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 opportunities have deadlines coming up later in the year. View the complete list at Grants, Scholarships & Loans.
Upcoming Deadlines
Josephine Forman Scholarship
GENERAL COMMISSION ON ARCHIVES AND HISTORY
GCAH funds the Josephine Forman scholarship each year to provide financial support to minority students pursuing graduate education in archival science, to encourage students to pursue a career as an archivist, and to promote the diversification of the American archives profession.
Applications Due 2/28/23. Learn more and apply now→
Equipping the Local Church Grant
THE FOUNDATION FOR EVANGELISM
Grants for $5,000 or $10,000 will be awarded to small and medium church congregations, or clusters of churches working together, in a Wesleyan-tradition denomination. The grant focus is to launch an experiment or initiative to share the Gospel, tell their faith stories, and invite others into a relationship with Jesus. Up to 50 possible grants will be awarded in the summer of 2023. The Foundation for Evangelism Equipping the Local Church grant initiative seeks to empower pastors, laity, and smaller local congregations to dream, take risks, and partner with God in the transformation of lives and communities.
Applications Due 2/28/23. Learn more and apply now→
UMHEF Scholarships
UNITED METHODIST HIGHER EDUCATION FOUNDATION
UMHEF scholarships help make it financially possible for qualifying students to obtain higher education, especially those attending United Methodist-related institutions. In rare cases, awards are also given to students attending other schools.
Applications Due 3/1/23. Learn more and apply now→
Grants/Awards for Students and Researchers
GENERAL COMMISSION ON ARCHIVES AND HISTORY
The General Commission on Archives and History is calling for students and researchers to apply for grants and awards offered in a number of fields of study, including United Methodist history, particularly as it relates to women and ethnic groups, and archival science. Ten grants and/or awards are available for qualifying undergraduates or graduate-level students, as well as researchers of all kinds.
Applications Due 3/17/23. Learn more and apply now→
Partners in Health & Wholeness Grants
NC COUNCIL OF CHURCHES
We are excited to partner with congregations across the state to engage our faith communities and their larger communities in living happier, healthier, more abundant lives. We have proudly done this for years through our PHW Collaborative Pledge and PHW Mini-Grant program. You can apply for an individual mini-grant, community grant, or BIPOC Mental Health Grant to support the valuable work that your health ministry is doing.
Applications Due 3/17/23. Learn more and apply now→
Ministerial Education Fund
NC CONFERENCE OF THE UMC
Certified Candidates from the NC Conference are eligible to apply for Ministerial Education Funds. Aid may be granted to students during their junior and senior years in undergraduate school, and in each of their seminary years while working on the basic degree for ordination. Students must intend to serve in the North Carolina Conference, or within the Connection, for at least five years. All Certified Candidates who meet the requirements will receive at least $1,000 dollars per year. Recipients will need to complete the MEF application each year, in order to receive funding.
Applications Due 3/24/23. Learn more and apply now→
GBHEM Loans and Scholarships
GENERAL BOARD OF CHURCH AND SOCIETY
GBHEM Loans and Scholarships administers over 70 scholarship programs with one general application. Applicant must be an active, full member of The United Methodist Church for at least one year. The application period is Dec. 15 – March 30 for fall term awards only. Each applicant may apply once per year for a scholarship from GBHEM. Review the list of scholarships and select one scholarship program for which you wish to apply. If you are unsure which scholarship to choose, select the “General Scholarship” program. GBHEM will determine the best program with available funds for you.
Applications Due 3/30/23. Learn more and apply now→
Peace with Justice
NC CONFERENCE BOARD OF CHURCH AND 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. The NCC Board of Church and Society reviews and awards these grants quarterly.
Applications Due 3/31/23. Learn more and apply now→
Comprehensive Plan of Inclusiveness
NC CONFERENCE RACE EQUITY & JUSTICE MINISTRIES
The project must relate to the Comprehensive Plan of Inclusiveness (CPI) and must be developed by one or more United Methodist local church(es) with priority given to ethnic churches. The project must address one or more chronic social problems or concerns that impact United Methodist ethnic local churches or ethnic persons. Priority is given to new and pilot projects.
Applications Due 3/31/23. Learn more and apply now→
Global Youth Service Fund
DISCIPLESHIP MINISTRIES OF THE UMC
The Global Youth Service Fund (YSF) 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 4/15/23. Learn more and apply now→
Grants for Ministries with Young People
DISCIPLESHIP MINISTRIES OF THE UMC
Young People’s Ministries offers these grants through our program budget because we 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 4/15/23. Learn more and apply now→
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 5/10/23. Learn more and apply now→
Reflective Leadership Grants
LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AT DUKE DIVINITY
The Reflective Leadership Grant supports an opportunity for structured reflection for lay or clergy leaders of Christian organizations that are advancing their mission following the multiple pandemics — COVID-19, racial inequity, economic disruption, and mental distress — that emerged and/or intensified throughout the past few years.
