GBCS Grants

The General Board of Church and Society helps local churches and organizations advocate and establish social justice ministries. Below is a list of available grants, click on the links to review the qualifications and application details.

Peace with Justice Grants

Applicants must work toward achieving at least one of the following objectives:

• Objective 1: Assist United Methodists in understanding and responding to violence and militarism.
• Objective 2: Involve United Methodists in efforts to end conflicts and violent aggression around the world.
• Objective 3: Promote just national and international policies and actions (governmental and non-governmental) seeking to restore communities and respond to the disproportionate effect of injustices on racial and ethnic persons.
• Objective 4: Support policies that promote systematic economic justice and the self-development of peoples.

Ethnic Local Church Grants

The purpose of the GBCS Ethnic Local Church Grants (ELCG) Program is to provide grants to strengthen the ethnic local church through education, advocacy, or leadership training and development as they engage in social justice. Grant recipients must be programs initiated by or developed in partnership with one or more United Methodist ethnic local churches. Racial/ethnic persons shall be the majority of those served by the program. The project must focus on needs identified by ethnic local churches as they address one or more chronic social problems or concerns, such as housing, employment, health care, human rights, education, the environment and racism.

Human Relations Day Grants

To be considered for funding, a project must be initiated by or developed in partnership with a United Methodist church. The project must focus on needs of non-violent juvenile youth offenders as they address one or more chronic social problems or concerns, such as housing, employment, health care, human rights, education, the environment and racism.

Peace With Justice Grants

Download PWJ Grant application (Word)
Download PWJ Grant application (PDF)

Background

Required Steps

• Plan ahead to meet the Jan. 6 deadline.
• Review eligibility requirements and objectives.
• Request Bishop’s or Bishop’s designee letter in time to be included with application.
• Prepare project description and budget (1 page each). Include 1-page copy of your organization's budget.
• Get Annual Conference information.
• Fill in application form completely.
• Prepare 10 copies of all material (U.S. only).

Optional Steps

• Seek references
• Call for help
• Request translation services, if needed

According to the 2008 Book of Discipline, the purpose of the General Board of Church & Society shall be to:

…relate the gospel of Jesus Christ to the members of the Church and to the persons and structures of the communities and world in which they live. It shall seek to bring the whole of human life, activities, possessions, use of resources, and community and world relationships into conformity with the will of God. It shall show the members of the Church and Society that the reconciliation that God effected through Christ involves personal, social and civic righteousness. (¶1002)

In order to achieve its purpose, the board shall:

Encourage Christian lines of action that assist humankind to move toward a world where peace and justice are achieved. (¶1002.4)

Further, funding for this program is generated by the local churches and Annual Conferences from the Peace with Justice offering taken on Peace with Justice Sunday that “witnesses to God’s demands for a faithful, just, disarmed, and secure world.” Fifty percent of the offering is retained in the Annual Conferences and the remainder is forwarded to the General Church. (see ¶263.5 and ¶823.5).

Ethnic Local Church Grants

Download ELC Grant application.

Purpose

Required Steps

• Plan ahead to meet the Jan. 10 (March funding cycle) or Aug. 10 (October funding cycle) deadline
• Review eligibility requirements and objectives
• Request Bishop’s or Bishop’s designee letter in time to be included with application
• Prepare project description and budget (1 page each)
• Get Annual Conference information
• Fill in application form completely
• Prepare 10 copies of all material (U.S. only)

Optional Steps

• Seek references
• Call for help
• Request translation services, if needed

The purpose of the GBCS Ethnic Local Church Grants (ELCG) Program is to provide grants to strengthen the ethnic local church through education, advocacy, or leadership training and development as they engage in social justice.

Background

According to the 2000 Book of Discipline (Paragraph 1002), the purpose of the General Board of Church and Society (GBCS) shall be to:

[R]elate the gospel of Jesus Christ to the members of the Church and to the persons and structures of the communities and world in which they live.  It shall seek to bring the whole of human life, activities, possessions, use of resources, and community and world relationships into conformity with the will of God.  It shall show the members of the Church and Society that the reconciliation that God effected through Christ involves personal, social and civic righteousness.

As one of the four international program boards of the United Methodist Church, GBCS:

• Seeks to implement The Social Principles and other General Conference policy statements related to social concerns (i.e., The Book of Resolutions).
• Enables church members to identify and respond to critical social justice issues.  Throughout the United Methodist connection, GBCS provides resources and training for Christian Social Action at community, state and regional levels.
• Expresses to the church and to the world its convictions, interpretations and concerns, recognizing the freedom and responsibility of all Christians to study, interpret and act on social justice issues. Located at the United Methodist Building on Capitol Hill, the GBCS provides a key witness to lawmakers on issues of moral concern.

