Menu
Grants

Grants

Grants Process

 

Applications for the 2025-26 grants season are closed. Deadline for submissions was October 31, 2025. Awards will be announced in January 2026. 

The Foundation has awarded a total of $900,000 in grant funding to dozens of Virginia-based UMC ministries since the program was launched in 2013. Each year, we award a limited number of grants to Virginia United Methodist churches and affiliated agencies of the Virginia United Methodist Conference. Through these awards of grant dollars, we seek to enhance and expand these ministries.

Grants are made only for programs and activities (including operating expenses and supplies) necessary for those programs or activities. They are not granted for building repair, replacement, or expansion.

Foundation grant awards are reviewed by the Foundation’s grants committee. The committee makes a recommendation to the full Board of Directors to be voted on at the December board meeting. Please contact us at foundationgrants@vaumc.org if you have any questions about Foundation grants or the grant application process.

2025-26 Grant Guidelines and Instructions

 
Additionally, the Foundation has joined forces with the Conference, Common Table for Church Vitality and Church Development Team to form a new grantmaking cooperative. The goal is to model collaboration and connection toward large-scale community transformation within the Virginia Annual Conference through consolidating the grants process. So you can also apply for Conference grants. More information is available at: grantmaking@vaumc.org.
 

Guidelines of The Virginia United Methodist Foundation Grants

Mission Statement:

The United Methodist Foundation of the Virginia Conference Grants Committee exists for the primary purpose to make financial awards for proposals, projects, ministries, programs and activities at the CONFERENCE and DISTRICT LEVEL of the Virginia Conference. The committee will conscientiously attempt to communicate with district and conference leadership to better ascertain and understand district and conference needs and opportunities that have the capacity/potential for enriching many or all local churches or affiliated agencies of the Virginia Conference.

Guidelines of the Dr. William J. and Frances Hanna Memorial Grant

Mission Statement:

The Dr. William J. and Frances Hanna Memorial Grant of the United Methodist Foundation of the Virginia Conference exists for the primary purpose to fund one special initiative annually that can maximize impact in the broadest context. This grant is designed with a special focus on creating a new strategic ministry initiative that could have potential for wide impact across the Conference. Funds may be used in any variety of directions for clergy or laypeople; for local church planting and for revitalization.

Guidelines of the Micah 6:8/No Harm Do Good Endowment Grant

“God has told you, human one, what is good and what is required of you to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.”

Mission Statement:

It is the donor’s desire that special care be directed to fulfill the stated purpose through outreach and ministry to persons or groups of persons outside the United Methodist Church in hopes of changing lives and transforming the world. This fund is not to replace or establish the giving of funds to church members or persons coming to a local church for assistance. Nor is it to be used for evangelism. Guiding the discernment process for the distribution of funds is Micah 6:8 and a similar focus from United Methodist heritage, John Wesley’s Three General Rules: “Do no harm. Do good. Stay in love with God.”