Church Improvement Grant

The Lurleen V. Holland Church Improvement Grant, established in memory of Lurleen V. Holland, honors her lifelong commitment to community service and uplifting others. Named posthumously to preserve her legacy, this initiative is administered by the Community Foundation of West Georgia. The program aims to support predominately African American churches in Carroll County, Georgia, by providing capital improvement grants to enhance the physical condition and community-serving capacity of these institutions. The Church Improvement Fund prioritizes structural and facility upgrades that directly improve church buildings. Examples of eligible projects include renovations or repairs that increase the safety, accessibility, or functional utility of the church. However, funding cannot be used for furniture such as pews or chairs, or for improvements to parking lots. Additionally, the property to be improved must be owned by the church; improvements to leased properties are not eligible under this program. The total annual funding allocated for this program is $75,000, and grant requests exceeding this amount are not considered. The fund seeks to support multiple churches each year, and no single church may receive the full annual allocation. While multi-year grants are permitted, a church may not receive more than three grants within a five-year period. All applicants are required to demonstrate financial need and stability through submission of project plans, cost estimates, and a description of community service activities. A mandatory cash match of 25% is required, meaning the applicant church must contribute one-quarter of the total project cost, while the Church Improvement Fund will cover the remaining 75%. This cost-sharing requirement ensures that churches are committed stakeholders in their proposed improvement projects. The application process begins with a Letter of Intent (LOI), which must be submitted by February 1. Following LOI submission, a representative from the Community Foundation of West Georgia will arrange a required site visit, scheduled during February on business days. If the church meets eligibility requirements following the site visit, the church will be invited to submit a full application. The application window opens on March 15 and closes on April 1 at 11:59 PM EST. Submission of an LOI, completion of the site visit, and receiving an invitation to apply do not guarantee funding. For questions or assistance, applicants may contact Kim Jones, President of the Community Foundation of West Georgia, via email at [email protected] or by phone at (770) 832-1462. The foundation’s office is located at 807 South Park Street in Carrollton, GA.