Investing in the Church and the Academy

The General Boards of Higher Education and Ministry and Global Ministries support The United Methodist Church through grants that strengthen education, leadership development, mission engagement, and local ministry. Available to churches, annual conferences, educational institutions, and ministry partners, these grants help resource impactful ministries around the world.

In 2025, grant funding helped:

  • Support 11 historically Black colleges and universities.
  • Strengthen campus ministries and church-academy partnerships.
  • Provide technical assistance throughout the Central Conferences.
  • Recruit and educate clergy and ministry leaders.
  • Advance mission and ministry initiatives led by churches and annual conferences globally.

Open Grants – Applications accepted on a rolling basis

United Methodist Campus Ministries, Wesley Foundations, and Ecumenical Ministries
Chaplain & Campus Minister Network Development Grants for $2,000 to $5,000

Supports in-person gatherings to build relationships among United Methodist campus ministers and chaplains. Cross-jurisdictional convenings that engage participants in spiritual practices of discernment will be prioritized.

Who can apply: United Methodist campus ministries and chaplains in the United States

Young Clergy Initiative (YCI) Vocational Discernment Grants for $5,000 to $100,000

The Young Clergy Initiative Vocational Discernment Grant was established by General Conference in 2012 to increase the number of young clergy (under age 35) across the Jurisdictions. Awards assist the development and support of vocational discernment programs and resources in The United Methodist Church.

Who can apply: United Methodist groups, organizations, annual conferences, and institutions

Ministry Support Fund for $25,000 to $50,000 This fund was created with the intent to support the development and care of clergy in emerging needs related to licensed and ordained ministry. Up to $1 million will be allocated each year with grants being awarded to annual conferences for the support of clergy. Annual conferences may receive one grant per year, which can be renewed up to a maximum of four years. Who can apply: Annual conferences and annual conference entities (e.g. Boards of Ordained Ministry, annual conference staff, Cabinets/Episcopal offices)
Ministry Support Fund for $25,000 to $50,000

Supports the development and care of clergy in emerging needs related to licensed and ordained ministry. Up to $1 million will be allocated each year with grants being awarded to annual conferences for the support of clergy. Annual conferences may receive one grant per year, which can be renewed up to a maximum of four years.

Who can apply: Annual conferences and annual conference entities (e.g. Boards of Ordained Ministry, annual conference staff, Cabinets/Episcopal offices)

Mustard Seed Migration Grants for $2,000

Encourages U.S.-based United Methodist churches to engage in community-based ministries with migrants and refugees in their midst. “Welcome the stranger” in your community with a grant of up to $2,000 through UMCOR’s Mustard Seed Migration Grant program for a community-based service project and ministry focused on migrants and refugees. For more information and to apply, visit this page.

Who can apply: United Methodist Churches in the United States

Volunteers in Mission
United Methodist Voluntary Services for up to $5,000

The United Methodist Voluntary Service (UMVS) serves as a resource to volunteer-based groups and programs that challenge unjust political, social, and economic systems which threaten the livelihoods of people of low socioeconomic status, as well as racial/ethnic communities. Grants can be used for short-term (less than 1 year) community-based outreach programs and events.

Who can apply: United Methodist congregations, annual conferences, and mission partners

Native American
Native American Ministry Sunday Grants for up to $10,000

Provides funding for strengthening and development of ministries with Native Americans in annual conferences and target cities of Global Ministries’ Native American Ministry program and is funded through the Native American Ministries Sunday Offering. Grants can be used for outreach and community ministries, revitalization and discipleship formation, salary supplement, and building repairs and expansions.

Who can apply: Native American congregations and annual conference Native American ministries in The United Methodist Church

Grants with Defined Application Periods

Open annually in January/February

Racial-Ethnic Local Church Grants for up to $40,000

Fosters the development and strengthen the witness and ministry of racial/ethnic local churches in the United States. Global Ministries provides funds to assist local racial/ethnic congregations and annual conferences with Congregational Growth/Development projects.

Who can apply: United Methodist annual conferences in the United States

Annual Conference Multiethnic Ministries for up to $20,000

Assists annual conferences with programs focusing on racial/ethnic leadership development and racial/ethnic church growth and development. Seven Multiethnic Ministries (MEM) Grants are available each year through Global Ministries.

Who can apply: United Methodist annual conferences in the United States

Open annually in March/April

Luther Young, a third-year student at Vanderbilt Divinity School, has spent the past two summer mentoring elementary school children at the Freedom School at Clark Memorial UMC in Nashville. "I have learned that becoming pastor means becoming more aware of what my community needs and how God is calling me to be present in the lives of people who are struggling," says Young.
Ethnic In-Service Training for up to $10,000

Supports ethnic leadership development as part of the denomination’s ongoing mission to nurture lay and clergy leaders. Grants, through World Communion offerings, support recruitment, training, and retention across the church, academy, and community. These are one-time grants, and preference is given to first-time applicants; repeat applicants will be reviewed and considered only after first-time applicants. For more information, visit this page.

Who can apply: Partnerships and collaborative efforts in campus ministry, chaplaincy and institutions of higher education and general agencies are encouraged, but GBHEM also considers applications for innovative programs in other ministry settings. Proposals may encompass ministries related to areas such as children’s homes, retirement homes, camping and retreat centers, hospitals, the United Methodist Committee on Relief and the United Methodist Volunteers in Mission.

Open annually October 15 through December 15

Central Conference Theological Education Fund (CCTEF)

Supports theological education and leadership development across the Central Conferences in Africa, Europe, and the Philippines through grants funded by the Central Conference Theological Education Fund (CCTEF). Established by the 2012 General Conference of The United Methodist Church, CCTEF has awarded more than 1,000 grants to strengthen theological schools, Courses of Study, libraries and contextual resources, scholarships, faculty development, and innovative approaches to theological education. For more information and to apply, visit this page.

Who can apply: Theological institutions in Central Conferences that are related to The United Methodist Church, Boards of Ordained Ministry in the Central Conferences, and United Methodist organizations that are integrally related to ministry and theological education in the Central Conferences. (Note: CCTEF does not directly provide scholarships for individual students.)

 

The Church changes the world not by
making converts but by making disciples.

– John Wesley

What It Means to Be a UMC-Related Institution

Discerning a Call
To Ministry?

Boards of Ordained Ministry Resource Library