PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION BEFORE SUBMITTING THE GRANT APPLICATION:

Purpose: Funded by disbursements from the Mission Advancement Program (MAP) Endowment Fund as in accordance with the ACPE Foundation's financial policy, MAP funding supports ACPE Psychotherapist and Practitioner members in the fulfillment of ACPE’s mission. Specifically, these projects help to advance and raise awareness of Pastoral Counselling/Spiritually Integrated Psychotherapy.

In 2025, up to $15,000 is availabile in funding to support all or significant parts of projects that expand access to Spiritually Integrated Psychotherapy.  Projects that demonstrate ACPE's commitment to be an actively anti-racist organization will be strongly considered.

All funded projects will receive an ACPE staff liaison to offer consultation with the development and implementation of the project.

Eligibility: ACPE Psychotherapists and Spiritual Care Professionals Members in good standing; ACPE members or institutions actively working on supporting the field of psychotherapy / spiritually integrated psychotherapy.

Application Criteria:

• Funded projects will have goals demonstrably consistent with the mission/vision/values of ACPE, with particular emphasis on the ACPE Psychotherapy division’s mission and vision.   
• The project should lead to an advance in awareness and open new avenues of development for Pastoral Counseling/Spiritually Integrated Psychotherapy (PC/SIP).  Examples include: 1) Increased awareness by religious bodies of the mission, social concern, scope, and insights of PC/SIP; 2) Increased awareness across the spectrum of service/helping professions of the nature, capability, and availability of PC/SIP;  3) Increased awareness by the general public of PC/SIP.
• The project should contribute to the recruitment and/or development of pastoral counselors, spiritually integrated psychotherapists, and/or other psychotherapists and mental health professionals. 
• The project should address how it is functionally and operationally sustainable and/or leads to a plan that is financially sustainable.  Proposals should indicate the specific uses for which the funds are sought and how the funds are to be administratively managed.  
• Strong consideration will be given to projects that are cost-effective, and demonstrate a funding commitment from multiple sources (i.e. the ACPE Foundation MAP Fund is not the only entity from which you are requesting funding). 
  Funding requests should not exceed $15,000, and should be for "seed money," not ongoing operating funds. Grant funds are awarded for one year. Projects may apply for and potentially receive funds annually for no more than three consecutive years. Proposals should indicate the specific uses for which the funds are sought and how the funds are to be administratively managed.   
• Funds will not be authorized for construction or durable hardware (such as computers).  
• MAP Grantee Responsibility:  If awarded a MAP grant, the grantee agrees to abide by the following responsibilities:  1) Provide the MAP Fund Advisory Committee with interim and annual reports on the project;  2) Provide financial information that reflects actual disbursements against the proposed grant budget, including reporting any other sources of revenue; 3) Provide evaluation of the project following the provided grant report form, and including the sustainability of replicating the project in other settings. 

Please indicate how the project aligns with one of the following ACPE Strategic Initiatives:

Increasing the number of quality providers of spiritual/human-centered care.
(E.g., does your project increase the number of spiritual care practitioners, strategic partnerships to nurture ACPE programs or increase awareness around ACPE shared values?)

Integrating spiritual care methodology into settings where spiritual care is needed and/or practiced.
(E.g., does your project create research opportunities and publications for spiritual care, demonstrate links to patient/client experience or increase buy-in from authorities within a center’s infrastructure?)

Extending ACPE’s reach to new and different settings nationally and internationally.
(E.g., does your project increase awareness of ACPE offerings to new settings across the globe? Does your project foster collaboration with others to strengthen spiritual care? Does your project increase public advocacy and/or raise awareness around critical issues for spiritual care?)

Proposal Outline

Please include the following information in your proposal narrative:

1. A concise (500 words) description of the program / project for which the grant would be used.
2. A detailed plan and timetable for beginning and completing the program/ project.
3. Top three goals/project deliverables for this proposed program / project and specific measures of how its success will be measured (e.g. number of people served/trained, new collaborations established, new audiences served).
4. An explanation of the strategies and resources for sustaining the work of this project, fostering its continuation or replication after the completion of the grant, and/or sharing any lessons learned with ACPE colleagues, if the project is successful.
5. A fully allocated, itemized budget (revenue and expenses) covering the funding requested. If the funding is for part of a larger project, provide a budget of expenses and revenue related to the total cost of the project, as well. Make certain that your budget reflects all activities listed in your project plan, and includes any support provided by your organization or another entity. Next to each revenue line, indicate whether the revenue has been “secured” or is “pending.”  *Note: Requested funds should not be for durable hardware (e.g. computers, hardware, etc.).
6. Two signatures: one from the person administering the Innovation in Spiritual Care & Research gratn project and one from the program/organization’s responsible fiscal officer (e.g. CEO, CFO, Department Head, etc.).