Equipping the Local Church Grant

Equipping the Local Church Grant is sponsored by Foundation for Evangelism. Supports small and medium-sized churches in launching initiatives to share the Gospel and invite others into a relationship with Jesus.

Equipping the Local Church Grant - Foundation for Evangelism Equipping the Local Church Grant Equipping the Local Church Grant Cycle 2026 The 2026 Equipping the Local Church grant cycle will be highly selective. For those interested in a less competitive cycle with a training component, we encourage you to learn more about our Local Church Cohorts.

Grants of up to $5,000 will be awarded to small* church congregations, and grants of up to $10,000 will be awarded to medium** congregations (or clusters of churches working together) within the Wesleyan Tradition**. The grant is intended to help launch an experiment or initiative to share the Gospel in word and deed, build relationships, and invite others into a discipleship journey with Jesus.

Any church or group of churches fitting the criteria may submit a letter of intent . Grants will be awarded in the summer of 2026. The Foundation for Evangelism Equipping the Local Church grant initiative seeks to empower pastors, laity, and smaller local congregations to dream, take risks, and partner with God in the transformation of lives and communities.

These grants are made possible through the generosity of donors, friends, and partners with The Foundation for Evangelism. *Less than 100 participants **250 or fewer participants ***We define Wesleyan Tradition as based on the ministry movement begun in the 18th century by John and Charles Wesley. Responding to God’s pursuit of us, all are invited to the lifelong journey to love God and neighbor with their whole heart.

The Foundation for Evangelism recognizes that Christian disciple-making happens in the local church. With the Holy Spirit’s guidance, the local church invites members of their community to enter a life-transforming relationship with Jesus Christ, grow in grace, and live out their faith by loving and serving God and neighbor. The Equipping the Local Church grant cycle is open to Wesleyan-tradition* congregations in the United States.

Grants are intended to enable small and medium-sized** churches to launch an experiment or initiative to share the Gospel and invite others into a relationship with Jesus. Through these funds, FFE desires to provide an opportunity for faith communities to be creative and take risks.

Who Qualifies for this Grant: Wesleyan-tradition* Churches with… 1-99 persons in worship, including virtual attendance (designated Small Church) 100-250 persons in worship or a cluster of small congregations working together, including virtual attendance (designated Medium Church) The applying church must be based in the United States The Following Do Not Qualify for this Grant: Non-Wesleyan-tradition* churches Mission trips, service projects, or 1-time events or projects.

While we encourage the marriage of mission and evangelism, to qualify for this grant, such a project would need to show intentional relationship building that leads to invitation into life-transforming relationship with Christ and discipleship as part of your congregation.

Campus Ministry (at colleges or universities) An established or on-going ministry or project Additional staff requests or equipment purchases not integral to the ministry Nonprofits that are not 501(c)(3), denominationally affiliated, or IRS recognized as a religious organization.

In evaluating grant applications, the strongest proposals will demonstrate alignment with The Foundation for Evangelism’s values and address the following questions: Evangelistic – How will this grant be grounded in God’s abundance , and invite others to enter, develop and deepen their relationship with Jesus? Have you intentionally listened to your community to learn what difference the Good News might make in their lives?

Wesleyan – As a Wesleyan-tradition* congregation, is this project developed according to the model of John Wesley, inspired by Jesus, that intentionally connects love of God with love of neighbor? In what ways will this grant invite people to accept and grow in God’s grace and address needs of the whole person and community?

Steward – In addition to soundly managing grant funds, how is this initiative engaging the context of ministry and utilizing your congregational gifts, strengths, and resources to equip disciples to share the Good News? Leaders – How are clergy, ministers, and laity working in partnership and sharing leadership? Is the congregation focused on identifying leaders and equipping lay leaders?

Equip – How will you equip and empower the congregation to participate in this initiative and what are your plans to share your findings and learnings with others? Catalyst – How will this grant spark transformation and greater impact?

Awards will be granted in two amounts: Up to $5,000 in awards will be available to congregations with participation from 1-99 Up to $10,000 in awards will be available to congregations with participation between 100 and 250 or a cluster of congregations working together 15 Jan. 2026 – Grant applications open 3 Feb. 2026 – Receive and screen letters of intent Feb/Mar.

