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
| Ken E. Rowe Memorial Research Grant for LGBTQ+ Methodist History GENERAL COMMISSION ON ARCHIVES AND HISTORY Provides seed money to support research projects related to LGBTQ+ Methodist history. Applications Due 7/31/25. |
| Learn More & Apply→ |
| Renfro Trust Fund SOUTHEASTERN JURISDICTION OF THE UMC The Renfro Trust Fund awards annual brick-and-mortar grants to establish and support small rural United Methodist congregations in the Southeastern Jurisdiction. Applications Due 8/1/25. |
| Learn More & Apply→ |
| Asian/Asian American Leadership Development Grant 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 8/31/25. |
| Learn More & Apply→ |
| Peace with Justice Grant 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. Applications Due 9/30/25. |
| 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→ |