We don’t expect churches, their pastors and members to go it alone. Funding sometimes is available for new ministries, continuing education and emergencies that any of them might face. Grants from the conference help those dreams become a step closer to reality.
Providing financial resources for what God is calling you to do
Any church that wants to reach out to any college in the area may apply for a $1000 grant to jump-start its ministry on campus. The first year will be a $1000 grant. For subsequent years, the $1000 will be a matching grant with the congregation. Many churches can apply for the same campus to provide ministries to as many students as possible. Applications available.
www.greatplainsumc.org/campusministries
Overseen by the intergenerational discipleship coordinator and clergy recruitment and development coordinator
Many churches in the Great Plains have a rich history of summer interns. For other churches, they have cultivated someone within the congregation who is ready to take a step of faithfulness to explore a summer of full-time ministry. The conference is making available matching grants for churches who have identified someone who could serve as an intern for the summer. Three Types of matching grants will be considered: Pastoral Ministry, Youth Ministry, and Kids Ministry.
https://www.greatplainsumc.org/matchinggrantinternships
Overseen by the intergenerational discipleship coordinator with Leadership Lab Participants
The Youth Service Fund is money raised by youth to support projects led by youth. The Conference Council on Youth Ministries (CCYM) administers the Youth Service Fund. Over the years, we have funded mission work, events, training, and projects for youth and by youth.
https://gp-reg.brtapp.com/YSFEventGrant
Overseen by the mercy and justice coordinator and the Mercy and Justice team
These grants are meant to help our congregations and networks learn about white privilege and structural racism and develop strategies to overcoming these. We call on congregations, on pastors and on laity in leadership positions “to educate themselves about the root causes and manifestations of racism, ethnocentrism, and tribalism within communities of faith and to develop strategies for overcoming these kinds of social divisions.” (UM Revised Social Principles, Other Social Issues, L, p. 29) It is expected that the grant receiver will send a short report about the project which can be shared through GPconnect. Maximum Grant: $300
https://gp-reg.brtapp.com/AntiracismEducationAdvocacyGrantApplication24
CONAM is offering grants to support an existing ministry or starting a new ministry with Native American people in the Great Plains Conference. The ministry could include an outreach project/event of a United Methodist Native American Congregation. The grants are not intended to be used as ongoing funding of a ministry program. Grants will be made as one-time awards and subsequent requests for the same ministry will require a new grant application. The funding for this grant program comes from the contributions to Native American Awareness Sunday in the Great Plains Conference.
Examples of grant purposes include, but are not limited to: lay leadership training events for Native American ministries; honoraria for speakers/presenters/native musicians for Native American events; and other opportunities to reach Native Americans in the Great Plains Conference.
Download the grant application (PDF or Word document) to learn more and apply for a CONAM grant.
Overseen by the disaster response coordinator
The Great Plains Conference Disaster fund is for the relief of persons who have suffered from a disaster(s) within the Great Plains Conference.
https://www.greatplainsumc.org/disasterrecoveryassistancegrants
Overseen by the mercy and justice coordinator
According to the 2019 Annual Conference session, the Great Plains Conference approved making $20,000 in grant funding available to local congregations for ministries that raise up LGBTQIA+ persons as missional leaders in the Great Plains Annual Conference to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. LGBTQIA+ persons in your church, network, or district who are interested in training, a new ministry idea or an experience to help them take the next step in their missional leadership can apply for this grant.
Since 2019, a dozen grants have been awarded throughout the Great Plains.
https://gp-reg.brtapp.com/LGBTQIAMissionalLeadershipGrantApplication24
Overseen by the mercy and justice coordinator and the Mercy and Justice team
Mission engagement grants are for domestic and foreign missions, including engagement with both mercy and justice ministries, projects, and trips. Teams are prioritized who incorporate intentional reflection on faith and discipleship, learning about local culture and history, and whose efforts support self-sustaining solutions among the locals. The team leader and all team members must be Safe Gatherings certified.
