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.
Please note that our grant evaluations give extra consideration for grant applications that reach underserved and underrepresented populations in our diocese including, but not limited to: campus ministries with college students, young adults (not only campus based), the LGBTQIA+ community, the Latinx community, and grants related to accessibility. Also, please keep an eye on The Feast as we anticipate a workshop sometime in May or June on helping congregations and organizations know how to submit grant applications, given that the next significant grant deadline will be July 15 for most grants.
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 Grants
To date in 2026, $15,000 in Bricks & Mortar grants has been awarded, supporting critical infrastructure needs including heating and HVAC system replacements that keep congregational buildings functional and open, as well as accessibility improvements that ensure all people can fully participate in worship and community life. These grants reflect the diocese’s commitment to helping congregations maintain and improve the physical spaces from which they serve their neighbors. With $25,000 still available on a rolling quarterly basis, we encourage any congregation facing a capital need to consider applying.
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Body Authorized to make Grant Determinations: Congregational Development
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Original Amount of Grants Available: $40,000
Remaining Amount of Grants Available: $25,000
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Average Size of Individual Grants: $5,000 (Max)
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Number of Grants Available: 8-10
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Purpose of Grant Funding: Bricks and mortar capital improvements.
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Application Deadline: Rolling on a Quarterly Basis.
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Decision Timeline: 30 Days after Application Date
Emergency Grants go immediately to Congregational Development for consideration.
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.
Step-down grant funding is available and encouraged. Please indicate in your application your goal for how long you would like the grant to last and your anticipated step down amounts. Approval of a step-down grant does not guarantee continued funding at that level, though the diocese will strive to support step-down funding as best as possible given the funds available and the developments of the actual ministry.
Application Deadline: One-time deadline of July 15, 2026
Decision Timeline: August 1, 2026
Congregational Development Grants
Congregational Development Grants, Crean Congregational Development Grants, TEC Grant for Legacy Eastern Only
A total of $29,425 has been awarded or designated thus far from the Congregational Development grant fund, supporting a wide range of congregational vitality initiatives including campus ministry, community arts outreach, sacramental ministry, and worship accessibility improvements. An additional $14,000 of that total has been set aside to fund the 2026-2027 campus ministry grant cycle, enabling those grants to align with the academic year so congregations can plan and launch ministries before students arrive each fall. If your congregation has a vision for growth, outreach, or sustainability, we encourage you to consider applying.
Body Authorized to make Grant Determinations: Congregational Development Committee
Original 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
- Remaining Amount of Grants Available: $76,792
- Congregational Development Fund: $12,221 ($14,000 set aside for 2026-2027 Campus Ministry Funding, as noted above)
- Crean Congregational Development Fund: $29,571
- TEC Grant for Legacy Eastern Parishes: $35,000
Average Size of Individual Grants: $10,000 – $15,000
Number of Grants Available: 5-7
Purpose of Grant Funding:
Sustainable Sacramental Ministry
- Other Congregational Vitality Initiative
- Step-down grant funding is available and encouraged. Please indicate in your application your goal for how long you would like the grant to last and your anticipated step down amounts. Approval of a step-down grant does not guarantee continued funding at that level, though the diocese will strive to support step-down funding as best as possible given the funds available and the developments of the actual ministry.
Application Deadline: Second Cycle deadline of July 15, 2026
Decision Timeline: August 1, 2026
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
Mission and Community Engagement Grants
Formerly Social Service Networking Grants
All Mission and Community Grant monies have been awarded for 2026. Look for renewed opportunities in 2027.
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.
Original 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
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:
All 2026 funding has been awarded. Look for renewed opportunities in 2027.
Decision Timeline: 30 Days from Application Submission
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
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 Episcopal Diocese of the Great Lakes parishes.
Application Deadline: June 1, 2026 for incoming Fall Semester
Decision Timeline: 30 Days after Application Date
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
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.
- 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.