• SEEDLING LEGACY GRANT PROGRAM ONLINE APPLICATION

  • Have you reviewed the Eligibility Checklist and the Webinar before applying for the grant?

  • Before continuing, please read the Program Guide and watch the full video recording. Once you have completed both, return to the application and select “Yes.” These resources will help you understand the eligibility requirements and submit a strong application.

    - Seedling Legacy Grant Committee

     

  • **If needed, a save and continue later button is at the bottom of the form**

  • SECTION 1 – CHURCH HEALTH NARRATIVE

  • Instructions to Applicant:

    This section helps the Committee understand your church’s current health, leadership capacity, financial stewardship, and readiness to undertake the proposed project.

    Provide clear, factual responses. Avoid general statements. Use data where possible.

     

  • 1. Worship and Participation
    Describe the quality, consistency, and vitality of worship and congregational participation.

    Include:

    • Average worship attendance for the last 3 years both in person and online if applicable.
    • Trends in participation
    • Any recent changes in worship format or growth

  • 2. Membership Engagement
    Describe member involvement in ministry and openness to new people.

    Include:

    • Number of active volunteers
    • Small groups or ministry teams
    • New members received in the last 2 years
    • Outreach participation

  • 3. Leadership and Governance
    Describe the effectiveness and stability of clergy and lay leadership.

    Include:

    • Pastor appointment status
    • Leadership continuity
    • Functioning church council, trustees, or equivalent/simplified leadership structure
    • Decision-making processes and shared accountability

  • 4. Financial Health and Stewardship

    Describe the church’s financial responsibility, transparency, and ability to support the proposed project.

    Include:

    • Shares of Ministry status. For Seedling Legacy Grant eligibility, Shares of Ministry must be 100% current year-to-date as allocated by CF&A; a payment or repayment plan does not meet this requirement.
    • Pension and health insurance compliance
    • Property and casualty insurance compliance
    • Budget stability
    • Any outstanding debt

  • 5. Facilities and Property Sustainability
    Describe the current condition and long-term sustainability of your facilities.

    Include:

    • Safety issues
    • Maintenance backlog
    • Usability of space
    • Long-term sustainability concerns

  • 6. Community Presence and Mission
    Describe meaningful engagement with the surrounding community.

    Include:

    • Ongoing ministries
    • Partnerships
    • Community programs
    • Measurable outreach impact

  • 7. Vision and Future Direction
    Describe your church’s clarity of purpose and long-term direction.

    Include:

    • Strategic planning efforts
    • Discernment processes
    • Adaptability to change

  • 8. Proximity to Other United Methodist Churches
    Describe your geographic context and strategic position.

    Include:

    • Distance to the nearest United Methodist church
    • Community population
    • Saturation of churches in the area
    • Recent disaffiliations or closures

  • 9. Connectionalism
    Describe engagement in the wider United Methodist connection.

    Include:

    • Participation in district or conference events
    • Cooperative ministries
    • Faithful support of mission shares

  • Upload Required:

    • Most recent Statistical Report
    • Most recent Financial Statement
    • Proof of property and casualty insurance
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  • SECTION 2 – GRANT PROJECT PROPOSAL

  • Instructions to Applicant:

    This section describes your proposed project. Provide clear, concise responses supported by data and documentation. The project should be sufficiently developed to demonstrate a defined scope, realistic cost, credible funding strategy, and reasonable path toward implementation.

    Seedling Legacy Grants are intended to be a partnership with the local church. The amount available for each grant cycle will be published in the program materials. There is no guarantee that the full amount requested will be awarded.

     

  • 1. Alignment with Grant Mission and Purpose
    Describe how this project represents an eligible one-time improvement, renovation, repurposing, accessibility improvement, infrastructure investment, or other capital-related project that strengthens ministry and community impact.

    Explain:

    • What the project is
    • Why it is needed
    • How it strengthens ministry

  • 2. Community Need and Missional Impact
    Describe the specific community or ministry need this project addresses.

    Include:

    • Evidence of need
    • Who benefits
    • Measurable outcomes
    • How success will be evaluated

  • 3. Project Plan, Timeline, and Feasibility

    Provide enough detail to demonstrate that the project is beyond the initial planning stage and has a reasonable path toward implementation.

    Provide:

    • Project leader name
    • Anticipated start date
    • Anticipated completion date
    • Timeline with major milestones
    • Any known risks, permits, zoning requirements, historic review, regulatory requirements, or other approvals that may affect the project timeline

  • 4. Budget Quality and Financial Readiness

    Upload documents for submission and provide the following information:

    • Detailed project budget
    • Reasonable cost documentation appropriate to the size and complexity of the project, such as competitive contractor bids, written contractor or vendor estimates, or another reasonable cost-validation method
    • Description of the church’s financial contribution or other shared investment in the project
    • Explanation of funding sources for costs not covered by Seedling, including how the project would move forward if the full amount requested is not awarded
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  • 5. Sustainability and Long-Term Impact
    Describe how the project and its ministry impact will be sustained.

    Include:

    • Maintenance plan
    • Ongoing ministry use
    • Financial sustainability

  • 6. Prior Grant History and Stewardship

    If applicable:

    • List grants received in the last 18 months
    • Describe outcomes
    • Confirm reporting compliance

  • Certification

    Two separate individuals must certify the application. Each signer must serve in one of the following roles:

    • Pastor
    • Chair of Leadership Council/Administrative Council or equivalent
    • Chair of Trustees
    • SPRC Chair

  • Submission Date
     - -
    2 digit month, 2 digit day, 4 digit year

  • By signing, the church certifies that:

    • The information provided in the application is accurate
    • The appropriate church leadership has approved submission of the application
    • The church understands the grant reporting and accountability requirements

    Two separate electronic signatures using two different individual email addresses are required. A shared email address may not be used for both signatures.

  • Form Submission Info

    Who is filling this out and where should the final PDF be sent
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