2026 – Select applicants invited to submit full grant application April 2026 – Receive and screen full grant applications Spring 2026 – Grant recipients notified and receive expectations/reporting requirements Spring 2026 – Grant money released to recipients Fall/Winter 2026 – Check-in email / Zoom with grant recipients Winter 2026 – Mid-program report due Spring 2027 – Gather stories of grant impact Early Summer 2027 – Final reports due How many grants are available?

2026 UPDATE: The 2026 grant cycle will be highly selective. For those interested in a less competitive cycle, we encourage you to learn more about our Local Church Cohorts. Grants of up to $5,000 or $10,000 are available to small and medium church congregations, or clusters of churches working together, in a Wesleyan-tradition denomination.

*Total number of available grants depends on distribution of applications received. What do you mean by "Wesleyan tradition"? We use the phrase “Wesleyan tradition” to describe an approach to the Christian faith and discipleship that showcases awareness, understanding, and implementation of the practices and teachings attributed to the movement begun by John and Charles Wesley.

Theirs is a practical theology central to the life and identity of every Christian. This identity is evidenced by a focus on the God of love who, through Jesus Christ and empowered by the Holy Spirit, makes it possible for that love to transform hearts and lives.

Relying on God’s proactive grace, it strongly encourages systemic spiritual practices, and works through the faith community to actively share the Good News and invite persons everywhere to a life-transforming relationship with Jesus Christ. Where do I fill out the application?

Applications are accepted through our Equipping the Local Church page by clicking on the blue button labeled “Apply for This Grant” on the right side of the page (This button will populate on 1/15/26). You will need to create an account with our online portal provider, Submittable. Once you do this, you can begin filling out the application.

You will be able to save your application, working at your own pace. If you are unable to fill out the application online, please contact us at grants@foundationforevangelism. org .

Can you give an example of what you're looking for in a proposal? A strong proposal will address each of The Foundation for Evangelism’s six values: As an example, a (Wesleyan-tradition) church started a shower trailer ministry to provide hygiene, clothing, and meals to their unhoused neighbors.

The congregation – including pastor and lay persons (Leaders) – work together to provide these services to individuals in the community on a monthly basis. Those individuals have been invited and accepted into the life of the church (Evangelistic).

The church is working with other organizations and churches in the community which has allowed them to continue and expand (Steward & Catalyst) to offer additional classes and programs on topics like parenting, budgeting, and resume building (Equip). This experience has helped the church build deeper relationships and respond to the realities their community faces. What if we're not ready yet?

Will there be another chance to apply? For further evangelism resources, visit our resource page or contact us for recommendations. What if English is not my or my church's first language?

Depending on your language, we may be able to connect you with someone to assist in the grant application process. Please contact grants@foundationforevangelism. org .

Get Updates on Future Grants Raising Up Gospel Leaders Evangelism Training for Ministry Professionals Grants designed to equip leaders who are called to vocational ministry and desire to lead witnessing congregations and organizations. These grants range from one to three years and address training across a wide spectrum of leader designations.

Grants are varied and may be as specific as a one-time training event, a Course of Study unit, or as expansive as an endowment-funded position at a Wesleyan-tradition seminary. The purpose is to expose students to a Wesleyan understanding of evangelism and discipleship and equip them to pass their learning on to others in their ministry setting. Endowed grants are available by invitation only.

Meet the E. Stanley Jones Professors of Evangelism Harry Denman Doctoral Fellowships Fellowships granted for 1-4 academic years to support students completing a PhD, Th. D.

, or equivalent in evangelism or related discipline. Fellows are equipped and encouraged to then teach in Wesleyan-tradition schools of theology or institutions of higher education. Applications for fellowships are processed through our partners at A Foundation for Theological Education and are due each January.

Meet the Harry Denman Doctoral Fellows More About This Grant Area Engaging the Ministry of the Laity Training Lay Persons to Share Their Faith and Invite Others Methodism and the Wesleyan tradition became a movement because everyone participated in sharing the Good News.

These grants support efforts to equip the laity to tell others about their personal faith in their daily lives or as they are in mission situations, inviting others to join them to live as transformed followers of Jesus Christ.

Harry Denman Evangelism Awards (formerly The Harry Denman Evangelism Awards) The Foundation for Evangelism’s Laity Awards are given annually across the nation to recognize laity and youth who empower their church and equip disciples to share Good News of Jesus Christ in Word, Sign, and Deed. Nominate Laity or Youth for this award More About This Grant Area