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:
Under our new grant structure, grants for faith communities will be offered under two categories: denomination-specific and focus area-specific.
Denomination-specific grants: All churches that identify as United Methodist, African Methodist Episcopal, African Methodist Episcopal Zion, or Christian Methodist Episcopal are eligible for a mini-grant of up to $3,000 in any PHW focus area (priority is given to projects relating to mental health and healthy aging).
Focus area-specific grants: Any faith community not identifying as UMC, AME, AMEZ, or CME is eligible for a focus area-specific grant, 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.
At this time, we are offering grants in the focus areas of overdose/substance use and tobacco/nicotine education. We hold open the possibility to offer grants in other focus areas as funds become available.
If you would like to apply for one of our grants, the first step is to join The PHW Collaborative. Click below to get started.
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 and does not identify as UMC, AMEZ, AME, or CME can apply for a mini-grant of up to $2,000 in the focus areas of overdose/substance use or tobacco/nicotine education.
YES!
As a UMC, AMEZ, AME, or CME church, you are eligible to apply for a grant in any PHW focus area. This includes overdose response and tobacco/nicotine education.
Please note: our grant application pool is highly competitive and funds are limited. Priority will be given to rural United Methodist Churches and projects around mental health and healthy aging.
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.
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.
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.
