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 this year. View the complete list at Grants, Scholarships & Loans.
Upcoming Deadlines
| Connect Church NC RURAL CENTER The Faith in Rural Communities initiative at the NC Rural Center helps rural churches transform their communities. Connect Church increases community engagement through coaching, resources, and grant assistance. Applications Due 7/31/26. |
| Learn More & Apply→ |
| 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 7/31/26. |
| Learn More & Apply→ |
| Renfro Trust Fund SOUTHEASTERN JURISDICTION OF THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH The Renfro Trust Fund awards annual building grants to establish and support small rural United Methodist congregations in the Southeastern Jurisdiction. Applications Due 8/1/26. |
| Learn More & Apply→ |
| Thriving Congregations Local Church Cohorts THE FOUNDATION FOR EVANGELISM The Foundation for Evangelism’s Thriving Congregations Local Church cohort program will provide comprehensive training and resources, culminating in an opportunity to apply for the grant cycle. Participants will be guided through the process of outlining a relevant evangelism experiment, leveraging the knowledge and skills acquired during the cohort training. Applications Due 8/1/26. |
| Learn More & Apply→ |
| Communities of Practice CATAWBA CLERGY NETWORK The Catawba Clergy Network offers clergy the opportunity to join a Community of Practice (COP) and gain invaluable peer learning and support. Members of COPs who are active and engaged are encouraged to apply for COP grants up to $500 and receive information about “Thriving in Ministry” grants, which provide financial resources and opportunities for personal and professional growth. Applications Due 8/6/26. |
| Learn More & Apply→ |
| Racial Ethnic Local Church Concerns DISCIPLESHIP MINISTRIES Provides funding to strengthen racial ethnic congregations through leadership training, small groups, worship, stewardship, and spiritual formation as they develop disciple-making systems inside the church walls and in the community. Applications Due 8/17/26. |
| 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 8/31/2026. |
| Learn More & Apply→ |
| 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. Applications Due 9/30/2026. |
| Learn More & Apply→ |
| End Mass Incarceration Seed Funding UNITED WOMEN IN FAITH The Office of Racial Justice invites United Women in Faith groups at any level to apply for funding to support their local work to interrupt the school-to-prison pipeline, stop the criminalization of communities of color, and/or end mass incarceration. Applications accepted on a rolling basis until 9/30/2026. |
| 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 These funds provide 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 benevolent 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 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 one fully vetted and receipted grant per year of up to $10,000 each or $20,000 total. As of January 1, 2026, they may reapply each year up to three applications with a lifetime maximum of $25,000. |
| 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 Loan Program UNITED METHODIST FOUNDATION The Clergy Loan Program was created out of UMF’s desire to help clergy and their families escape paralyzing debt and its negative effect, not only on clergy and their families, but on broader relationships within a church family. UMF’s 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. |
| 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 Asian American Language Ministry, Community Developers Program Seed Grants, Community Engagement Grants – United Methodist Voluntary Service, Native American Ministries, and the Pacific Islander Ministry Plan. |
| 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→ View All Funding Opportunities |