The NC Conference recommends the following grants, scholarships, and loans available to United Methodist churches and ministry leaders in the North Carolina Conference. These programs are funded by the Conference or our partner organizations.
The funding opportunities listed here have application deadlines in the near future. Additional funding opportunities will be available later in the year. View the complete list at Grants, Scholarships & Loans.
Upcoming Deadlines
| Higher Education Scholarship NC CONFERENCE UNITED WOMEN IN FAITH Undergraduate and graduate scholarships are awarded to female students who have been accepted at Louisburg College, Methodist University, NC Wesleyan College, Duke University, Duke Course of Study (COS), or Duke Divinity School. All applicants must be members of The United Methodist Church and must reside within the bounds of the NC Conference. Applications Due 4/15/25. |
| Learn More & Apply→ |
| Global Youth Service Fund DISCIPLESHIP MINISTRIES The Global Youth Service Fund is a unique grant program within The UMC because all aspects involve youth. Youth create fundraisers and contribute money, youth decide what projects receive money, and all of the projects supported must be youth-designed, led by youth, and benefit young people. Applications Due 4/15/25. |
| Learn More & Apply→ |
| Grants for Ministries with Young People DISCIPLESHIP MINISTRIES Young People’s Ministries offers these grants through its program budget because they believe that dynamic, creative individuals and groups sometimes need resources to help a ministry become reality. These grants are meant to support creative and innovative approaches to ministry for, with, and by young people. Applications Due 4/15/25. |
| Learn More & Apply→ |
| The Gary Wayne Locklear Mission Endowment NC CONFERENCE OF THE UMC The Gary Wayne Locklear Mission Endowment intends to invest in the long-term, life-altering ministries that impact the lives of innumerable people in the name of Jesus. We are looking for God-sized dreams of transformation with the most significant impact within the geographical bounds of the NC Conference. Applications Due 4/18/25. |
| Learn More & Apply→ |
| Good Kile College Scholarship UNITED METHODIST FOUNDATION Graduating high school seniors and currently enrolled college students can apply for the Good Kile College Scholarship. Priority will be given to applications who aspire to careers in the field of engineering or basic science. Applications Due 4/30/25. |
| Learn More & Apply→ |
| Peace with Justice NC CONFERENCE BOARD OF CHURCH & SOCIETY Is your church ready to step beyond charity and into solidarity and justice ministries? Peace with Justice grants are available to UMC churches and affiliated nonprofits. Funded by Peace with Justice Sunday offerings, these grants are possible because Methodists share their gifts generously and share the vision of justice ministries. Applications Due 4/30/25. |
| Learn More & Apply→ |
| Local Church Creation Care Grants NC CONFERENCE CREATION CARE COMMITTEE The Creation Care Committee is providing grants to assist churches in establishing a creation care team or to support existing teams in starting a new project. Applications Due 5/1/25. |
| Learn More & Apply→ |
| Reflective Leadership Grants LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AT DUKE DIVINITY Reflective Leadership Grants provide Christian leaders “balcony time” to reflect on accomplishments, broaden perspectives, and discern next steps. Applications Due 5/2/25. |
| Learn More & Apply→ |
| Rural Church Grants THE DUKE ENDOWMENT The Duke Endowment is committed to preserving the pivotal role churches play in rural communities. We support clergy and congregations — ensuring they have the tools to walk faithfully together — as they strengthen rural areas. We help United Methodist Churches make greater contributions that have lasting, positive impacts in their communities. Applications Due 5/10/25. |
| Learn More & Apply→ |
| CORR Action Fund GENERAL COMMISSION ON RELIGION AND RACE Applications are invited for initiatives that address the immigration realities in the United States. They are seeking projects that have a direct impact on our immigrant siblings, build alliances with community entities that serve the immigrant community, and integrate GCORR’s Vital Conversation on Immigration curriculum to educate congregation/organizational leadership. Applications Due 5/15/25. |
| Learn More & Apply→ |
| Key Taylor Award NC CONFERENCE OUTREACH MINISTRY The Key Taylor Award is gifted annually and comes from The Rural Church Endowment. The award, sponsored through the United Methodist Foundation, is to call attention to the mission work of all rural churches by honoring the specific achievements of one rural church. Applications Due 5/30/25. |
| Learn More & Apply→ |
| Asian/Asian American Leadership Development Grants NC CONFERENCE ASIAN MINISTRIES COMMITTEE This grant aims to provide financial support for Asian / Asian American members of the NC Conference to attend learning opportunities that align with the mission, vision, and discernment of the Asian Ministries Committee. Applications are reviewed on a quarterly basis in March, June, September, or December. Applications Due 5/30/25. |
| Learn More & Apply→ |
| Clergy Loan Program UNITED METHODIST FOUNDATION The Clergy Loan Program was created out of the desire to help clergy and their families to escape paralyzing debt that can have a negative effect not only on the individual and family but also on relationships within the church family. Our hope is that through participation in this program clergy will find new and healthy opportunities to be stewards of the financial blessings God has provided. Applications Due 5/30/25. |
| Learn More & Apply→ |
| Child & Family Well-Being Grants THE DUKE ENDOWMENT Child and Family Well-Being works through accredited organizations and other nonprofit groups in North Carolina and South Carolina. Target population: children, youth and families who have either experienced child abuse or neglect or those at imminent risk of experiencing child maltreatment. The funding is divided into three broad categories: Implementation support for evidence-based programs/implementation support for grants, Advocating for System improvements grants, Advancing innovation grants. Applications Due 6/15/25. |
| Learn More & Apply→ |
| Health Care Grants THE DUKE ENDOWMENT In his Indenture of Trust, the founder focused Health Care funding to priority organizations in the Carolinas. The funding priorities are Access to Care for Vulnerable Populations, Maternal and Infant Health, Mental Health, Oral Health, Population Health, and Workforce Development. Applications Due 6/15/25. |
| Learn More & Apply→ |
Rolling Deadlines
The following opportunities accept applications throughout the year or on a rolling basis. Follow each link for more information.
