For 14 years, PHW has worked to improve health outcomes for all North Carolinians by encouraging faith communities to recognize health as a faith issue. The PHW program has worked by connecting churches to resources and funding for their health ministries, most frequently through our mini-grant opportunity.
As PHW grows and evolves, the ways we encourage our faith communities to recognize health as a faith issue must also grow and evolve.
We continue to be inspired by the work your faith communities have accomplished over the years with the mini-grants that PHW has offered. Whether you have provided a healthy meal for your congregation, held a Zumba class, or educated your congregation on the importance of caring for their mental health, your work has been worthwhile and meaningful.
As we look to the future of PHW and the health ministries of all members of the PHW Collaborative, we want to begin maximizing the impact of the funds we offer for grants. We wish to continue the journey to health and wholeness with you in bigger and more meaningful ways.
This means our grant program is changing. Many of you have worked with us for over a decade, and will have lots of questions about how the new grant process works. One thing to keep in mind: just as we are changing now, we hold open the possibility for more options and changes in the future that expand our program.
We are here to explain the new process and answer your questions. As always, we are here to provide you with the support and resources your health ministry needs to thrive.
What’s Changing?
Here’s what you need to know:
Through July 31, 2023, our grant program will continue largely as it has in the past. Any North Carolina faith community that worships together regularly is welcome to join The PHW Collaborative and apply for a mini-grant of up to $1,000.
We are excited to announce that beginning June 1, 2023, (the beginning of the second grant cycle of 2023) all churches that identify as United Methodist, African Methodist Episcopal, African Methodist Episcopal Zion, or Christian Methodist Episcopal are eligible for an expanded/supplemental grant program. We refer to these as denomination-specific grants.
Beginning October 1, 2023 (the beginning of the final grant cycle of 2023), grants for faith communities will be offered under two categories: denomination-specific (as above) and focus-area specific, meaning the grant proposal must be for a project that aligns with a specific PHW focus area. Grant awards of up to $2,000 are available based on the focus areas we have funding for during this phase. These offerings will continue to expand as PHW works to coordinate our efforts with the initiatives of various denominations and with partners across the state.
Have more questions?

FAQ
This flow chart will help you determine grant eligibility for your faith community.
Remember, any NC faith community that worships together regularly is eligible to join The PHW Collaborative and gain access to all of our resources. We welcome partnership with all denominations and faith traditions.
If you have more questions, please contact phwinfo@ncchurches.org.
YES!
Any faith community that is part of The PHW Collaborative can apply for a $1,000 mini-grant or $5,000 community grant (3 or more faith communities) during the June-July grant cycle of 2023.
Beginning October 1, any faith community that is part of The PHW Collaborative can apply for a mini-grant/community grant ($2,000/$8,000) in the focus areas of overdose/substance use or tobacco/nicotine education.
Check out our resources page to learn more, and feel free to schedule a one-on-one consult with a member of our team to learn more.
No.
Faith communities are eligible to receive one mini-grant every 12 months.
It is up to you to decide if you want to apply for the $1,000 mini-grant in June or July (cycle 2) for work in any focus area, or if you would like to wait to apply in October or November (cycle 3) for work in overdose/substance use or tobacco/nicotine education.
Remember, if you received a grant in 2022, you are not eligible to apply again until 12 months from the approval date of your last grant.
Yes.
The grant application process is not changing. The first step to applying for a grant is to join The PHW Collaborative. Learn more here.
We offer community grants in both the denomination-specific and focus area-specific grant options.
Special circumstances apply to community grants. We encourage you to contact phwinfo@ncchurches.org to learn what options are available to your faith community.
Schedule a One-on-One Consult
Consults are available for faith communities who have more in-depth questions about PHW Evolving and who would like more personalized guidance for their health ministries. Click on the photo of the staff member for your region to schedule a consult. (Not sure who your area director is? Click here to view the PHW regions map.)
For general questions about The PHW Collaborative and grant application process, schedule a consult with Stephenie Sanders, Program and Engagement Administrator.