Grant Applications
Below you will find guidelines and applications for various synod administered grants:
- Mission Grant Application
Funded by the Mission Endowment, these grants provide seed money to synod congregations or organizations to help launch innovative mission-related initiatives. - 2023 Student Loan Grant Application – Applications due January 27, 2023
Funded by the Ministry Endowment, these debt reduction grants provide relief to qualified ELCA rostered leaders serving WND Synod congregations. - Seminary Scholarships
Applications will be sent out to Candidates and Applicants
Funded also by the Ministry Endowment, these grants provide scholarships for current students from the WND Synod preparing to serve as rostered leaders in the ELCA.
Endowments
“A Sower went out to sow. . .and some produced abundantly . . .” –Mark 4
God’s Abundance . . .
In one tiny seed. God has stored the miracle of abundance. Planted in good soil, nourished by water and sunlight one seed can produce hundreds. God provides miracles of abundance.
Recognizing that the Western North Dakota Synod has been blessed with a living endowment of faithful members with rich gifts and varied talents, the Western North Dakota Synod Endowments were established to enable the further growth and strengthening of ministry and stewardship opportunities in our synod and on behalf of the larger Church. There are three Endowments as described below.
Making a Gift:
As you learn about the Endowments, please consider helping to grow them. The principal is invested to provide lasting support. If you are making a gift in honor or in memory, simply include the details and the address as we are happy to send an acknowledgement.
Also note ND allows a 30% tax credit on gifts of $5,000 or more. Separate checks made out to Western ND Synod, listing the endowment in the memo, can be sent to: 1000 Tacoma Ave, #300, Bismarck, ND 58504. Contact Matthew for further details: matthew@wndsynod.org.
Ministry Endowment – supporting leaders in ministry
We sow the Good News of Jesus Christ through the worship services, outreach in Jesus’ name, and by serving our neighbor. To maintain healthy congregations, we need pastors and other rostered leaders willing to serve. On average, seminarians now graduate with more than $40,000 in debt, some with twice that amount. Funding educational debt makes it more likely that leaders will be able to serve in synods like ours where salaries are low.
The Ministry Fund provides
- Scholarships to seminary students from Western North Dakota who are preparing for rostered ministry in the ELCA.
- Debt relief to rostered leaders who are called to serve congregations and ministries of the Western North Dakota Synod.
Applications:
- Scholarship applications for Theological Education will be sent out to current Candidates for Ministry from Western North Dakota
- Student Loan Debt Reduction for Rostered Leaders serving in Western North Dakota Synod – 2023 Student Loan Grant Application (Submit Application by January 27, 2023)
Mission Endowment Fund
Do you have an idea for a new ministry? Maybe you want to expand an existing ministry. Apply for a Breakthrough Mission Endowment Fund Grant to help you get started. Grants are awarded to assist ELCA congregations or ministries of the Western North Dakota Synod in starting new ministries or expanding existing ministries to reach new people.
Here are some requirements:
· Ministries must be new (within the last two years) or a current ministry that is expanding or enhancing to reach new people.
· The new or expanding ministry will assist the congregation in carrying out God’s mission for the sake of the Gospel.
Funding Cycle: Applications will be considered multiple times during the year by the Synod Endowment Committee.
Learn More:
2021 GRANTS DISTRIBUTED FOR MISSION:
– $1,000 to Bread of Life, Minot for enhancement of their community garden enhancement
– $1,200 to Bread of Life, Minot, to serve monthly meal to clients and staff of REM of ND
– $2,300 to Trinity, Bismarck to enhance their summer block party
– $2,206.17 – Bishop Craig for podcast equipment
– $10,000 to a new mission initiative at Christ Lutheran, Minot “Embrace the Miracle”, an addiction and mental health ministry
– $3,000 to Heart River Bridges of Hope, $1500 to purchase Recovery Bibles and other religious resources for the residents of Heart River Correctional Center, as many of them name their faith and spirituality as an asset in their recovery. $1500 to purchase items for the women’s clothing pantry on campus.
Accompaniment Fund – Raising up New Leaders
Raising up new leaders, teaching stewardship, assisting congregations in the midst of the call process and congregational renewal are high priorities within this synod. These efforts take financial resources for staffing, travel, face to face conversations and workshops. The Accompaniment Fund was established in 2017 to provide for the increasing costs of human resources and physical assets necessary to work one-on-one with people discerning their calls and congregations in need of assistance.
Ministry is all about relationships, conversation, walking side by side in deep Christ-centered conversation. This is where together we discern God’s Call – both for leaders and for congregational direction. This fund will directly benefit congregations by ensuring these relationships are tended to by individuals who care deeply about congregations across Western North Dakota.