Financial Grants for New Church Plants

The Center for Church Multiplication’s Fellowship Grant and Matching Grant programs provide funding and coaching to domestic church planters in their first three years of church planting.
CCM prioritizes supporting church planters working in teams over individual church planting efforts believing that collaborative ministry—reflecting the Trinity model—is the most effective way to reach communities and build Christ’s church.

Two Types of Grants

Fellowship Grants. The Center for Church Multiplication offers Fellowship Grants of up to $10,000 per year to domestic church planters in their first 1-3 years of establishing a new church. Qualified applicants are actively engaging non-Christian communities, facilitating a church planting team, and fostering holistic witness. Fellowship grants are open to all domestic church planting applicants regardless of past affiliation with Asbury Theological Seminary (ATS). Applicants must re-apply for funds each year.

Priority consideration is given to church planters establishing churches in racially and ethnically diverse contexts and to multi-ethnic church planters. Priority is also given to church planters associated with a denomination in the Wesleyan tradition. Non-denominational and independent church planters may apply as well.

Matching Grants. The Center for Church Multiplication offers matching grants up to $30,000 per year to domestic church planters in their first 1-3 years of establishing a new church. Qualified applicants are actively engaging non-Christian communities, facilitating a church planting team, and fostering holistic witness. The Matching Grant is for church planters who will receive matching funds from their network or denomination. Applicants must re-apply for funds each year.

Priority consideration for matching grants is given to alumni or current students of Asbury Theological Seminary.

Additional weight is given to church planters establishing churches in racially and ethnically diverse contexts and to multi-ethnic church planters. Priority is also given to church planters associated with a denomination in the Wesleyan tradition. Non-denominational and independent church planters may apply as well.

Application Process

The application process for receiving a grant from the Center for Church Multiplication involves four stages: Apply, Interview, Assess, and Award.

1. Apply – The application process begins when a qualified applicant submits the Domestic Church Planting Grant Application and required documents. The window for submitting applications is March 1- June 1. The application deadline is June 1. We strongly encourage applicants to apply early.
2. Interview – If the application is advanced, CCM will conduct a virtual interview with the applicant to discuss their application and church planting proposal.
3. Assess – As applications are reviewed by the CCM team, CCM may request that applicants complete a church planter assessment or personality assessment to gain additional insights into the applicant’s fit for church planting and their role on a church planting team.
4. Award – Approved applicants will be notified by August 1 and invited to become an official recipient of a Fellowship Grant or a Matching grant. Approved applicants will be assigned a coaching cohort with a CCM church planting coach and receive monthly coaching in group and individual settings from October through May. Grant recipients are required to attend the annual gathering of CCM grant recipients (typically held at Asbury Theological Seminary in early October) and may be invited to participate in additional and optional training opportunities offered throughout the year.

Qualifications

1. Church Planters must be church planting in the United States.
2. Church Planters must be in their first 1-3 years of establishing a new church or preparing to launch in the application year.
3. Matching Grant recipients must be alumni or current students of Asbury Theological Seminary. Exceptions may be considered on a case-by-case basis.
4. Matching Grant recipients must receive matching funds from their network or denomination.
5. Approved candidates are required to participate in a coaching cohort with a CCM church planting coach and attend the annual gathering of CCM grant recipients (typically held at Asbury Theological Seminary in early October).

Additional Considerations

1. Priority consideration is given to church planters establishing churches in racially and ethnically diverse contexts and to multi-ethnic church planters.
2. Priority consideration is given to church planters associated with a denomination in the Wesleyan tradition.

Application Requirements

1. Applicants complete the Domestic Church Planting Grant Application.
2. Applicants submit their resume and three (3) reference letters from individuals associated with the church planting initiative. If applying for a Matching Grant, one reference letter must be from a leader of the network or denomination providing the matching grant.

Important Dates

• Application window: March 1 – June 1. We strongly encourage applicants to apply early.
• Application deadline: June 1. No applications will be accepted after June 1.
• Notification of Grant Awards: August 1.

Want to apply?

If you think you might qualify for a Fellowship Grant or a Matching Grant, please request an application by contacting: Church.planting@asburyseminary.edu.

In your email, please introduce yourself, including your full name, denominational affiliation (if applicable), how you heard about us, what type of grant you are applying for, and why you think you may qualify for a grant.

Only qualified applicants will receive an application from the Center for Church Multiplication.