The Complete Step-by-Step Guide to Securing Funding for Your Ministry

What Are Grants?

Grants are free money that foundations and government groups give to churches for good projects. You don’t have to pay this money back. But you do have to follow rules and show how you used the money.

Why Churches Can Get Grants

Churches have special advantages when asking for grants:

You Help Your Whole Community Your church probably helps people beyond just your members. This is what grant givers want to see.

People Trust You Churches often have strong ties in their communities. Grant givers like organizations that people trust.

You Have Volunteers Your church members can help with projects. This shows grant givers that your community supports your work.

You Know Local Needs You understand what your community needs better than outside groups do.

What You Need Before Applying:

Get Your Nonprofit Status

Most grant givers require churches to have “501(c)(3)” status. This is a tax form that says you’re a nonprofit organization. If you don’t have this yet, get it first. It’s very important.

Match Your Mission

Look for grant givers who care about the same things your church does. If you run a food pantry, find foundations that fight hunger.

Focus on Community Help

Grants go to projects that help the whole community, not just church members. As one expert says: “Awards go to programs that help the entire community, not just the congregation.”

Types of Grants for Churches:

Building and Equipment Grants

These help you fix buildings, buy equipment, or improve your church facilities.

Program Grants

Money for specific programs like after-school tutoring, food pantries, or senior programs.

Technology Grants

Help with computers, internet, sound systems, and other technology needs.

Community Development Grants

For projects like affordable housing, job training, or health services.

Emergency Help Grants

Money to help during disasters or community crises.

Where to Find Grants:

Private Foundations

Rich families or companies that give money to good causes. Look for ones that support religious groups.

Government Programs

Federal and state programs that might fit your church’s work:

USDA Rural Development grants
North Carolina Health Department programs
Local city and county grants

Businesses

Many companies give money to local community projects:

Food Lion (especially for food programs)
Wells Fargo (community development)
Local banks and credit unions

Your Church Denomination

Don’t forget your own church family:

United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR)
Presbyterian Committee on the Self-Development of People
Baptist Foundation grants
Episcopal Church Foundation

How to Find Grant Opportunities:

Do Your Research

Look at foundation websites
See what grants they gave before
Make sure their goals match yours

Use Online Tools

Foundation Directory Online – Big database of grant givers
GrantWatch – Lists current grant opportunities
Grants.gov – Government grants

Network with Others

Talk to other churches that got grants
Go to workshops and training events
Join your local nonprofit groups
Contact your area foundations

Build Relationships

Getting grants is about relationships, not just applications:

Meet foundation staff when possible
Invite them to visit your community
Work with other local groups
Stay in touch regularly

Step-by-Step Grant Writing Process:

Step 1: Check If You’re Ready

Before you apply, ask yourself:

What problem will this grant solve?
Can our church handle a grant project?
Who will manage the project and paperwork?
Are we good at managing money?

Step 2: Find the Right Grant Givers

Spend time finding grant givers who care about your type of project:

Read their websites carefully
Look at grants they gave before
Go to their information meetings
Ask other churches for advice

Step 3: Build Relationships

Grant giving is about relationships:

Go to funder meetings when you can
Invite program officers to visit
Partner with other local groups
Keep in regular contact

Step 4: Write Your Proposal

Cover Letter: A short letter that introduces your church and project.

Executive Summary: Write this last, but put it first. Sum up your whole project in 2-3 paragraphs.

Statement of Need: Explain the problem you want to solve. Use local facts and numbers from your county health department, schools, or social services.

Project Description: Tell exactly what you plan to do, when, and how. Be specific about activities and timeline.

Goals and Objectives: Make these SMART:

Specific
Measurable
Achievable
Relevant
Time-bound

Example: “Help 200 seniors each month get food through our new mobile food pantry program.”

Methods and Evaluation: Explain how you’ll do the project and measure success. Even simple tracking (surveys, attendance, stories) shows you’re responsible.

Budget: Be realistic and detailed. Include:

Direct costs (supplies, salaries)
Volunteer time value
Donated space value

Organizational Information: Tell about your church’s strengths, community connections, and past experience.

Sustainability: Explain how the project will continue after the grant ends.

Signature: End with your signature, name, title, contact info, and date.

Writing Tips for Church Leaders:

Use Simple, Clear Language

Avoid church words that outsiders might not understand:

Instead of “evangelism,” use “community outreach”
Instead of “ministry,” use “program” or “service”

Tell Stories

Include short, specific examples of how your church has helped people. Numbers matter, but stories make numbers meaningful.

Be Honest About Challenges

Rural churches face real problems—few staff, old buildings, money troubles. Frame these as chances to make a bigger impact, not obstacles.

Show Community Support

Include letters of support from:

Local officials
School principals
Other nonprofits
Community members

This shows your project has wide support.

Check Your Work Carefully

Simple mistakes can hurt your credibility. Have several people read your proposal before you send it.

