Welcome to the PHW Grant Program. We are excited to partner with congregations across the state to engage our faith communities and their larger communities in living happier, healthier, more abundant lives. We have proudly done this for years through our PHW Collaborative Pledge and PHW Mini-Grant program. The churches and faith communities that have participated have done and are doing amazing work! We want to support depth and sustainability in the good work that congregations of all sizes are doing not only to promote health and wholeness but to live it out in their communities. Read below to find out how to apply for an individual mini-grant or community grant to support the valuable work that your health ministry is doing.
Keep reading to learn more about our grants and how to apply. Or, if you know which grant you want to learn more about, click the button below to jump to that section:
Yearly steps to submit a PHW Mini-Grant:
Your faith community is eligible to receive a mini-grant every twelve months. You must be an active member of The PHW Collaborative in order to apply for a grant. Click the image below to join The PHW Collaborative.
PHW Individual Mini-Grant
Update: June 1, 2023
Our grant structure has recently changed. Please see PHW Evolving to learn specifics about what grant(s) your faith community is eligible for. Keep reading below to learn more about application logistics.
Individual faith communities who are a part of The PHW Collaborative are eligible to apply for a mini-grant every 12 months.
You will receive a link to the grant application in your Collaborative Pledge acceptance email. If you cannot find the link, please email phwinfo@ncchurches.org. Remember, you must be active in The PHW Collaborative (meaning you submitted a Collaborative Pledge within the last 12 months) before you can apply for a mini-grant.
Yearly Grant Cycles:
Cycle 1: February 1-March 31
Cycle 2: June 1-July 31
Cycle 3: October 1-November 30
Please note that if you want to apply for a grant during a specific cycle, you must submit your Collaborative Pledge at least three weeks prior to the end of the grant cycle’s end date.
For example:
To apply for a grant during Cycle 1, you must submit your Collaborative Pledge no later than March 17.
Collaborative Pledges received after the three week cutoff will be eligible to apply during the next grant cycle.
Tips for Submitting a Successful Grant Application
The following tips are offered to help you submit a successful grant application:
1) Your grant request should be related to a specific project or program that is directly related to one or more of our focus areas.
For example:
“We will use the funds to create more opportunities to discuss mental health in our congregation.”
This is too vague. Instead:
“We will use the funds to hold a mental health symposium at our church on March 13, 2023. We will invite guest speakers, offer free counseling sessions, and serve healthy lunch to participants.”
-or-
“We want to start a food pantry for the needy.”
While we definitely uplift and recognize the legitimacy of this type of need in our communities, this project does not align directly with one of our focus areas.
Instead:
“We want to start a food pantry that focuses on collecting fresh fruits and vegetables and less processed ingredients. We will also offer cooking demonstrations.”
2) If applicable, we like to see that your project has a planned timeline. We recognize that some projects may be ongoing. Do your best to let us know how your project will play out over time.
3) We expect to see how you plan to use the funds. Please provide an itemized budget for your request (estimates are OK). There are some items that PHW does not fund, so please be aware of that as you are creating your budget.
- Pamphlets: Needs-based – Many organizations offer low or no cost pamphlets
- Books: Needs-based – Please reach out to PHW about specific books
- DVDs: Needs-based – Please reach out to PHW about specific DVDs
- Door prizes & incentives i.e. T-shirts, awards: up to 33% of the total budget – If direct connection to health ministry is clear
- Copies: Needs-based – If direct connection to health ministry is clear
- Copier ink: up to 33% of the total budget
- Presenters: Needs-based – preference towards PHW staff, local specialists, or low-cost presenters
- Technology: Needs-based – If direct connection to health ministry is made clear
- Office Furniture: We do not fund
- Rent: We do not fund
- Utilities: We do not fund
- Salary: We do not fund
4) We want to know how you plan to measure the success of your project or program. What are your desired outcomes? How will you decide whether or not you achieved your desired outcomes? This data can be qualitative, quantitative, or both.
Surveys from your participants and attendance records are good ways to track your program’s success.
We are here to help you with your grant application and with the implementation of your project or program with your faith community.
Click here to view sample grant application.
PHW Community Grant
We created the PHW Community Grant to support and inspire faith communities to work together to improve the health and wholeness of a shared community. We have witnessed the richness of crossing denominational or geographical boundaries to build a coalition. Funding for this initiative is limited. Priority will be given to rural congregations whose projects cross denominational or geographical boundaries, projects that demonstrate a lasting impact on the health of the greater community, and those who have not received previous community mini-grant funding.
What is the difference between the PHW Individual Mini-Grant and the PHW Community Grant?
- You must reach out to phwinfo@ncchurches.org prior to applying for a community grant to indicate your interest
- Must be a minimum of 3 congregations working together. Note: All three congregations must submit a PHW Collaborative Pledge
- Grant awards are $8,000-$10,000
- A different health lead must represent each congregation
- $100 will be awarded to each Health Lead from each faith community to use at their discretion towards a health ministry expense, project, or program.
- A main health lead must be identified among the group of health lead representatives. The main health lead will be the one to submit the mini-grant application.
- Each congregation must be eligible for a mini-grant, meaning they have not received one in the past 12 months
- Each congregation must contribute an equal part to the overall project (This will be asked on the application)
- The application must identify a clear need in the community that this project addresses through statistics or other structured research.
- The application must include the sustainability of the project both with its impact (including educational/training components) and its financial dependence on a PHW grant. (How is your group working to become less dependent on PHW grants)
- We expect the cohort to have already discussed and agreed on the course of action for the community mini-grant prior to submitting the application.
Helpful Tips and Information
Please give mindful consideration to the amount that you request. Allocated funds will be shared across our state and are limited. Some grants may be partially funded depending on need, response, and availability.
As we review the grant applications, priority will be given to projects and/or programs that demonstrate consciousness and concern for environmental impacts, i.e., uses less paper, less plastic water bottles, less plastic plates and forks, makes the health-climate connection, etc.
We look forward to learning about all the wonderful work you are doing to improve health and wholeness throughout North Carolina, and how we can further assist you on your mission.
Mindful Together: Your Health Ministry in the Midst of a Pandemic
As we’ve adjusted to the ‘new normals’ of living with COVID-19, we hope you will continue to be mindful of the health and safety of everyone who participates in your health initiatives. Please consider masking for indoor events and contingency plans in case a spike in the virus occurs. Consider virtual options for those who still choose to social distance.
Thank you for your interest in submitting a PHW Grant. If you have any questions please contact a member of our PHW team, or schedule a one-on-one virtual consult.