Are you a member of a church that needs repairs, additional buildings or space, or other costly additions that your congregation just can’t support? There are many faith-based grants for churches that exist, and that can help you expand, repair, and work more effectively in your community. This guide helps you understand the basics of church grants so you can get started.
What Are Church Grants?
A grant is an amount of money that is set aside through a charitable organization or the government. When a grant is awarded to a group, such as a church, it does not have to be paid back, ever. Think of it as a one-time donation, but on a larger scale. Typically a church grant is only awarded to a church when there is a specific need, and the grant money must be used to fill that need.
How Do Non-Profit Grants Work?
When a church is in need – say, they need grants for church repair, or church grants for adding or building on to their space – they write a grant application. The type of application varies depending on the organization they are applying to. The application will let the organization with the grant know what the church needs the money for. Then the organization will deliberate. In some cases, your church may be applying for the same money as many other churches, so a decision must be made on who needs the grant the most. When the organization decides to award your church the grant, you’ll receive money and you’ll often have to prove that the money was used for the project(s) listed in your application.
Who is Eligible for a Church Grant?
Faith based grants for churches typically are available for any church. Specific organizations may have their own guidelines – for example, an organization may say that they only offer grants to churches in urban areas. Others may say that they only offer grants to churches with a membership of under 300 people. In both of these cases, these grants are offered to churches where the collection plate may not be able to bring in enough money to cover expensive building repairs.
Searching for a grant that works for your church may take time, but the best way to start is to search for grants for the specific need your church has. Some grants are specifically created as non-profit grants for building repairs after natural disasters. Others may be specifically created for building on to historic churches. By searching for your specific needs, you’ll find it easier to find a church grant that works for your congregation.
There is one important thing that applies to every church seeking a grant. You must ensure that your church has a 501(c)(3) IRS ruling. This establishes your church as a non-profit organization. You cannot receive grants from either the government or a private foundation if your organization is not a 501(c)(3). Take the time to establish this as you work towards finding the right church grant.
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