Since 2019, 15 grants of varying amounts have been awarded for teams, networks, and congregations.
https://gp-reg.brtapp.com/MissionEngagementGrantApplication24
Overseen by the mercy and justice coordinator and the Mercy and Justice team
Do you have a project that you think could address a social justice issue, but you need a little help to get started? Social justice seed money grants are available to local churches within networks for outreach ministries focusing on root causes of injustices and the underlying reasons of why people are in need and working toward structural changes. Applications open June 1 and close by September 30.
Ten grants have been awarded over the last three years.
https://gp-reg.brtapp.com/SocialJusticeSeedMoneyGrantApplication
Overseen by the director of congregational excellence and the Ethnic Minority Local Church Grant team
Grants are awarded to programs that reflect the ethnic ministry objectives (These objectives apply to
churches, youth and laity as well as pastors serving ethnic churches and current ethnic pastors):
Applicants can expect to hear back within 45 days of submitting an application
https://gp-reg.brtapp.com/EthnicMinorityLocalChurchGrant24
The Great Plains Annual Conference Ethnic Ministry Grant Program offers grants to invest in ministry that makes new and increasingly diverse disciples in historically underrepresented racial/ethnic communities across Nebraska and Kansas.
Applications can be made for funding at two different levels.
Applications for 2025 are open now and will be open on a rolling basis.
A one-time grant of up to $5,000 is available to seed a program or project. If there is an interest in expanding or continuing the project, the longer-term grant can be applied for in the next year. Priority will be given to first time applicants.
One-Time grant recipients may choose to use their initial grant learnings as a springboard into a longer-term project.
https://gp-reg.brtapp.com/OneTimeRacialEthnicSeedGrant
Grants can be applied for with the intent of extending/renewal for up to five total years. Funding for additional years requires annual approval following review of progress made. The maximum amount for year 1 of these grants is $20,000 with years 2-5 stepping down by percentage each year as follows
Year two, 80%
Year three, 60%
Year four, 40%
Year, five, 20%
https://gp-reg.brtapp.com/LongerTermRacialEthnicGrant
Overseen by the mercy and justice coordinator and the clergy leadership coordinator
IDI research in organizations and educational institutions confirms two central findings when using the IDI:
Congregations interested in taking the IDI in their congregations may apply for this grant for a leadership team to take together. Three components of the Inventory include: 1) the assessment 2)group debriefing and 3) individual debriefing.
https://gp-reg.brtapp.com/IDIGrant
As encouragement to care for yourself, we invite clergy of the Great Plains UMC to apply for one or more mini grants designed to give you the space and/or persons to help you renew and recharge. Learn about spiritual self-care grants here.
https://gp-reg.brtapp.com/ClergyWellBeingGrant2024
The Culture of Call grant was designed to provide churches, campus ministries, and United Methodist organizations in the Great Plains UMC with resources to fuel their imaginations in creating opportunities to cultivate a Culture of Call. Grants will be awarded in the range of $500 - $2,000. Early deadline to apply is March 1, late deadline is Sept. 15.
https://www.greatplainsumc.org/cocgrant
Overseen by the director of congregational excellence and the Ethnic Minority Local Church Grant team
Grants are awarded to programs that reflect the ethnic ministry objectives (These objectives apply to
churches, youth and laity as well as pastors serving ethnic churches and current ethnic pastors):
Applicants can expect to hear back within 45 days of submitting an application
https://gp-reg.brtapp.com/EthnicMinorityLocalChurchGrant24
The Rev. Paul Holmes Memorial Scholarship is a scholarship (up to $10,000, based on availability) to be used for continued education for clergy (sabbatical leave, renewal leave, or a major continuing education experience). Download application. And read more about the scholarship here.
All scholarships are subject to the availability of funds and that consideration will be given to first time applicants. If you have any questions regarding this scholarship, please contact Alice Purvis, chair for the Covenant Team of the Board of Ordained Ministry.
https://kansasmethodistfoundation.org/churches-and-organizations/grants/
https://www.numf.org/scholarships-grants