Human Relations Day Grants

Download Human Relations Day Grant application.

To qualify for a Human Relations Day grant, the applicant must be either:

• a United Methodist local church, district, annual conference or other affiliated group/organization; or
• an ecumenical group/organization working with and through at least one United Methodist agency or organization, whose program affects at least one United Methodist local church.

Grants are awarded once a year. Jan. 10 is the deadline for Spring  2011 funding. Grant decisions are made by GBCS’s Board of Directors.

To be considered for funding, a project must be initiated by or developed in partnership with a United Methodist church. The project must focus on needs of non-violent juvenile youth offenders as they address one or more chronic social problems or concerns, such as housing, employment, health care, human rights, education, the environment and racism.

Applicants must have a supervisory board consisting of a majority of members of The United Methodist Church that shall make all policy decisions.

All funding from GBCS must be used for programmatic components and not for salaries, purchase of equipment, purely administrative costs, and direct delivery of services or building construction.

Intent of the grant is to provide start-up money.

Other United Methodist Church Grants

General Commission on Archives & History

Grant Name: Women in United Methodist History Research Grant
Description: This grant provides seed money (travel, secretarial services, etc.) for research projects relating specifically to the history of women in denomination or its antecedents.
Deadline: December
Application: http://www.gcah.org/site/c.ghKJI0PHIoE/b.3526385/
Contact: Robert Williams
Phone: (973) 408-3189

Grant Name: Asian, Black, Hispanic, & Native American United Methodist History Research Grants
Description: The grant promotes excellence in research and writing in the history of four groups: Asian, Black, Hispanic, and Native American within the denomination or its antecedents.
Application: http://www.gcah.org/site/c.ghKJI0PHIoE/b.3526383/k.4146/RacialEthnic_History_Research.htm
Contact: Robert Williams
Phone: (973) 408-3189

Grant Name: The Jesse Lee Prize
Description: The Jesse Lee Prize encourages the writing of serious monographs in Methodist history, which includes studies of any antecedent bodies or offshoots of Methodism in the United States or its missions.
Deadline: December
Application: http://www.gcah.org/site/c.ghKJI0PHIoE/b.3526375/k.8CBE/Jesse_Lee_Prize.htm
Contact: Robert Williams
Phone: (973) 408-3189

Grant Name: John Harrison Nees Memorial Award
Description: The annual awards of $500 (first prize) and $300 (second prize) go to students who submit the best papers on some aspect of United Methodist history broadly conceived. Students must be enrolled in a Master of Divinity program or its equivalent in United Methodist or other seminaries accredited by the Association of Theological Schools.
Deadline: December
Application: http://www.gcah.org/site/c.ghKJI0PHIoE/b.3526379/k.8DA6/John_Ness_Award.htm
Contact: Robert Williams
Phone: (973) 408-3189

Grant Name: Women in United Methodist History Writing Award
Description: The award is given to encourage the writing of serious monographs in Methodist history, which includes studies of any antecedent bodies or offshoots of Methodism in the United States or its missions.
Deadline: December
Application: http://www.gcah.org/site/c.ghKJI0PHIoE/b.3526381/k.7DAA/Women_in_UM_History_Award.htm
Contact: Robert Williams
Phone: (973)408-3189

Grant Name: The World is My Parish United Methodist History Research Grant
Description: The grant is given to enable collection of written and oral history in any of the conferences not in the United States. It encourages research regarding development of The United Methodist Church and its antecedents overseas.
Deadline: December
Application: http://www.gcah.org/site/c.ghKJI0PHIoE/b.4619067/k.B158/World_is_My_Parish_Research.htm
Contact: Robert Williams
Phone: (973) 408-3189

Grant Name: The Center for the Evangelical United Brethren Heritage Audrie E. Reber Memorial Award
Description: The annual award honors an undergraduate, seminary, or graduate student enrolled in an institution of higher education who submits the best paper on some aspect of Evangelical United Brethren Church history, theology or church life.
Deadline: December
Application: http://www.gcah.org/site/c.ghKJI0PHIoE/b.4619069/k.552C/EUB_Audrie_E_Reber_Award.htm
Contact: Robert Williams
Phone: (973) 408-3189