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

Starting Too Late

Good proposals take time. Start researching and writing at least 2-3 months before deadlines.

Asking for Too Much Money

Many successful rural church grants are $5,000-$25,000. Don’t automatically think you need $100,000.

Not Following Instructions

Follow application rules exactly. If they want three pages, don’t send four.

Weak Evaluation Plan

Even simple programs need evaluation. Plan how you’ll track and report your impact.

Poor Budget Preparation

Make sure your budget adds up correctly and matches your story.

Not Including Required Documents

Make sure you include:

IRS nonprofit letter
Annual report and budget
Board member list with contact info
Recent financial statements
Current donor list
Staff information
Church brochures
Letters of support from community leaders

Building Your Grant Writing Skills:

Start Small

Apply for smaller grants first ($1,000-$5,000) to build experience. Try:

Local community foundations
Service clubs (Rotary, Lions Club)
Church denomination grants

Learn from Others

Connect with other churches that got grants successfully. Most are happy to share their experience.

Get Training

Look for grant writing workshops from:

North Carolina Association of Nonprofits
Your regional Council of Governments
Local community colleges
Church resource centers

Work with Partners

Team up with other churches, nonprofits, or community groups. Joint applications can be stronger.

North Carolina Resources (Free Help!):

Hometown Strong Rural Grants Program

This state program is amazing for rural North Carolina churches. They provide FREE help with:

Finding the right grants for your projects
Writing parts of applications
Reviewing and improving your proposals
Completing full applications
Long-term planning and training

NC Office of Recovery and Resiliency

They have searchable databases of state and federal grants specifically for North Carolina communities.

Councils of Governments (COGs)

Many North Carolina regional councils offer free grant writing help. They understand local needs and can help with state and federal funding.

North Carolina Resource Conservation and Development Program

They have 10 councils serving all 100 North Carolina counties. They help with grants for:

Natural resource improvement
Recreation and tourism
Economic development
Community improvement
Education

Environmental Finance Centers

The University of North Carolina Environmental Finance Center provides free help for:

Water system improvements
Well projects
Environmental improvements

Other North Carolina Resources

NC Rural Center: Resources and funding for rural community projects
North Carolina Department of Agriculture: Grants for food programs, community gardens, farm projects
NC Community Foundation: Regional groups that understand local needs
Cooperative Extension: Great partner for health, nutrition, agriculture, and youth programs

Technology Tools to Help You

Hometown Strong Grant Database

Searchable databases of state and federal grants specifically for North Carolina communities.

Rural.gov

Federal database focused on rural community funding opportunities—perfect for small town churches.

NC Grant Link

New tool (started in 2024) that matches your project to the best grant opportunities and connects you with help.

GrantSpace

Free resource with funding databases and proposal writing guides.

Candid

Big database of grant givers (available at many public libraries).

Google Alerts

Set up alerts to get emails about new grant opportunities in your area.

Local Library Resources

Many libraries provide free access to grant databases and can help with research.

Getting Professional Help:

You don’t have to do this alone. North Carolina offers great free resources:

Start with Hometown Strong: If you’re in a rural area, call them first. Their free services can save you time and increase your success rate.

Contact Your Council of Governments: Many offer grant writing services and understand local funding priorities.

Partner with Technical Centers: For specific projects (environmental, water, etc.), specialized centers offer free expert help.

Consider Professional Services: For complex projects, organizations like the Institute for Building Technology and Safety offer comprehensive support.

After You Get a Grant:

Maintain Good Relationships

Submit reports on time
Invite funders to see your work
Keep them updated on successes and challenges
Thank them publicly (with permission)
Consider them for future projects

Other Ways to Get Money:

Don’t limit yourself to just formal grants:

Crowdfunding campaigns for smaller projects
Local business sponsorships
Service club donations (Rotary, Lions, etc.)
Community fundraising events
Donated materials and services

Final Encouragement:

Grant writing might seem scary, but your church has special strengths that grant givers value:

You understand your community’s needs
People trust you
You can create lasting change in ways big organizations cannot

Start small and be persistent. Don’t get discouraged by rejections—they’re normal. Every “no” teaches you something for your next application.

Remember: Good grant writing is really good ministry planning. The skills you learn will help your church far beyond any single grant.

Your community needs what your church offers. Grants are just tools to help you offer it better. With patience, practice, and prayer, you can learn these tools and get new resources for life-changing ministry.

For help and support, contact the Hometown Strong Rural Grants Program for free assistance, the NC Office of Recovery and Resiliency (resilience@ncdps.gov) for funding resources, your regional Council of Governments, or church resource centers. The best time to start is now—and in North Carolina, you don’t have to do it alone.

Key Resources and Links:

Foundation Directory Online – Big database for foundation research
GrantWatch – Platform for finding grant opportunities
Grants.gov – Federal grant opportunities database