Other Grant
Opportunities & Resources

Community Connection

• Fall harvest community dinner series — monthly meals partnering with local farmers or food banks, open to neighbors beyond the congregation

•       Neighborhood trunk-or-treat & resource fair — a Halloween outreach event doubling as a community resource connection for families

•       After-school homework hub — fall semester tutoring and mentorship space, partnering with local schools

•       Senior isolation ministry — structured visitation, transportation, and weekly programming as the colder months approach

Innovative Ministry

• Outdoor worship & nature church — a fall worship series held at a park, trailhead, or farm for those who connect with God outside traditional walls

•       Mental health & faith series — a small group curriculum pairing licensed counselors with pastoral care to address anxiety and seasonal depression

•       “Pop-up” church in unexpected spaces — worship gatherings in laundromats, coffee shops, or community centers on weekday evenings

•       Digital storytelling & congregation archive — training youth to document faith stories through short video or podcast, building cross-
generational bonds

Disaster Response & Preparedness

• Hurricane season debrief & readiness training — partnering with local emergency management to train congregation members as neighborhood
response hubs

•       Emergency supply depot & mutual aid network — establishing your church as a certified staging site with stored supplies and coordination with
neighboring congregations

•       Long-term disaster survivor care — ministry to households still rebuilding from past storms, including case management and trauma-informed
pastoral care

•       Youth disaster response team launch — recruiting and training a youth-led team in first aid, chainsaw safety, and emotional support skills

Clergy & Laity Development

•  Lay leader cohort & certification — a fall semester program to train and commission lay leaders in visitation, small group facilitation, and
community organizing

•       Rural clergy peer learning circle — a structured cohort for rural pastors navigating isolation, small-church challenges, and bivocational ministry

•       Clergy sabbath & renewal retreat — a fall retreat addressing burnout with spiritual direction, rest, and tools for sustainable ministry

•       Cross-cultural ministry immersion — pairing suburban or rural congregations with urban churches for worship exchange, shared meals, and dialogue

Grants 101 Workshop Webinar

Foundation Grants Coordinator Britney Winn Lee led a one-hour webinar on April 15 designed specifically for Louisiana United Methodist church leaders who want to explore grant opportunities.

Watch the recording by clicking the button below.

What You'll Learn:

• Grants basics: what they are, how they work and common misconceptions

• Key components of a strong grant application

• How to avoid mistakes that sink proposals

• Real-world insights from clergy who've successfully secured grant funding

PLUS--Hear from two UMC clergy who are doing this work!