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Grants & Scholarships

Below is a brief overview of grants available through the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina with links to applications, additional information and selection committee contacts.

[Learn about grant-writing with this handy beginner's guide by the Rev. Rebecca Yarbrough.]

Not sure which grants might fund your project? Let us help.

Building repairs and updates

North Carolina Episcopal Church Foundation Grants can be used for the erection of needed church buildings or acquisition of church property, or capital repairs and renovations.

Green Grants are awarded to churches within the diocese looking to make facility improvements to reduce the consumption of energy or other natural resources required to operate church facilities.

Mission Endowment Grants have been used to repurpose church-owned buildings for collaborative mission projects.

Continuing education

Continuing Theological Education Grants are available to help clergy and laity participate in theological education programs.

The Lex Mathews Scholarship for Women provides resources for women seeking specialized training in vocational or technical skills, a degree or certification below the masters or doctorate level, and/or continuing education courses for upgrading job skills.

Seminarian assistance is provided on a yearly basis for seminarians through the Seminarian Assistance Fund and the Trustees of the Francis J. Murdoch Memorial Society. Contact Maria Gillespie, director of administration and finance, for information about the Seminarian Assistance Fund. Contact the Trustees of the Diocese for information about the Francis J. Murdoch Memorial Society

Fund a new collaborative mission project

Mission Endowment Grants support efforts to establish the Episcopal presence of Christ in communities in ways that brings the community to see Christ's presence among them.

Seed funds are available to start qualifying outreach programs at congregations through the Chartered Committee on Grants Parish Grants program.

Both of these grants use the Common Application.

Fund a new worshiping community

The Missionary Resource Support Team (MRST) offers a seed grant of up to $7,500 for new worshiping communities.

Mission Endowment Grants have been used to support collaborative new worshiping communities.

Implement a green initiative

Green Grants are awarded to churches within the diocese looking to make facility improvements to reduce the consumption of energy or other natural resources required to operate church facilities.

Fund an international mission project

International Mission Grants support international missions that will contribute to the sustainability of the community served, with the prospect for self-sufficiency being particularly encouraged.

Pay clergy salary

The Missionary Resource Support Team (MRST) offers a clergy salary support grant.



COMMON APPLICATION

Grants covered by the common application produced by the Mission Funding Consortium include the Mission Endowment Grant, the Mission Resource Support Team (MRST) seed and salary support grants, the parish grants and the North Carolina Episcopal Church Foundation (NCECF) Grants. The benefit to filling out the common application is its submission to all four of these granting boards, all of which are looking to disburse their funding to an expanded pool of applicants. Even if you believe your project only qualifies for one type of funding, the Mission Funding Consortium might be able to help you attain funding from sources you hadn't considered.

  • Common Application
  • Support Materials
    • Common Application Reference Form | editable Word version: A preview of the Common Application. Also contains information about attachments you will need to include with your application, depending on the program(s) from which you are requesting funding.
    • Budget worksheet (formulas embedded)
    • Sample vestry resolution | editable Word version
  • Contact: The Rev. Robert Black
  • Individual grant deadlines apply. Please read the grant application carefully.

CONTINUING THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION GRANTS FOR CLERGY & LAITY

Diocesan funds are available to help clergy and laity participate in theological education programs. These grants are administered by the Chartered Committee on Grants and are considered based on the following provisions: available money, event appropriateness, and application timeliness and thoroughness.

  • Continuing Theological Education Grant Application
  • Contact: Emerson Bell, Committee on Grants chair


GLOBAL MISSION GRANTS

Awarded through the Chartered Committee for Global Missions to support international missions that will contribute to the sustainability of the community served, with the prospect for self-sufficiency being particularly encouraged.

Learn more.

  • Stay tuned for an updated application and guidelines for the 2020 grant cycle.
  • We welcome grant requests ranging from $1000 - $5000.
  • Deadline: April 1 and October 1, annually
  • Contact: the Rev. Rebecca Yarbrough and Dora Mbuwayesango, Chartered Committee on Global Mission co-chairs


GREEN GRANTS: NC EPISCOPAL CHURCH FOUNDATION

Green Grants are awarded to churches within the diocese looking to make facility improvements to reduce the consumption of energy or other natural resources required to operate church facilities.

Learn more.

  • Green Grants Application
  • Deadline: February 1, May 1, August 1, November 1, annually
  • Contact: The Rev. Brad Mullis, chair of the North Carolina Episcopal Church Foundation



GREEN GRANTS
: CHARTERED COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL MINISTRY

The North Carolina Diocesan Environmental Ministry Committee currently has green grants in the amounts of $250 and $500 available to assist congregations in our Diocese interested in starting an environmental ministry program. Due to the strains on congregational resources caused by the COVID-19 outbreak, preference will be given to small and low income congregations.

Learn more.

  • Deadline: December 31, annually, or until funds are depleted
  • Contact: David McDuffie, chair, Environmental Ministry Committee


LEX MATHEWS SCHOLARSHIP FOR WOMEN

A scholarship which provides resources for women seeking specialized training in vocational or technical skills, a degree or certification below the masters or doctorate level, and/or continuing education courses for upgrading job skills. This scholarship is overseen by the Episcopal Church Women's Lex Matthew's Scholarship Committee.

