Image Description: The stamp for the Episcopal Diocese of the Great Lakes. The bottom of the stamp is a orange-yellow shield with a dark blue outline that reads "Estd. 2024" in highly stylized type with two Episcopal-style crosses. On the top of the shield, like it's sailing on it, is the two-sailed ship from the diocesan seal, along with the three stars in the sky. the largest of which represents our new diocese while the two smaller stars represent our two legacy dioceses.
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Image Description: The wordmark for our diocese that reads, "EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF THE GREAT LAKES." The first four words are in all caps in a simple-yet-wide sans serif font. "Great Lakes" is also in all-caps, but in a highly stylized font that is reminiscent of vintage sign art. The G, L and S all have added flourishes that look like waves. This is the horizontal orientation of the wordmark and it is shown in the warm gray (off-white) brand color.

Investing in congregations.
Investing in communities.
Investing in God’s mission.

The Episcopal Diocese of the Great Lakes offers a range of grants designed to support thriving congregations, form clergy and lay leaders, nurture young adults, deepen our relationships with Indigenous partners, invest in restorative justice, and expand the reach of Christ’s love in every community we serve. On this page you will find not only all diocesan-administered grants—with clear guidance on purpose, deadlines, and reporting—but also information on additional external grant opportunities that, while outside our diocesan decision-making, have the potential to significantly strengthen and resource the ministries of our congregations. Across these internal funding sources, more than half a million dollars is available in the current grant cycle to support mission and vitality throughout the diocese.

If you need assistance with submitting a grant, have questions about which grant might fit your ministry project best, or want someone to help you with your submission, please contact your Congregational Support Liaison, our Diocesan Treasurer, Fr. Jared Cramer or our Assistant Treasurer, Fr. Derek Quinn. 

Brick & Mortar
Congregational Development
Mission & Community Engagement
Sheridan Scholarship Fund
External Grants
Campus Ministry
Indigenous Human Needs Fund
Seminarian Student Support
Holy Ground for Whole Communities

Brick & Mortar Grants

  • Body Authorized to make Grant Determinations: Congregational Development

  • Total Amount of Grants Available: $40,000

  • Average Size of Individual Grants: $5,000 (Max)

  • Number of Grants Available: 8-10

  • Purpose of Grant Funding: Bricks and mortar capital improvements.

  • Application Deadline: Rolling on a Quarterly Basis.

  • Decision Timeline: 30 Days after Application Date

Emergency Grants go immediately to Congregational Development for consideration.

Apply for a Brick and Mortar Grant

Campus Ministry Grants

  • Body Authorized to make Grant Determinations: Congregational Development Committee

  • Total Amount of Grants Available: $13,575

  • Average Size of Individual Grants: $3,000-$7,000

  • Number of Grants Available: 2-3

  • Purpose of Grant Funding: To support programs for campus ministry.

  • Application Deadline: One-time deadline of March 13, 2026

  • Decision Timeline: Easter

Apply for a Campus Ministry Grant

Congregational Development Grants

Congregational Development Grants, Crean Congregational Development Grants, TEC Grant for Legacy Eastern Only

  • Body Authorized to make Grant Determinations: Congregational Development Committee

  • Total Amount of Grants Available: $106,217

    • Congregational Development Fund: $36,646
    • Crean Congregational Development Fund: $29,571
    • TEC Grant for Legacy Eastern Parishes: $40,000

  • Average Size of Individual Grants: $10,000 – $15,000

  • Number of Grants Available: 7-9

  • Purpose of Grant Funding:

    • Sustainable Sacramental Ministry

    • Other Congregational Vitality Initiative

  • Application Deadline: One-time deadline of March 13, 2026

  • Decision Timeline: Easter

Apply for a Congregational Development Grant

Indigenous Human Needs Fund Grants

  • Body Authorized to make Grant Determinations: Director of Mission & Community Engagement

  • Total Amount of Grants Available: $19,624

  • Average Size of Individual Grants: $2,000-$5,000

  • Number of Grants Available: 4-6

  • Purpose of Grant Funding: Restorative justice and reconciliation with indigenous communities that exist within the bounds of the Episcopal Diocese of the Great Lakes. If any budget funding is left over, it shall be distributed to local indigenous communities at the discretion of the Director of Mission & Community Engagement

  • Application Deadline: One-time deadline of Pentecost.

  • Decision Timeline: June 15, 2026

Apply for an Indigenous Human Needs Fund Grant

Mission and Community Engagement Grants

Formerly Social Service Networking Grants

  • Body Authorized to make Grant Determinations:

    • Legacy Episcopal Diocese of Eastern Mission Social Service Networking for Dec. 15 applications for 2025 Funding

    • Diocesan Council to create new committee going forward with Director for Mission & Community Engagement as ex officio. Appointees for the new committee shall be determined by the Interim Executive Officer, Director for Mission & Community Engagement, and Vice-Chair of Council. The Committee is to be ratified at next meeting and authorized to distribute funds. 

