• Any ELCA congregation within the NEPA Synod (7E)
• Any Synod-Authorized Worshipping Community (SAWC) or Synod-Authorized Outreach Ministry (SAOM) of the NEPA Synod (7E)
• Any ministry connected to an ELCA congregation of the NEPA Synod (7E)
• Any ministry connected directly to the NEPA Synod (7E)

• Up to $3,000 for an individual congregation/ministry site
• Up to $5,000 for a collaborative ministry project – multiple congregations or 1 congregation working with other community partners
• Up to $5,000 for 6261 Ministry Communities engaging in ministry across the Bundle or within the community together
• The amount of the Witness & Service grant typically may not exceed 1/3 of the grant project total budget

Collaborative ministries are defined as a ministry project with more than 1 financial partner and a base of leaders and volunteers across more than 1 congregation/ministry site.  Please note that the partnerships do not have to contribute equally toward finances, leadership, and/or volunteers.

• Applicants may only apply for 1 grant per calendar year.  This does not prohibit you from participating in collaborative ministry projects of other congregations who also apply or have applied for a Witness & Service grant. 
• Applicants may apply for a Witness & Service grant for a maximum of 3 consecutive years for the same ministry project.  Please note that if applying for the same ministry project that each consecutive year’s funding will be a reduced grant amount.  The maximum amount awarded for Year 2 would be half of the awarded amount from Year 1.  The maximum amount awarded for Year 3 would be half of the awarded amount from Year 2.
• Grant projects must directly address at least 1 Synod priority.  The list of Synod priorities can be found on page 2 of the Witness & Service Grant Application or in the next section.
• Interested applicants should submit a completed Witness & Service Grant Application – which can be found at godslove.org/witness-service - and should include a copy of their 501(c)(3) determination letter if they are not an ELCA congregation.
• Please note that Witness & Service grants will NOT cover any expenses or expenditures from the following categories:
  • Staff positions or stipends for volunteers
  • Capital expenses or capital campaigns
  • Use of church property or utility-type expenses due to rental or non-rental groups or, general use by the congregation
  • Tuition or scholarships to preschools or non-profit after-school programs or camps  
  • Fundraisers or fundraising activities