during the term of the grant. Ministries receiving grants may be assigned a mentor for the duration of the grant period.

If you have further questions, please contact The Rev. Shannon Kelly, Officer for Young Adult and Campus Ministries and Grant Director for the Camino Project at skelly@episcopalchurch.org or David Stickley, Faith Formation Associate at dstickley@episcopalchurch.org.

For more information, you may contact, The Rev. Shannon Kelly.

Please fill out the application in full and submit it online. Please do not email your application.
Online Submissions are open September 18-November 18, 2024.

PREVIOUS GRANTS

2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013