How to Apply

Eligibility
Any Christian congregation in the St. Louis region is eligible to apply for a planning or program grant. Interested applicants must be recognized by and in good standing with the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) organization. Organizations that were created by one or more congregations will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Please contact Melinda K. McAliney, Program Officer/Communications Director, to discuss further. Collaborative efforts, which are strongly encouraged, should include the tax-exempt letter of the lead agency (which must be a congregation). The geographic area supported by the Foundation is identified in our Core Values.

Only Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) congregations are eligible to receive direct consultation from The Missouri District of the LCMS for their planning needs. All other congregations in need of such planning assistance should submit an application to the Foundation for a planning grant (up to $5,000); applications are accepted at any time of the year.

Funding Parameters

The Foundation will support new social service outreach ministry efforts. Consideration will be given for expanded programs as long as the request is accretive and Foundation support would not supplant funding for existing services. The Foundation will consider requests to support existing activities, but will not give these priority, even if the program will discontinue if the Foundation does not provide funding.
Priority will be given to Lutheran congregations; proposals from other Christian faiths will also be considered. Non-profit organizations created by and which have active involvement by a congregation may be eligible for funding; please contact Lutheran Foundation for additional consultation.
Preference will be given to requests that demonstrate collaboration between the requesting congregation and other churches and/or nonprofit organizations.
Congregations can initially request funding for a ministry effort for one year. If the project is successful, an additional request for the same project can be submitted for funding for up to three years; continued funding is not guaranteed. The congregation should be prepared to assume the funding or enlist other support to continue a program after the grant expires.
Grants will not be awarded for normal operating expenses, routine maintenance needs, contributions to other organizations, or endowment funds. In general, requests for capital improvements will not be considered unless directly associated with the proposed social service outreach ministry activity.
Receipt of a Social Service Outreach Ministry Grant does not disqualify the congregation from applying for other grants through the Foundation. However, each congregation can have no more than two active Social Service Outreach Ministry Grants.
Creativity in developing proposals for novel or experimental approaches to social service outreach ministry is encouraged, even if this means the prospects for a “successful” program are less certain.
Programs that contain a significant amount of volunteer lay involvement will receive special consideration.
The congregation must demonstrate a commitment to the proposed program through financial support and/or volunteer involvement.
At least 50 percent of program participants/service recipients should be non-members of the congregation.
Preference will be given to efforts that serve people in underserved communities.
All grantees must agree to participate in bi-monthly grantee meetings through the life of the grant for group sharing and learning opportunities.

Examples of Possible Ministry Projects

English as a second language
Citizenship classes
After-school mentoring/tutoring
Job training for ex-offenders
Food pantry/clothing closet
Health fairs
Fitness/healthy living programs
Health screenings
Substance abuse services
Services for pregnant and teen moms

Meals on wheels
Adult mentoring
Outreach to the homeless (food, shelter, clothing)
Recreation activities for underserved youth
Social activities for seniors
Exercise programs for seniors
Community computer room/classes
Community revitalization

Examples of Ineligible Funding Requests

Vacation Bible School
Sunday school activities
Confirmation classes
Youth groups
Bible studies, unless it is a component of a larger outreach effort
Playgrounds

Homebound visits for Word and Sacrament
Evangelism programs
Capital repairs/church renovations
Vans
School ministries

In general, Lutheran Foundation does not provide funds to purchase food for a food pantry or assist in paying for clients' housing or utility bills. Further, the Foundation typically does not fund the purchase of building supplies/equipment, unless the project is new and supplies/equipment are needed to help launch the program.

Application Process
All interested congregations or organizations must submit a grant application by the stated deadlines in order to be considered for funding. The Foundation strongly encourages applicants to meet with staff prior to submission of a funding request to explore opportunities for partnership. Lutheran Foundation’s Board of Directors makes funding decisions on all applicants.

Deadlines

Application Deadline	Board Decision Dates
April 1	June 30
August 1	October 31
December 1	February 28

When the application deadline falls on a weekend, the deadline is extended to the following Monday. Proposals must be received by the Foundation (not post-marked) by the stated deadline. In fairness to all, the Foundation does not extend deadlines for any reason.

Please note that non-LCMS congregations seeking a planning grant (up to $5,000) can submit a request at any time during the year. Decisions are made on an on-going basis and are not subject to the above deadlines/decision dates.

Overview Funding Strategy How to Apply Grant Application Resources