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.

  • 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, September 25, 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.

Download the application as Word document here

Important Dates

  • Grant info posted to the website: Monday, August 17, 2026

  • Grant Application submission window opens: Monday, August 24, 2026

  • Grant application Webinar/Q&A: Tuesday, August 25, 2026 at 4:30 pm. Register here.
    https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/vKr3ZR9ARfWNUPqE2xdsTQ

  • Grant submission deadline: Friday, September 25, 2026

  • Grant committee review due: November 13, 2026

  • Final Review by Bishop, Synod VP, and Treasurer: November 19, 2026

  • Approval of Grants by Council: January 23, 2027

  • Notification to grant applicants: week of January 25, 2027

  • Funding of Grants: February 2027 for one-time payments; February, May, August, and November 2027 for quarterly payments.

ELIGIBILITY

An applicant for this grant must be an organized congregation, a Synodically Authorized Worshipping Community (SAWC) or Synodically Authorized Outreach Ministry (SAOM), or a Strategic Ministry of the Grand Canyon Synod.

DESCRIPTION

The Grand Canyon Synod Grant is intended to support a specific new or continuing project that serves one, two, or three of the Grand Canyon Synod Strategic Plan goals. The maximum amount that may be awarded for a successful application is $15,000. A project that is demonstrably innovative and new will be given priority in the funding process; it is likely that continuing projects will receive reduced funding from previous years.

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, September 25, 2026, 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_2027

  • 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.