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Through its grants to congregations, FTE provides financial support for activities and reflection designed to help congregations nurture the principles and practices that support vocational discernment, in general, and the call to ministry, in particular, among youth and young adults.

We also invite potential grantees into a community of reflection that extends beyond their congregations and is enriched by the wisdom and experience of other applicants and previous grantees.

Grants are made in amounts ranging from $10,000 to $15,000 and are dependent upon the quality and quantity of requests submitted during the application period. Grantees should expend their funds during the eighteen months following the award.

Grants are intended to support the culture of call within congregations and are made primarily to congregations. However, grants may include support for activities that foster partnerships with other organizations (e.g., campus ministries, seminaries, camps, denominational bodies and other congregations).

Church-related organizations are also eligible to apply when the proposed activity is focused principally on the capacity of one or more congregations to nurture vocation and the call to ministry among young people.

Grants are intended primarily to support new initiatives or to add new capacity to existing programming.

• Focus on youth and young adults in a specific, local context, without isolating them from the rest of the community;
• Foster new efforts to explore vocation and the call to ministry, with the aim of expanding the community's capacities beyond the period of the grant;
• Offer engagement over a significant period of time, rather than focusing on a single event;
• Involve participants—project planners, leaders and young people—in consistent theological reflection as well as activity.

• Salaries, stipends or operating expenses beyond those specifically required by the proposed project;
• Projects depending primarily on "outside experts" (the engagement and expertise of the congregation are the desirable emphases for any proposal);
• The costs of group travel far from home.

Grants are available to congregations and church-related organizations in the United States and Canada only.

For the March 2009 cycle, FTE invites potential applicants to submit a letter of intent by February 2, 2009. For the Fall cycle, letters of intent should be submitted by September 1. The letter should be two to three pages in length and address the following questions in brief:

• What are the specific needs in the congregation(s) in regard to young people, vocation and the call to ministry?
• What sort of reflection on the part of the congregation(s) has revealed the need and the response you envision?
• What specific activity or activities are included in the response that you envision?
• How will you establish reflection as a part of your plans—not only for the youth and young adults but for leaders and the congregation as a whole?
• Who will be involved in carrying out this project—including planners, leaders and participants?
• What are your anticipated outcomes for this project—both interim and long term?
• What is your congregation’s broader vision for becoming a culture of call?

To assist the formation of your project intent, we invite you to view our Characteristics of Calling Congregations in PDF format. How does your project activity resonate with, connect to or further nuance one or two of the characteristics or activities you see? Where do you see yourselves in this description and where do you see who you are becoming? Download PDF

Submitted letters of intent will be reviewed by FTE staff who will be in contact with your designated representative about pursuing a full proposal.

Letters of intent may be submitted via email to Jim Goodmann or by mail to:

Grants to Congregations
The Fund for Theological Education
825 Houston Mill Road, Ste 250
Atlanta, GA 30329

If you have any questions, please call 404-727-1415 or email Jim Goodmann.