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 next year. View the complete list at Grants, Scholarships & Loans.
Upcoming Deadlines
| Mission Seed Funds NC CONFERENCE OUTREACH MINISTRY Mission Seed Funds are designed to facilitate and encourage congregations in risk-taking ministry and radical hospitality. These funds are provided to resource NCC local churches, to help the church engage in ministry that is transformative for the world and the church, to provide support in growing committed disciples, and reaching into the world in community with the poor, with children, and all who are the least, the last, and the lost. Applications Due 10/13/25. |
| Learn More & Apply→ |
| Health Ministry Local Church Grant NC CONFERENCE HEALTH MINISTRY TEAM These grants support local churches in forming Health Ministry teams or launching new projects to address the social determinants of health in their communities. Applications Due 10/31/25. |
| 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 11/30/25. |
| Learn More & Apply→ |
| Asian American Language Ministry GENERAL BOARD OF GLOBAL MINISTRIES Awarded to Asian American churches or UMC groups for projects focusing on leadership development, church growth, language resources or ministry with the poor. Applications Due 11/15/25. |
| 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. The 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 the last week of November 2025. |
| Learn More & Apply→ |
| Comprehensive Plan of Inclusiveness RACE EQUITY & JUSTICE MINISTRIES Comprehensive Plan of Inclusiveness grants are an economic resource for local congregations and multicultural groups to develop programs that work and offer opportunities to include all groups, cultures, and races in our communities. Applications Due 11/30/2025. |
| Learn More & Apply→ |
| Child & Family Well-Being Grants THE DUKE ENDOWMENT Child and Family Well-Being works through accredited organizations and other nonprofit groups. 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 12/15/2025. |
| 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 12/15/2025. |
| 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 TREASURER’S OFFICE This benevolent fund supports the laity of any age in our Annual Conference who are experiencing financial difficulty due to excessive medical expenses such as hospital/physician services, dental, pharmacy, mental health, vision needs, home health services, and medical travel expenses. |
| Learn More & Apply→ |
| One Who Is Loved NC CONFERENCE TREASURER’S OFFICE This special grant makes possible love gifts to benefit children under the age of 18 who have special needs. Examples of special needs include specialized medical equipment or supplies/medicine, transportation to hospitals or treatment, or other special needs. |
| Learn More & Apply→ |
| Clergy Medical Grant NC CONFERENCE TREASURER’S OFFICE This benevolence fund is set aside by the Conference Insurance Committee to provide grants to eligible clergy facing financial hardship due to medical expenses. |
| Learn More & Apply→ |
| Hispanic-Latino Youth NC CONFERENCE HISPANIC-LATINO MINISTRIES The NC Conference offers funding to enable Pilgrimage participation by Hispanic-Latino 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→ |
| Multiethnic Ministries Grants GENERAL BOARD OF GLOBAL MINISTRIES The General Board of Global Ministries accepts applications monthly for 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 “Welcome the stranger” in your community with a grant of up to $2,000 for a new, one-time community-based service project and ministry focused on migrants and refugees. Applications will be reviewed and approved on a rolling basis within 30 days of submission. |
| Learn More & Apply→ |