Experimental Grants

Experimental Grants (up to $500)

General  Information and Process for Experimental Vitality Grants: 

• Experimental Grants are small, micro-grants up to $500 for the purpose of engaging in a small-scale, discrete learning experiment. 
• Applications are accepted on a rolling basis from Feb 1st until Nov 15th of each year. 

• Applicants must use this form to apply.  Application Form, you can also Preview Application Form Questions.
• Grant review process typically takes up to a week and, if approved, funds are typically dispersed within 14 days. Please note: holidays, vacations, work travel, and/or large diocesan events may interrupt this process. 
• Grant projects must take place within 60 days of the grant award or funds must be returned to the Diocese.
• Unused grant funds must be returned to the Diocese within 60 days of the completion of the Experimental Grant. 
• Grant recipients must provide feedback on learning and grant progress to the Diocese upon completion of the grant using this form. 
• Experimental Grant Learning Form you can also Preview Experimental Grant Learning Form.
• Failure to provide feedback or return of funds may result in exclusion from future grant opportunities. 
• Recipient congregations may only receive one Vitality Grant at a time (Experimental or Large) but may apply for multiple  grants within a year. Once a grant has been awarded the same project is no longer eligible for a future grant, unless you are expanding on the project with something new based on your learning. If you are applying for multiple grants simultaneously, please specify which grant takes priority or in which order you would like for them to be considered. 
• Grant recipients will be recognized by name at Diocesan Convention. 

What qualifies for an Experimental Vitality Grant?: 

• Experiments are typically one-time events rather than recurring events. 
• Experiments should reflect the values of the Vitality Granting Program.

• The desire and willingness to try new things 
• A posture towards creativity,  inventiveness, and inquisitiveness
• Ideas that are relational, participatory, and cooperative
• Reach into our neighborhoods and communities to form new partnerships
• Helping members of congregations find God in their daily lives
• The purpose of the Experimental Grant is to learn something about your community, try something new, and engage your community - either by building relationships with neighbors or helping members find God in daily life.  

• Finding God in Daily Life - Experimental Vitality Grants must take place outside of Sunday morning and not at the church building. 
• Building Relationships in our Neighborhoods and Communities - Experimental Vitality Grants must actively engage the community around the congregation for the purpose of building relationships or partnerships. 
• While we value outreach and service, the Experimental Grant is not for outreach/service-only initiatives. 
  
  
• An example: an Experimental Grant request to purchase backpacks for children in your community would not be approved. However, if the church gathered backpacks and school supplies and wanted to host an event to distribute the backpacks, the distribution event itself could definitely be considered as a potential Experimental Vitality Grant. 

• Grant funds are not to be used for individual projects (including sabbaticals), existing programs, internal programs, outreach or service-only initiatives, advertising, discretionary spending, operating budget, personnel, or capital projects.

Helpful Hints from the Ministry Partners: 

• Start with a question! Starting with a question or wondering about something your congregation is curious about, rather than a problem your congregation wants to solve, sets your congregation up to learn. Ask yourselves the how, why, what, where, and who questions about things in your neighborhood and how God might be already working there. 
• Aim small! Experiments are intended to be small tests to answer curious questions. You can do as many of these as you want or can. Going big can be reserved for later.
• It’s about learning! We celebrate the learning no matter the outcome of the experiment.  
• Reach out! We have a list of over 30 Experiments and the Ministry Partners Team is always ready to talk about ideas and help you formulate a proposal.