Applications Due 5/15/23. Learn more and apply now→
BIPOC Mental Health Grant
NC COUNCIL OF CHURCHES
Thanks to The Duke Endowment, Partners in Health and Wholeness is able to offer this new grant opportunity of $5,000-10,000 for faith communities of color to apply towards COVID-19 mental health efforts. In mid-2022, we plan to award 50 grants in this funding range throughout the entire state. This application period for this grant opportunity will be rolling, with quarterly reviews, from May 2022 until May 2023. Beginning February 15, 2023, there will be an opportunity to apply for a large grant, up to $50,000, to establish or expand a mental health resource hub in your region.
Applications Reviewed Quarterly until May 2023. Learn more and apply now→
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.
Applications Reviewed Quarterly. Learn more and apply now→
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 OF THE UMC
The NC Conference provides reimbursement of registration costs for the Course of Study programs, including Basic and Advanced COS.
Continuing Education
NC CONFERENCE OF THE UMC
Continuing Education funds are for clergy currently under appointment. Applicants must be a member of the North Carolina Annual Conference. Opportunities include Clinical Pastoral Education, Holy Land trips, and more.
Clergy Counseling
NC CONFERENCE OF THE UMC
The Clergy Care Committee provides financial assistance to clergy families of the North Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church who seek confidential counseling and therapy. Clergy Care funds are NOT to be used for career enhancement but are limited to personal growth and well-being. Clergy Care is financial assistance, $400 a year per family, for clergy.
Board of Mission Church Loans
NC CONFERENCE OF THE UMC
The Board of Mission, Inc. is primarily a low-interest lending organization. Loan applications are considered on a cash-available basis. As funds are repaid, new loans are originated. At a given point in time, funds may or may not be available to make new loans. Loans are also considered on a missional basis. Churches receiving missional priority are those in low-income neighborhoods and those needing more space to engage in cross-cultural and cross-racial programs. Some matching grant funding is available to churches needing repairs or replacement of vital building components. These grants are only approved after consultation with our contractor.
UMVIM Leadership Training
NC CONFERENCE UNITED METHODIST VOLUNTEERS IN MISSION
United Methodist Volunteers In Mission (UMVIM) exists to promote, encourage and enable Christians to exemplify “Christian Love In Action.” Our aim is to achieve the Great Commission by providing short-term mission opportunities, both nationally and internationally for everyday Christians. UMVIM, NC offers Team Leadership Training four times each year. Grants are available for UMVIM teams that have a leader who has been trained or recertified within the last four years.
Golden Cross
NC CONFERENCE OF THE UMC
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. For any questions or more information, email benefitsteam@nccumc.org.
One Who is Loved
NC CONFERENCE OF THE UMC
United Methodist Foundation is a trustee of a special endowment called the “One Who Is Loved Fund.” 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 of the NC Conference are encouraged to recommend children for the fund.
Leadership Grant Assistance
NC CONFERENCE STRENGTHENING THE BLACK CHURCH MINISTRIES
Strengthening the Black Church for the 21st Century is a program designed to assist United Methodist churches with predominantly black congregations to become effective in mission and ministry. It does this by linking successful congregational resource centers with congregations that are in search of new ideas and revitalization.
Hispanic-Latinx Ministries
NC CONFERENCE OF THE UMC
The NC Annual Conference offers funding to enable Pilgrimage participation by Hispanic/Latinx youth.
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.
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 a grant. The applicant is required to attach additional documentation pertaining to any unusual medical, legal, or other expenses which have created this one-time emergency situation. The maximum grant amount available from the Program is $3,000 per each individual approved application. Applications should be returned to benefitsteam@nccumc.org.
Local Church Marketing Services
UNITED METHODIST COMMUNICATIONS
United Methodist Communications offers marketing services and promotional grants to United Methodist congregations active in their communities and need support and guidance in reaching new people in new ways.
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.
Community Engagement Grants
GENERAL BOARD OF GLOBAL MINISTRIES
The General Board of Global Ministries will offer Community Engagement Grants to congregations and annual conferences through the United Methodist Voluntary Service (UMVS) program. The United Methodist Voluntary Service (UMVS) serves as a resource to volunteer-based groups and programs that challenge unjust political, social, and economic systems which threaten the livelihoods of people of low socioeconomic status, as well as racial/ethnic communities. Community Engagement Grants can be used for short-term (less than 1 year) community-based outreach programs and events. The UMVS provides financial resources of up to $15,000 per congregation, annual conference, or mission partner. Applicants must provide a financial contribution of at least 10% of the requested amount.