Grants Program

Funding for the Grand Canyon Synod Grant is limited and comes from gifts this synod has received from individual bequests (e.g. Warner Trust Fund), congregations sharing a tithe of a received bequest, the sale of closed congregations, grant funds from the West Valley Lutheran Thrift Shop, and the allocation of unrestricted gifts to the synod. Note: the total amount available for funding this fall is approximately $175,000.

Grant proposals that propose a collaboration with another ELCA ministry and align with the Grand Canyon Synod Strategic Plan will be given preferential consideration.

• Applicants should participate in the online Grants Webinar in September, 2025, or view the webinar recording, before submitting an application. Registration, dates and time of the webinar to be posted soon.

• The application must be accompanied by (1) a Statement of Financial Position for the applying congregation/organization and, if a congregation, (2) the amount of the congregation’s mission support to the Grand Canyon Synod last year or currently pledged.

• Please note that the deadline to submit applications is no later than midnight on Friday, October 31, 2025. The application period will open on September 8, 2025.

• Funding of approved applications begins February, 2026.

• Questions about the grant process or application should be directed to Theresa Thornburgh in the Office of the Bishop at office@gcsynod.org.

Please read the following information carefully before starting the application process.

ALLOWABLE CATEGORIES FOR GRANT FUNDING

The following are allowable categories for grant funding:

• Educational materials.

• Marketing materials and social media platform start-up expenses for program launch.

• Capital equipment (including laptop and personal computers) deemed essential to this proposal.

• Scholarship support for ELCA youth camps and youth gatherings.

• Furnishings (chairs, tables, altar, etc.) that are essential to this proposal.

• Church banners, program materials and musician support for worship services, communion elements.

• Short-term expenses for consultants (stipends or honoraria).

• Travel expenses for ELCA-sponsored trips, youth gatherings, partnership outreach through Global Missions commitments, Churchwide Assembly, etc.

• Building repair as related to food pantry services (required per Health Department licensing).

The following are non-allowable categories for grant funding:

• Salaries.

• Capital equipment not clearly related to this proposal.

• Continuous operational expenses (i.e., health benefits, rent, insurance expenses, utility payments).

• Licensing for health/food pantry services.

• Recreational/social activities.

• Travel expenses based upon individual church/member interests.

• Vehicle purchase/vehicle payments/mileage reimbursement.

Application

• The application must be completed in its entirety. Omission of any requested information will affect the score awarded to the grant proposal.

• The completed form must be submitted electronically no later than midnight on Friday, October 31, 2025, either as an email attachment to office@gcsynod.org or through the online grants system. No late submissions will be accepted.

• The application must be submitted as either a Word or pdf, and named using the following format: gcsgrant_organizationname_2026

• The application must be accompanied by (1) a Statement of Financial Position for the applying congregation/organization and, if a congregation, (2) the amount of the congregation’s mission support to the Grand Canyon Synod last year or currently pledged.

• Questions about the grant process or application should be directed to Theresa Thornburgh in the Office of the Bishop at office@gcsynod.org or 602-957-3223.