Grant Name: Josephine Forman Scholarship
Description: The scholarship supports minority students pursuing graduate education in archival science. It encourages students to pursue a career as an archivist, and to promote the diversification of the American archives profession.
Deadline: February
Application: http://www.archivists.org/governance/handbook/section12-forman.asp
Contact: Robert Williams
Phone: (973) 408-3189

General Commission on Religion & Race

Grant Name: Supporting Cultural Competency & Racial Justice with Clergy Leaders & Seminaries
Description: The CORR Action Fund Priority supports Clergy Leaders and United Methodist Seminaries to Address Racial Justice. EXPAND THIS, JUST REPEATS TITLE
Deadline: July
Application: http://www.gcorr.org/site/c.mwKWJ9NTJtF/b.7503163/k.A102/CORR_Action_Fund.htm
Contact: CORR Action Fund
Phone: (202) 547-2271

General Board on Higher Education & Ministry

Grant Name: The United Methodist Loan & Scholarship Opportunities
Description: Scholarships and grants assist students (DON’T THEY HAVE TO BE UNITED METHODISTS?) from various backgrounds working toward various higher education degrees.
Deadline: Varies by Award
Application: http://www.gbhem.org/site/c.lsKSL3POLvF/b.3501653/k.49D8/Loan__Scholarship_Opportunities.htm
Contact: Jim Harding
Phone: (615) 340-7344

General Board of Discipleship

Grant Name: Youth Service Fund Grant
Description: The award is given to empower young people as world-changing disciples of Jesus Christ, to nurture faith development, and to equip young leaders. This may be done by building a network of support and providing resources that connect the diverse experiences of youth and young adults in local ministries and communities across the globe.
Deadline: June
Application: http://globalyoungpeople.org/grants-scholarship/youth-service-fund/
Contact: Sarah Smith
Phone: (615) 340-7184

Grant Name: Richard S. Smith Scholarship
Description: This scholarship was created to aid United Methodist ethnic minority students who are continuing their self-development through higher education.
Deadline: June
Application: http://globalyoungpeople.org/grants-scholarship/richard-s-smith-scholarship/
Contact: Sarah Smith
Phone: (615) 340-7184

Grant Name: UMAASCE (United Methodist Association of Scholars in Christian Education)
Description: The grant is provided to assist scholars in Christian Education who engage in dialogue, consultation, research and advocacy in the field of Christian education. UMASCE is an affiliate organization of GBOD.
Application: http://www.umasce.org
Contact: Ben Marshall

Grant Name: Intergenerational Ministries with Older Adults
Description: Grants will assist local projects in care-giving ministry. Each project must enhance the spiritual faith development of older adults and work to engage them in decision-making, development and the implementation of the ministry.
Application: http://www.gbod.org/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=nhLRJ2PMKsG&b=5474039&ct=8859529
Contact: Teri Kline
Phone: (615) 340-7177

Grant Name: Grants for Ministries with Young People
Description: The funding opportunities provided are for ministries that work with young people. The grants fund dynamic, creative ministries with young people. Projects address the causes of critical issues related to young people in their local context, with an eye toward how their work can have a broad impact on the priorities of The United Methodist Church in a broader context.
Deadline: June
Application: http://globalyoungpeople.org/grants-scholarship/grants-for-ministries/
Contact: Sarah Smith
Phone: (615) 340-7184

Grant Name: Youth Service Fund International Application
Description: The international scholarship fund was established to financially assist United Methodist young people pursuing educational opportunities outside of the United States.
Deadline: June
Application: http://globalyoungpeople.org/grants-scholarship/international-scholarship/
Contact: Sarah Smith
Phone: (615) 340-7184

Grant Name: David W. Self Scholarship
Description: This scholarship was created to aid United Methodist ethnic minority students who are continuing their self-development through higher education..
Deadline: June
Application: http://globalyoungpeople.org/grants-scholarship/david-w-self-scholarship/
Contact: Sarah Smith
Phone: (615) 340-7184

Grant Name: Racial Ethnic Local Church Concerns
Description: The ethnic ministry project focuses on developing and strengthening the racial ethnic local church for public witness and mission.
Deadline: July/November
Application: http://www.gbod.org/ethnic
Contact: Bener Agtarap
Phone: (877) 899-2780

United Methodist Committee on Relief

Grant Name: Health Hispanic Leadership Development Grant
Description: Persons of Hispanic-American descent planning to pursue a health-related career or are a practitioner in the health-care field are eligible.
Deadline: June
Application: http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umcor/media/pdfs%20health/hispanicleadershipgrant.pdf
Contact: Joan Young
Phone: (212) 870-3871