| Course of Study NC CONFERENCE OFFICE OF CLERGY LIFE The NC Conference provides reimbursement of registration costs for the Course of Study (COS) programs, including Basic and Advanced COS. |
| Learn More & Apply→ |
| Continuing Education NC CONFERENCE OFFICE OF CLERGY LIFE Continuing Education funds are for clergy currently under appointment. Opportunities include Clinical Pastoral Education, Holy Land trips, and more. |
| Learn More & Apply→ |
| Clergy Counseling NC CONFERENCE OFFICE OF CLERGY LIFE The Clergy Care Committee provides financial assistance to clergy families of the NC Conference who seek confidential counseling and therapy. |
| Learn More & Apply→ |
| Board of Mission Church Loans NC CONFERENCE OUTREACH MINISTRY The loan fund was established to enable United Methodist churches of the NC Conference to realize some of their dreams for mission and ministry. |
| Learn More & Apply→ |
| UMVIM Missional Exchange Grants NC CONFERENCE UNITED METHODIST VOLUNTEERS IN MISSION Missional Exchange Grants are intended to encourage UMVIM initiatives by various groups. Team leader training by the NC Conference UMVIM Committee is required to qualify for this grant. |
| Learn More & Apply→ |
| UMVIM Scholarships for Individuals NC CONFERENCE UNITED METHODIST VOLUNTEERS IN MISSION NC Conference UMVIM offers scholarships to individuals from The Amanda Lee Scholarship Fund and The Jason K. Branton Scholarship Fund. |
| Learn More & Apply→ |
| Golden Cross NC CONFERENCE OUTREACH MINISTRY Golden Cross is a ministry that reaches out in love to the laity in our Annual Conference who are experiencing financial difficulty due to excessive medical expenses. Recipients must be active United Methodist members and be recommended for assistance by their pastor. |
| Learn More & Apply→ |
| One Who is Loved NC CONFERENCE OF THE UMC This permanent endowment makes possible love gifts to benefit children under the age of 18 who have special needs such as specialized medical equipment or supplies/medicine, transportation to hospitals or treatment centers, or other special needs. Pastors are encouraged to recommend children for the fund. |
| Learn More & Apply→ |
| Hispanic/Latinx Youth NC CONFERENCE HISPANIC/LATINX MINISTRIES The NC Conference offers funding to enable Pilgrimage participation by Hispanic/Latinx youth. |
| Learn More & Apply→ |
| Refugee and Immigrant Communities NC CONFERENCE REFUGEE & IMMIGRATION COMMITTEE Churches can now complete one of three short Google forms to request monetary assistance to assist refugees and immigrants for: Refugees’ or immigrants’ filing and legal fees; Refugees’ or immigrants’ resettlement and transition expenses; Projects impacting the refugee/immigrant community. Applications are reviewed quarterly. |
| Learn More & Apply→ |
| Retired/Medical Leave Clergy Grants THE SHEPHERD’S FUND A retired pastor and their spouse can qualify for a one-time grant of up to $10,000 each or $20,000 total. They may reapply in subsequent years, especially if they have a chronic ongoing medical condition. Grants may also be given to pastors on medical leave and their spouses, or widows of pastors. Grants may also be given to retired pastors or pastors on medical leave that are legal custodians for their adult children that may have a medical issue from childhood. Grants may also be given to retired pastors or pastors on medical leave that are legal custodians for their grandchildren that may have a medical crisis or issue, regardless of age. |
| Learn More & Apply→ |
| Farmer Fund Grant WESPATH Distressed clergy members or former clergy members of an annual conference; their spouses, former spouses, former surviving spouses; or surviving dependent children (including adult dependent children) are eligible to apply for this grant. The applicant is required to attach documentation pertaining to any unusual medical, legal, or other expenses that have created this one-time emergency situation. |
| Learn More & Apply→ |
| Clergy Debt Relief Program WESPATH In partnership with Wespath, the Interfaith Federal Credit Union offers opportunity for active and retired clergy to make significant progress toward relieving their overall debt burden. Clergy can borrow up to $20,000 to alleviate high-interest debt. |
| Learn More & Apply→ |
| UMCOR Grants UNITED METHODIST COMMITTEE ON RELIEF UMCOR offers grants for Disaster Preparedness and Mitigation, Relief, Recovery, and Migration. UMCOR’s core values of equality and justice, respect with dignity, and good stewardship are reflected in UMCOR’s grant-making priorities. |
| Learn More & Apply→ |
| Multiethnic Ministries Grants GENERAL BOARD OF GLOBAL MINISTRIES The General Board of Global Ministries accepts applications monthly for Asian American Language Ministry grants, Community Developers Program (CDP) Seed grants, Community Engagement grants – United Methodist Voluntary Service (UMVS), Native American Ministries grants, and Pacific Islander Ministry Plan grants. |
| Learn More & Apply→ |
| Mustard Seed Migration Grants UNITED METHODIST COMMITTEE ON RELIEF UMCOR will award grants of $2,000 USD to up to 100 United Methodist local churches in the U.S. to engage in new, one-time community-based service projects and ministries focused on migrants and refugees. First come, first served until 9/1/25. |
| Learn More & Apply→ |