Learn more.

  • Lex Mathews Scholarship Application
  • Contact: Barbara Longmire, Diocesan ECW president


MISSIONARY RESOURCE SUPPORT TEAM (MRST) GRANTS

from the Missionary Resource Support Team

MRST offers clergy salary support grants for the following calendar year.

Learn more.

  • Common Application - Please consult the reference form to prepare before beginning the application. (Common Application Reference Form)
  • Budget worksheet (formulas embedded)
  • Sample vestry resolution (editable Word version)
  • Deadline: May 1, annually
  • Please contact the Rev. Ginny Wilder, MRST chair, with any questions.


MISSION ENDOWMENT GRANTS

A grant supporting efforts to establish the Episcopal presence of Christ in communities in ways that brings the community to see Christ's presence among them. One and two-year grants are available; five grants ranging from $5,000 to $25,000 are awarded each year.

Learn more.

  • Common Application - Please consult the reference form to prepare before beginning the application. (Common Application Reference Form)
  • Budget worksheet (formulas embedded)
  • Sample vestry resolution (editable Word version)
  • Deadline: May 1, annually
  • Contact: The Rev. Amanda Stephenson, temporary Mission Endowment chair


NORTH CAROLINA EPISCOPAL CHURCH FOUNDATION

The North Carolina Episcopal Church Foundation, Inc., was established in 1955 for the purpose of aiding the expansion of the Church in the Diocese of North Carolina. An initial capital funds campaign raised over $300,000 to start this fund, which has grown over the years through additional gifts and investment income.

The Foundation has given over $3,000,000 in grants and loans since its beginning. The funds may be used for:

  • The erection of needed church buildings or acquisition of church property.
  • Capital repairs and renovations.
  • Guidelines
  • Apply with the Common Application

The NCECF also funds mission and historic church grants that provide assistance up to $10,000 to mission or historic congregations. Grants are typically based on need and are not repayable.

  • Mission Church Grant Guidelines & Application
  • Contact: Diocesan House, 919-834-7474

Learn more.


PARISH GRANTS FOR NEW PROGRAMS

Seed funds are available to start qualifying outreach programs at congregations through the Chartered Committee on Grants Parish Grants program.

  • Common Application - The application must be filled out in one setting. Please consult the reference form to prepare before beginning the application. (Common Application Reference Form)
  • Budget worksheet (formulas embedded)
  • Sample vestry resolution | editable Word version
  • Contact: Emerson Bell, Committee on Grants chair


SEMINARIAN SCHOLARSHIPS

Seminarian assistance is provided on a yearly basis for seminarians through the Seminarian Assistance Fund and the Trustees of the Francis J. Murdoch Memorial Society. Applications are due annually by May 31. Funds will be distributed by the end June. Funds are typically distributed directly to the seminary of your choice.

Apply for a seminarian support grant

  • Contact: Maria Gillespie, Chief Financial Officer for information about the Seminarian Assistance Fund.


YOUTH SCHOLARSHIPS

The Chartered Committee for Youth (CCY) provides opportunity for scholarship assistance for youth events in two categories: requests for events under $200 and another for larger requests (which require a more detailed application process).

  • Youth Scholarship Application
  • Contact: Lisa Aycock, Diocesan Youth Missioner, 919-834-7474
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Maria Gillespie
Chief Financial Officer
919-600-5311 
Becky Poynter
Accountant
919-600-5310 

Maria Gillespie

Chief Financial Officer
919-600-5311 |

Maria joined the diocesan staff in April 2013. Her responsibilities include all aspects of finance for the diocese, including the budget, common trust fund, health and retiree benefits and the general administration of the diocese. She also serves as the treasurer of the North Carolina Church Foundation. She graduated from The Ohio State University with a major in accounting and received her CPA. Shortly after, she attended Franklin University in Columbus, Ohio, graduating with her Master’s in Business Administration. Prior to working with the Diocese, she worked in public accounting and as an adjunct professor at Franklin University, where she enjoyed teaching students of all ages.

Maria has been married to Jim, her college sweetheart from OSU, for 25 years. She is the mom of three girls, two of whom are twins, and couldn’t imagine life without them. They are a constant joy. When not at work she enjoys being with her family and friends. Maria loves relaxing at Lake Gaston, kayaking/paddle boarding, reading and walking her goldendoodles, Ginger and Penny.

Becky Poynter

Accountant
919-600-5310 |

Becky joined the diocesan staff as an accountant in the spring of 2022. She will be a value-added member of our finance team and assist our chief financial officer with maintaining internal controls, preparing financial reports, and working on the diocesan audit and convention.

Becky is married to her best friend, Greg, and is the mom to a son and a daughter. In her free time, Becky enjoys reading, beginning new cross stitch projects and attending her daughter’s travel softball games.

Grants

Common Application

Theological Education Grants

Green Grants

International Mission Grants

Lex Mathews Scholarship

MRST Grants

Mission Endowment Grants

Church Foundation Grants

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200 West Morgan St, Suite 300
Raleigh, NC 27601

Tel: (919) 834-7474

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Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina
200 West Morgan St, Suite 300
Raleigh, NC 27601

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(919) 834-7474

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