Funding For Ministry

Please click here Grants For Ministry | Eastern PA Conference of the UMC (epaumc.org) to access the new EPA Congregational Development Grants webpage.

Conference Loan Fund

The EPA Conference Loan Fund is a Pennsylvania non-profit corporation. Its purpose is to make loans to churches and agencies for building projects. Learn more

This loan application form can be filled in, signed and submitted electronically -- or printed, completed by hand, signed, and submitted by mail. For electronic completion, please be sure to save (Ctrl + S) this document to a directory on your computer, and then use your PDF Reader to open, fill in and save the document. Entries made within your browser window (for example: Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, etc.) cannot be saved. Call (800) 828-9093 for more information.

Narberth UMC Legacy Ministry Action Grants

2021-2024 Action Grants

The Narberth Legacy Ministry Action Fund is a Permanent Endowment Fund administered by the Mid-Atlantic United Methodist Foundation on behalf of the Eastern PA Conference. It was established from the 2014 discontinuation of Narberth (PA) UMC, as a living memorial to past church members, to provide substantial support to new, innovative, justice-seeking ministries that impact the life of communities.

One grant for up to $45,000, distributed over a three-year period, will be awarded annually to a church. Eligible ministries are those that seek to serve populations that may be multicultural, young or intergenerational, unchurched or de-churched, and challenged by racism, discrimination, poverty and other disadvantages. Such ministries should demonstrate viability and a commitment to foster productive cooperation with church and community partners and stakeholders. They should also witness publicly to an active Christian faith and the call to “do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with God.” (from Micah 6:8)

The recipient ministry’s progress will be assessed to ensure continuation of the funding. Funds will be granted only for endeavors that produce action and offer the potential for real change. Funds will not be granted to pay for staffing or ordinary operating costs, nor for work that is primarily related to training, dialogues, one-time events, property purchases, or construction or improvement of facilities

Peace with Justice Grants

Apply for a Peace with Justice Grant for individual or church/organization use within Eastern Pennsylvania Conference. The grants are designed to support peace with justice issues. Grants will be given to work/study programs/projects that seek alternatives to violence and its causes; economic justice and the self-development of peoples; and promote restorative justice, including abolition of the death penalty.

Peace with Justice Grants for Individuals, Churches, Organizations [PDF]

Learn more at https://www.umcjustice.org/what-we-care-about/peace-with-justice and http://www.umcgiving.org/ministry-articles/peace-with-justice-sunday.

Dewees Grants

In accordance with the provision in the Dewees will, the funds are given to the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church “to use in the mission programs of the Church.” Grants will typically not exceed $5,000, and be for the initial funding of a project only.

For information on 2024-2025 Grants visit our Grants for Ministry page.

General Board of Church and Society

The General Board of Church and Society oversees the distribution of three different grants available to United Methodist congregations and organizations.

Human Relations Day, Ethnic Local Church, and Peace With Justice grants are all available through Church and Society.

TO APPLY FOR FUNDING FROM ANY OF THE THREE GRANTS, THE APPLICANT MUST BE: a United Methodist local church, district, conference or other affiliated group/organization, an Ecumenical group/organization working with and through at least one United Methodist agency or organization, whose program impacts at least one United Methodist local church.

COMPLETED APPLICATIONS ARE ACCEPTED:

Feb. 10 for the Spring funding cycle
Aug. 10 for the Fall funding cycle

Get more information

Funding for Justice Ministry

United Methodist Voluntary Services, a Global Ministries program funded by the churchwide Human Relations Day offering, has funds available for community projects that challenge unjust political, social and economic systems and work to empower the poor. For more information contact Dr. Dana Lyles, Director, US Office on Multicultural Ministries, at dlyles@umcmission.org. Projects should be in supportive relationship with UM churches. Funds are also available for projects focused on rural and urban ministries. For more information, contact Dr. Dana Lyles, Director, US Office on Multicultural Ministries, at dlyles@umcmission.org.