Dear friends of ELCA Disability Ministries,

Thank you for considering Disability Ministries to potentially help fund your request or initiative through a grant. Grant applicants must follow the guidelines below to be eligible to receive grant funding through Disability Ministries.

All applicants seeking funds from Disability Ministries must demonstrate how the request or initiative addresses at least one of the following goals:

• Raising up people with disabilities for leadership positions, encouraging the participation of those with disabilities in the wider church and preparing leaders for serving people with disabilities.

• Equipping our synods, congregations and members with relevant and practical information that enables them to welcome and support individuals with disabilities so that they might participate fully in the life of the congregation and that, together, all might experience being the body of Christ.

• Gathering and connecting people with disabilities and various groups in the church so that they might help us become an inclusive, supportive and whole community of faith.

Additionally, all applicants must show that they have or are actively building a relationship with people in their settings who live with disabilities.

This church wants to move beyond the attitude that “if we build it, they will come.” So, for example, don’t request funding for a ramp simply for the sake of installing one; instead, explain how your project would benefit disabled people in your setting and your ministry, and enrich your mutual relationship as disciples of Jesus Christ.

We will award grants in the range of $5,000-$10,000, for a total of $50,000. Previous applicants who were not funded may reapply.

The application window opened May 28 and will close July 31, or earlier if we have received 30 completed applications. Projects receiving grants will be announced before the end of October 2024.

To register with GrantMaker, please go to www.elca.org/grants/impact-church-ministry and follow the links and instructions. If you already have a profile with GrantMaker, log in to elca.fluxx.io/user_sessions/new to begin your application process.

Please email any questions to grants@elca.org or disability.ministry@elca.org.

God’s peace and blessings as you begin the application process!

— ELCA Disability Ministries