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All grant applicants are strongly encouraged to read the grant guidelines. Key grant deadlines, eligibility requirements, and other pertinent information is contained in this document for this pilot grant program.

Purpose: To make possible the initial development or enhancement of congregation-based ministries addressing issues of violence in local congregations and communities. Wheat Ridge Ministries believes that the local congregation knows its own issues best. The definition of “violence” is left purposefully broad, leaving it up to the local congregation to determine which issue(s) (domestic, gang, community, etc.) should be addressed.

Eligibility: Grants will be available to member congregations of the Northern Illinois District-LCMS and the Metropolitan Chicago Synod-ELCA for either individual or collaborative efforts involving two or more churches. Grant proposals will also be accepted from Northern Illinois District or Metro Chicago Synod congregations partnering with local agencies demonstrating the capacity to strengthen the effort. Consideration may be given to Chicagoland Lutheran congregations that are part of the English District-LCMS and independent Lutheran congregations.

Grant Amount: Each congregation may apply for up to $5,000. The congregation must agree to match 25% of the dollars requested. (Ex: $5,000 request means the congregation agrees to match $1,250). In-kind matches (building space, volunteer hours, phone usage) are not acceptable.

Grants Awarded: The deadline for grant proposals is October 15. Grant recipients will be notified by December 15. Grant checks will be awarded by January 15, 2010.

Key Components and Related Criteria

New – Lutherans Against Violence primary purpose is to seed the start up of new ministry initiatives that address issues of violence through the work of Lutheran congregations, alone or in partnership with other congregations or local agencies. Existing ministry initiatives will receive equal consideration, if their proposal demonstrates how grant funding will seed a new, needed aspect or expansion of the existing project.

Feasibility - The proposal is based on realistic goals and action plans and holds the promise of sustainability and growth.

Replicability – If you believe this ministry model holds special promise to be duplicated in other communities, please address this in the proposal.

Congregation and Community – Projects promoting the health and well-being of people both within the congregation and the local community are of special interest to Wheat Ridge Ministries.

Supervision - The project must have the approval of the congregation's leadership and be developed under the auspices of a Lutheran congregation.

Congregation Match - Grant recipients will be expected to match one-fourth (25%) of the grant amount awarded. (Ex: $4,000 request + $1,000 congregation match = $5,000 total project budget)

Sharing and Learning - Leaders are expected to share with Wheat Ridge Ministries information about the project and what is learned during its development. This includes providing progress reports to the Wheat Ridge Ministries staff.

Project Plan/Timeline – The congregation’s plan needs to include a 24-month plan that includes a two-year budget request. (Ex: Year 1 – Request of $3,000, Year 2 – Request of $2,000) and an explanation of how these funds will be used.

Evaluation and Funding – All grant recipients will be required to complete a 12-month evaluation reporting their ministry progress. 75% of the grant funding will be released upon approval of the grant. The remaining 25% will be released upon the receipt of the 12-month evaluation report.

Application Procedure:

• Consider whether the Lutherans Against Violence grant could be used appropriately by your congregation.
  
  
• Contact the Wheat Ridge Ministries office if you have any questions or if you need clarification regarding the requirement or the process.
  
  
• Complete the proposal application in Word or Rich Text Format and return to grant.apps@wheatridge.org by the October 15th deadline. Proposals received after the October 15th deadline will be given secondary consideration.