The following outlines the guiding principles for awarding grants to LCMS congregations for the purpose of mission outreach. All grants should have some direct tie to a local LCMS congregation; strategic partners have access to grants in partnership with a local congregation. These principles embody a healthy missiology and help to ensure faithful stewardship, theological integrity, and strategic impact in sharing the Gospel.
Mission Alignment
Prioritize projects that advance the church’s mission to proclaim the Gospel, make disciples, and serve the neighbor in Christ’s name. Support efforts that reach new people, especially the unchurched or underserved communities. While it is hoped that congregational attendance might increase or a new Word and Sacrament ministry might be established, service to the community should be provided without treating those served merely as a means to an end (e.g., increasing church attendance). Serve as Jesus served.
Faithfulness to Scripture and Confessional Integrity
Ensure that grant-funded projects align with biblical teachings as understood through the Lutheran Confessions. Require a clear theological foundation for the proposed mission work so that the focus always remains on Jesus, and him alone.
Local Contextualization
Encourage contextual outreach—projects that address the specific needs, cultures, and demographics of the congregation’s community. Avoid ‘one-size-fits-all’ models that ignore local realities. Take an incarnational approach.
Sustainability and Capacity Building
Favor projects that build local leadership and can be sustained beyond the life of the grant. Encourage congregations to develop long-term strategies and community partnerships.
Clear Goals and Measurable Outcomes
Require well-defined goals and objectives with concrete metrics to evaluate impact. Include both qualitative and quantitative evaluation methods.
Collaboration and Partnerships
Promote collaboration between congregations, districts, or mission organizations to increase impact and reduce duplication. Encourage sharing of resources, best practices, and mutual support.
Accountability and Stewardship
Require regular reporting, both financial and missional. Ensure proper use of funds through audits or oversight structures.
Innovation and Risk-Taking
Be willing to fund creative and bold initiatives that take risks for the sake of the Gospel. Allow room for experimentation with new outreach methods, especially in digital or multicultural contexts.
Capacity for Replication
Support models that, if successful, could be adapted and used by other congregations. Document lessons learned to benefit the broader church.
Prayerful Discernment
Encourage prayer and spiritual discernment as integral parts of both the grant application and review process. View the grant process as a spiritual as well as an administrative endeavor.
Grant / Loan Categories
Short-Term Community Outreach / Partnership
- $5,000 max
- Single disbursement; Non-renewable
- Grant Review Process Level 1
Long-Term Community Outreach / Partnership
- $50,000 max (usually 50% loan) or $85,000 max (usually 100% loan)
- Grant / loan ratio negotiable
- Disbursed over no more than 1 year according to the plan in the grant proposal
- Renewable up to 2 additional years, depending on bi-annual review
- Grant Review Process Level 4
Urban / Ethnic Worker Development
- $80,000 max (one year payment at a time)
- Disbursed over the length of the training program
- Grant Review Process Level 3
Congregational Physical Plant Improvement
- $15,000 max dollar-for-dollar matching grant
- Single disbursement; Non-renewable
- Grant Review Process Level 2
Short-Term International Outreach / Partnership
- $10,000 max
- Single Disbursement; Non-Renewable
- Grant Review Process Level 2
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If you download the paper form and complete it. Please email it to Rev. Dr. Scott Yakimow. |
Grant Review Processes
Level 1
- Initiated by the congregation, perhaps in consultation with the District Facilitator.
- Proposal created by congregation/non-profit and District Facilitator using the standard template (if applicable).
- Proposal approved by the District Facilitator in consultation with the Director of Mission Development (as needed).
- The online Grant Reporting Tool will be submitted within 1 month of project completion.
- Each region has $15,000 max to disburse over one fiscal year; this can be increased with the approval of the Director of Mission Development and the District President.
Level 2
- Initiated by the congregation, perhaps in consultation with the District Facilitator.
- Proposal created by congregation/non-profit and District Facilitator using the standard template.
- Proposal approved by the Director of Mission Development and the District President, consulting the Director of Development and the Vice President of Finance, as applicable.
- The online Grant Reporting Tool will be submitted within 1 month of project completion.
Level 3
- The individual to be trained is identified by the local congregation, the involved community, or the District Missionary in consultation with the District Facilitator and/or the Director of Mission Development.
- A meeting is convened between the candidate, the relevant congregational leaders, the District Missionary (if one is involved), the Director of Leadership Development, and the Director of Mission Development to ascertain the capacity and competency of the candidate.
- The Director of Mission Development then submits the candidate’s name to the District President who officially recommends that the candidate begin the process of applying to the various training programs listed below.
- The program then begins its own evaluation of the candidate per their processes.
- The ordained mentor, in consultation with the individual being trained, will fill out the Grant Reporting Tool every 6 months. Continued funding is contingent upon this reporting.
Level 4
- Initiated by the congregation, perhaps in consultation with the District Facilitator or the Director of Mission Development.
- Draft proposal created by congregation/non-profit in consultation with the District Facilitator using either the standard template or its equivalent.
- Draft proposal submitted to the Director of Mission Development.
- The Director of Mission Development convenes and leads a committee to provide input to create a final proposal that will include a business plan. This team will include the project planter/director, other relevant congregational leaders, the Director of Development, and the Vice President of Finance along with other persons with relevant expertise at the discretion of the Director of Mission Development.
- The final proposal will be submitted by the Director of Mission Development to the District President for approval.
- The online Grant Reporting Tool will be submitted every 6 months after the initial disbursement throughout the term of the grant. Continued funding is contingent upon this reporting.
- A final report will be produced at the end of the disbursement period in lieu of the online Grant Reporting Tool. This report will detail the results of the project as a whole.
- Loan repayment will begin 6 months following the disbursal of loan money and will take place over 20 years. Loan repayment is regularly monitored by the Vice President of Finance.