Grant Name: Harry R. Kendall Project Fund
Description: Grants may be awarded for building projects, rehabilitation of buildings or program emphasis/provision of services.
Deadline: June
Application: http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umcor/media/pdfs%20health/kendallprojectapplication.pdf
Contact: Joan Young
Phone: (212) 870-3871

Grant Name: Harry R. Kendall Leadership Development Scholarship
Description: Scholarship is for persons of African-American descent planning to pursue a health-related career or are a practitioner in the health-care field.
Deadline: June
Application: http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umcor/media/pdfs%20health/harryrkendallleadershipscholarship.pdf
Contact: Joan Young
Phone: (212) 870-3871

Grant Name: Accessibility Grants
Description: Grants are to encourage and aid local churches in making their programs and facilities accessible to people with disabilities.
Deadline: June
Application: http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umcor/media/pdfs%20health/guidelinesforumcaccessibilitygrants.pdf
Contact: Joan Young
Phone: (212) 870-3871

General Board of Global Ministries

Grant Name: SPSARV Grant
Description: These grants are to fund initiatives globally that support The United Methodist Church's position on alcohol, drugs, and drug-related violence.
Deadline: January & July
Application: http://gbgm-umc.org/global_news/full_article.cfm?articleid=5941
Contact: Juliana Mecera
Phone: (212) 870-3883

Grant Name: International Leadership Development Grants
Description: Objective these grants is to support preparation of students who will return to their regions to work in Christian mission in elimination of poverty, expansion of global health, leadership development, or congregational development.
Deadline: September
Application: http://new.gbgm-umc.org/media/me/pdf/internationalleadershipdevelopmentgrant.pdf
Contact: Scholarship Office
Phone: (212) 870-3787

Grant Name: A Brighter Future for Children & Youths
Description: The grants support ministries addressing abuse, violence prevention or treatment, and those providing direct, comprehensive services to children ages 5-18 years.
Deadline: July
Application:http://www.gbod.org/atf/cf/%7B3482E846-598F-460A-B9A7-386734470EDA%7D/oa-caregivinggrant-2010ap.pdf
Contact: Marva Usher-Kerr
Phone: (212) 870-3738

Grant Name: Leadership Development Grants
Description: Grants offer financial assistance to United Methodist ethnic-minority students pursuing studies full time and attending an accredited college, university or seminary.
Deadline: May
Application: http://new.gbgm-umc.org/media/me/pdf/nationalleadershipsdevelopmentgrant.pdf
Contact: Scholarship Office
Phone: (212) 870-3787

Grant Name: Assembly Offering Fund
Description: The Women’s Division fund targets programs that will empower women to move from dependence to independence.
Contact: Marva Usher-Kerr
Phone: (212) 870-3738

United Methodist Communications

Grant Name: Leonard M. Perryman Communications Scholarship
Description: The scholarship assists a United Methodist undergraduate who intends to pursue a career in religion journalism through study at an accredited U.S. college or university.
Deadline: March
Application: http://www.umcom.org/atf/cf/%7B60c02017-4f6a-4f3b-883a-4afaece1182f%7D/PERRYMAN_APPLICATION_PACKET.PDF
Contact: Leonard M. Perryman Scholarship Committee
Phone: (888) 278-4862

Grant Name: Stoody-West Fellowship
Description: The grant assists one United Methodist student, who intends on pursuing a career in religious journalism, in post-graduate study at an accredited U.S. college or university.
Deadline: March
Application: http://www.umcom.org/site/c.mrLZJ9PFKmG/b.3584855/k.6EB2/StoodyWest_Fellowship.htm
Contact: Stoody-West Fellowship Committee
Phone: (888) 278-4862

Grant Name: Judith L. Weidman Racial Ethnic Minority Fellowship
Description: The fellowship offers a learning opportunity where a person skilled in communications is mentored by an experienced United Methodist communicator. The recipient can expect to share and gain experience in most of the following areas: church public relations; newspaper writing, editing and layout; media placement; video use; development of brochures and other written pieces; electronic publishing; news media relations; local church communications training; and leadership of a conference communications office.
Deadline: March
Application: http://www.umcom.org/atf/cf/%7B60c02017-4f6a-4f3b-883a-4afaece1182f%7D/REM_APPLICATION_PACKET.PDF
Contact: REM Fellowship Committee
Phone: (888) 278-4862