Ministry Proposal

Congregational Development is interested in helping to fund new mission-focused and innovative ministries in South Georgia!  If you have an idea or a ministry that needs a little spark or some fuel, see if it meets one of our funding priorities and fill out the application linked below.  We would love to see how we can help you bring new things to life!  
 

Missional Priorities:

• Outreach Innovation- Creating ministry in the community, outside the walls of the church
• Host Church Needs- Resourcing host churches to reach out to and disciple those in connected home churches and fresh expressions
• New Faith Communities- Resources for individuals or churches/charges who are working to start a new faith expression with the intent to reach new people
• New Church Starts- Funding for new faith communities intending to charter and form an established worshiping community

Everything must be aligned behind the UMC mission: making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. 
 

Please note these grants are not for salaries, facilities maintenance, or repairs.  In addition, we don’t fund need, we fund fruit.  We are looking for leaders (clergy or lay) and congregations who have a track record of fruitful ministry, mission-mindedness, and proven follow-through.  
 

Grant requests will be reviewed by the Congregational Development Board and processed based on the grant type and amount requested.
 

The deadline for grant requests is March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31. We will process grants received each quarter by the end of the following quarter. For example: a grant request received in July will be processed by December 31st.
 

There are two types of grants available to churches in South Georgia: 

• Spark Grant 
  • $500 Spark Grant- These are $500 grants available to new ministries who need a financial spark to ignite an innovative idea or ministry. 
  • $1,000 Spark Grant- An additional $500 may be awarded if it meets a need or serves an unreached, intentionally targeted underrepresented people group (ex. people experiencing homelessness, an underrepresented ethnic population, people within the foster care system, those “done” with church, etc.). 
  • $2,500 Max Matching Spark Grant- If you can show that you have funding from other sources (matching grant), we will consider a grant award up to $2,500.  
     
• Fuel Grant- These grants are contextual to the church/ministry/purpose of the requesting organization.  Fuel grants are used to encourage greater fruit and ministry in groups and congregations that have already experienced some success in ministry.  These organizations may have previously applied for and utilized a Spark Grant and now are looking to grow something bigger and more sustainable.  All fuel grants must be aligned behind our mission- to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world and meet one of the stated priorities. 

Have an innovative project or ministry you think we would like to invest in?  Please use the following form to request funding from Congregational Development.  Click here for the grant form!