One of the most common questions our team at Tillman Equity hears from church leaders is simple: “Can churches even get grants?” The answer is yes — and more easily than most people think. Church grant funding is a real and growing opportunity, but navigating it requires understanding the rules, the right funders, and how to position your ministry’s community work for success.
Our team has helped numerous churches and faith-based organizations secure grant funding, and we’ve seen firsthand how transformative it can be for ministries that are already doing incredible work on tight budgets. This guide covers everything you need to know to get started.
The short answer: yes, churches can get grants
Churches and faith-based organizations are absolutely eligible for grant funding — both from private foundations and, in many cases, from government sources. The key distinction is that the funded programs must serve the community in a way that doesn’t require religious participation as a condition of receiving services.
This means your church’s food pantry, after-school tutoring program, homeless outreach, addiction recovery ministry, job training initiative, or senior services program can all be grant-funded. The program itself serves a community need. The fact that it’s operated by a church doesn’t disqualify it.
What can’t be grant-funded (with most funders) is explicitly religious activity — worship services, evangelism, religious instruction as a standalone program. But the community service programs that churches run? Those are highly fundable.
Understanding the separation question
Many church leaders hesitate to pursue grants because they’re worried about the separation of church and state. Let’s clarify what this actually means in practice.
For government grants, faith-based organizations can receive funding as long as the funded program is open to all community members regardless of religious belief, participation in religious activities is not required to receive services, grant funds are not used for worship, religious instruction, or proselytizing, and the organization maintains separate accounting for grant-funded activities.
For private foundation grants, the rules vary by funder, but most private foundations simply want to fund effective programs. Many foundation funders actively seek faith-based partners because churches are often the most trusted and connected organizations in their communities.
Our team helps churches navigate these distinctions so they can pursue funding confidently without compromising their mission or identity.
Where to find faith-friendly funders
There are several categories of funders that specifically welcome applications from churches and faith-based organizations.
Denominational grants are funding programs operated by your national denomination or regional church body. The United Methodist Church, Southern Baptist Convention, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Presbyterian Church USA, Catholic Charities, and many other denominations have grant programs for local congregations. Start by contacting your denominational headquarters or regional office.
Faith-based foundations are private foundations with a religious mission that fund community programs operated by churches and ministries. Organizations like the Lilly Endowment, the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, and dozens of smaller faith-based foundations specifically fund church-led community work.
Community foundations in your local area often fund faith-based programs, especially those serving vulnerable populations. Many community foundations have awarded grants to churches for food programs, youth initiatives, and housing support.
Government grants at the state and local level frequently fund faith-based organizations. Since the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships was established, federal and state agencies have been actively encouraged to include faith-based organizations in their funding streams.
Our Funder Research Toolkit ($47) includes a curated list of faith-friendly funders and a tracking spreadsheet to help you build a strategic funding pipeline.
What churches need before applying
Grant readiness for churches involves the same fundamentals as any nonprofit, plus a few additional considerations.
Your church needs to have 501(c)(3) status (most churches qualify automatically, but you may need an IRS determination letter for some funders), a governing board or leadership team, basic financial statements and a budget, a clearly defined community program with measurable outcomes, and the ability to separate grant-funded activities from religious activities in your accounting.
That last point is important and often overlooked. Our financial analysts recommend that churches applying for grants set up a separate accounting code or fund within their bookkeeping system for grant-funded activities. This makes reporting to funders simple and transparent.
Not sure if your church is grant-ready? Download our free Grant Readiness Checklist — it works for churches and faith-based organizations just as well as secular nonprofits.
Common concerns from church leaders
“Will accepting a grant compromise our mission?” Not if you’re strategic about which grants you pursue. Focus on funders whose values align with your community work. You never have to accept funding that requires you to change who you are.
“We’re too small to get grants.” Our team has helped organizations of all sizes secure funding. Many funders specifically want to support small, grassroots, community-based organizations. Your size is often an advantage — funders see you as connected, nimble, and efficient.
“We don’t have staff to manage a grant.” Start with smaller grants ($1,000 to $5,000) that have simple reporting requirements. As you build experience and capacity, you can pursue larger opportunities. Our consulting services can also help you manage the process — from a $100 Power Hour to our full $3,000 Grant Writing Package.
“Our congregation won’t support this.” Frame it correctly: you’re not asking the government to fund your church. You’re pursuing resources to expand the community services your congregation already cares about. Grants help you serve more people without increasing the burden on your members.
Your next step
If your church is doing community work — and most are — there’s likely grant funding available to help you do more of it. The first step is understanding where you stand and what you need to get ready.
Our team specializes in helping faith-based organizations navigate the grant landscape. For a comprehensive guide, check out our Faith & Funding: A Church Grant Guide ebook on Amazon. And for hands-on support, book a Power Hour ($100) with our CEO, Trina Nichols, and walk away with a personalized funding strategy for your ministry.