  • Total Amount of Grants Available:

    • 2025 – $100,000 for Legacy Episcopal Diocese of Eastern Michigan congregations
    • 2026: $125,000 for all Episcopal Diocese of the Great Lakes congregations

  • Average Size of Individual Grants: $1,500 – $20,000

  • Number of Grants Available: 6-10 for 2025, 10-13 for 2026

  • Purpose of Grant Funding:

    • Supports new network ministries that are collaborative beyond traditional geographic and congregational lines (or)

    • Expands existing ministries. Ongoing funding will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

       

  • Application Deadline:

    • Appoint Current Committee for December 15, 2025 Applications (Legacy EDEM)

    • January 30, 2026 (Half of 2026 Funding, in general, if there are sufficient compelling programs, then they can disburse more)

    • July 30, 2026 (Any remaining Funding)

  • Decision Timeline: 30 Days from Application Submission

Apply for a Mission & Community Engagement Grant

Seminarian Student (Waddell & McElroy) Grant Support

  • Body Authorized to make Grant Determinations: Commission on Ministry

  • Total Amount of Grants Available: $32,740

  • Average Size of Individual Grants:

    • Spring Semester Grants

      • $1,875 will be divided equally among all locally formed seminarians on January 31 for the spring semester. An additional $1,875 will then be allocated among needs based applicants who submit applications by the deadline of January 31.

      • $6,310 will be divided equally among all traditional seminarians on January 31 for the spring semester. An additional $6,310 will then be allocated among needs based applicants who submit applications by the deadline of January 31.

    • Fall Semester Grants

      • $1,875 will be divided equally among all locally formed seminarians on August 31 for the fall semester. An additional $1,875 will then be allocated among needs based applicants who submit applications by the deadline of August 31.

      • $6,310 will be divided equally among all traditional seminarians on August 31 for the fall semester. An additional $6,310 will then be allocated among needs based applicants who submit applications by the deadline of August 31.

  • Purpose of Grant Funding: Support for both locally formed and traditionally formed seminarians

  • Application Deadline (one-time, rolling, throughout the year) and Decision Timeline):

    • January 31, 2026 for Needs-Based Grants for Spring Semester

    • August 31, 2026 for Needs-Based Grants for Fall Semester

Apply for Seminarian Student Grant Support

Sheridan Scholarship Funds

  • Body Authorized to make Grant Determinations: CFO and Finance Office

  • Total Amount of Grants Available: $50,000

  • Average Size of Individual Grants: $2,000 (max)

  • Number of Grants Available: 25 (but will decrease in future years, current amount available is due to previous reserves)

  • Purpose of Grant Funding:Scholarship funds for children (biological or adopted) of clergy serving in legacy Episcopal Diocese of Eastern Michigan parishes.

  • Application Deadline: June 1, 2026 for incoming Fall Semester

  • Decision Timeline: 30 Days after Application Date

Apply for Sheridan Scholarship Funds

Holy Ground for Whole Communities

Holy Ground for Whole Communities is a Lilly Endowment grant-funded program (2025–2028) supporting Episcopal congregations in discerning new ways to use their land and buildings as sacred assets for the common good. Through formation, action grants, and partnership, the program invites congregations to reimagine how they serve God, neighbor, and creation in a time of climate crisis and social transformation.

  • Body Authorized to make Grant Determinations: Dr. Jess Kidder, Program Manager for Holy Ground for Whole Communities and program leadership
  • Total Amount of Grants Available: $210,000 over three years, $30,000 per year
  • Size of Individual Grants: $7,000
  • Number of Grants Available: 10 per year for three years
  • Application Deadline: 
    • Cohort 1: November 30, 2025
    • Cohort 2: Late 2026
    • Cohort 3: Late 2027
Learn more about Holy Ground for Whole Communities

External Grants

  • United Thank Offering: The United Thank Offering (UTO) is a ministry of The Episcopal Church for the mission of the whole church. Through UTO, individuals are invited to embrace and deepen a personal daily spiritual discipline of gratitude. UTO encourages people to notice the good things that happen each day, give thanks to God for those blessings and make an offering for each blessing using a UTO Blue Box. UTO is entrusted to receive the offerings, and to distribute the 100% of what is collected to support innovative mission and ministry throughout The Episcopal Church and Provinces of the Anglican Communion.

    The United Thank Offering Board is delighted to announce the opening of applications for its 2026 annual grants, seeking projects that focus on justice through bridging divides. The deadline to apply is 5 p.m. ET Jan. 30, 2026 for Episcopal Church applicants.

    Find application materials and support videos online in English and Spanish.

  • Whittemore Foundation: The Bishop Whittemore Foundation seeks to strengthen our ability to be a visible presence in our communities and the world. The Foundation supports new ministries, building and accessibility projects, and grant funding. Since its inception in the 1950s, the foundation has made a grant to every single congregation in the legacy Episcopal Diocese of Western Michigan. Click here to learn about grant details and apply. 

  • Lilly Clergy Renewal Grant: The Lilly Endowment Clergy Renewal Programs at Christian Theological Seminary seek to strengthen Christian congregations by providing opportunities for their pastors to step away briefly from the demands of daily parish life and engage in a period of renewal and reflection. These competitive grants programs help congregations in the US and Puerto Rico fund renewal leaves for their pastors with awards of up to $60,000 each.

    The 2026 Program is now open. Proposals submitted by the March 18, 2026 deadline must be written in support of leaves planned to begin no sooner than January 1, 2027. 

    Click here to learn more.

  • Louisville Pastoral Study Grants: The Louisville Institute Pastoral Study Project Grant (PSP) awards grants of up to $20,000 (USD) to support individual or collaborative study projects on Christian life, religious practices and institutions, and possibilities and ideas for the church, our communities, and the wider world. Grants are awarded to skilled and innovative clergy, lay leaders, and staff working in diverse Christian contexts in the United States and Canada.

    Learn more here.