Vital Worship, Vital Preaching Grants for Worshiping Communities

The Vital Worship, Vital Preaching Grants for worshiping communities are offered to Christian organizations in the United States and Canada, with the goal of enriching and renewing public worship practices. This grant initiative supports projects that aim to deepen the theological understanding of worship while enhancing its connection to Christian discipleship and faith formation within diverse congregational settings. Funded by a program that encourages collaborative development, the grants are open to a wide range of Christian communities including new churches, established congregations, seminaries, religious schools, and ministries in hospitals, prisons, or other institutional settings. Eligible applicants must demonstrate tax-exempt status and secure support from senior organizational leadership. Applications should involve teams with roles in worship, and may include pastors, musicians, artists, educators, and scholars, among others. Grants range from $8,000 to $25,000 and support year-long initiatives that explore various worship elements such as preaching, congregational music, sacraments, public prayer, storytelling, or visual arts. Projects are assessed for their potential to revitalize worship, theological reflection, feasibility, and grassroots impact. Preference is given to initiatives that emphasize collaboration, inclusivity, new learning, and the sharing of outcomes with other communities. The program does not support grants to individuals, significant compensation to staff or volunteers, major equipment purchases, or building-related expenses. Additional restrictions include avoidance of one-off events like concerts or conferences unless embedded within a sustained learning plan. Applications are accepted twice annually, with deadlines on October 15 and April 25. Notification of awarded grants follows approximately two months later. After a Letter of Agreement is submitted, half of the grant funds are disbursed. A mid-year report triggers the release of the remaining funds, and a final report is due at the project’s conclusion. This structured, biannual cycle ensures a consistent rhythm of support for worship-focused initiatives. As such, this grant program is recurring with two application cycles per year.

Projects with strong collaborative planning, theological grounding, and support from senior leadership are preferred.