Grant Opportunities
The Upper New York New Faith Communities' Team is excited to announce the following grant opportunities.
Engage New People Grant
The Engage New People Grant benefits local churches in the Upper New York Conference that are working to Engage New People not already in their church/ministry.
New Faith Communities Conference-wide purpose is to reach people outside the church in new and contextual ways. Grants will be available up to $2,500 to help local churches and ministries.
Grant applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Churches and ministries may apply for up to $2,500 during one calendar year. Please expect 60 days to review your application.
Upon completing the application, the New Faith Communities' team will reach out to the pastor/lead planter of the church and/or contact person listed to confirm your submission.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the timeline for applications to be submitted and grants awarded?
Grant applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Churches and ministries may apply for up to $2,500 during one calendar year. Please expect 60 days to review your application.
Will this grant be available next year?
The UNY New Faith Communities' Team has requested this grant be continued, but this cannot be guaranteed.
New Beginnings Fund
The New Beginnings Fund supports grants of $2,500 or more to intentionally reach new people in contextual ways to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. The New Beginnings Fund – made up of the net proceeds from the sale of the church buildings of discontinued congregations – enables closed churches to provide a legacy to reach new people and for new churches take root.
The goal of New Faith Communities in Upper New York is to intentionally reach new people in contextual ways to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
To apply, ministries must be:
A New Ministry: The NFC should represent a newly established ministry initiative
Explicitly built to reach new people outside of the existing church
Relational
Helping new people explore, embrace, and grow in their faith in the Wesleyan way
New Faith Communities may include:
New Church Starts: A brand new church that has the potential to charter and live in the connectional system with the potential for self-sustainability in terms of growth and finances. Must include worship and service/community care. Multi-site campuses fall into this category. New Church Starts must attend the UNY Launchpad training to be eligible for funding. Approval from the Bishop and Cabinet is required.
New Faith Communities/Fresh Expressions: Smaller, less traditional ministries. Unlikely to charter or continue to grow beyond a certain point. It may be seen as a stepping stone towards faith. Includes coffeehouses, house churches, intentional communities, digital ministries, ministry in the marketplace, etc. Preference is given to applicants who have attended Launchpad.
Church ReStarts: Church Restarts may be considered NFC’s upon completion of
Ministry audit via your District within the past two years
NFC Launchpad or NFC coaching in the UNYAC
Purposeful Ministry Pause of at least four weeks – up to 6 months
Intentional Revisioning: strategic plan to begin new ministries that will reach new people
Approval from the Bishop and Cabinet
Other supporting qualities include: Change of Name, New Location
Church Restarts are eligible for up to matching grants only, based on their pledged annual giving.
Grant applications exceeding $5,000*: are reviewed bi-annually.
Grant applications for
January 15
Any appointment related applications close October 15 (response by Dec. 1)
July 15
Close April 1 (response by May 15)
Applications received after these dates will be considered six months later.