Congregational Development Grants are one way the diocesan budget supports worshiping communities in strengthening community vitality and deepening relationships with God. The program challenges congregations to try new programs and prayerfully reflect on current and proposed programs that nurture and reimagine congregational life.
The 2023 guidelines are attached below. Congregations intending to apply should submit a letter of intent via the form here by March 6.
For congregations that submit a letter of intent, the completed application is due on May 1. The online form for the full grant application is available here.
Successful grant applications will be program specific. The grants committee will consider applications submitted jointly by multiple congregations as may be appropriate. For the purposes of this grant program, a “congregation” is any worshiping community of the diocese, including campus ministries, chaplaincies, deaneries and parish partnerships, as well as individual parishes and missions.
To be eligible for grants or loans administered by the Diocese of Massachusetts, congregations must be in compliance with basic reporting requirements. Please review these standards and check on your congregation's compliance prior to submitting an application:
- Parochial Report filed (2022 report due March 1, 2023; if grant is awarded prior to March 1, the 2021 report suffices)
- Annual Audit in process (2022 audit due Sept. 1, 2023; if award is prior to Sept. 1, the 2021 audit suffices)
- Annual Leadership Report including Safe Church Audit (2023 report due March 1, 2023; if award is prior to March 1, the 2022 report suffices)
- Clergy compensation form updated as changes are made and submitted to Church Pension Fund
- Current on payments (<90 days in arrears) annual assessment, diocesan loans, clergy pension, health premiums
- Diocesan grants that have a matching component may not include funds from other diocesan grants or the value of in-kind donations as part of their match. Matching grants must be matched by actual cash.
- Some grants have a reporting component required to qualify for future awards.
Award funds will not be issued until compliance requirements have been satisfied. Congregations not in compliance will be notified and will have 60 days to address the compliance requirements before the award is withdrawn.
Help is available. If you would like guidance or assistance from a Congregational Consultant with completing any of these requirements, please contact your regional canon.
The 2023 guidelines are attached below. Questions may be directed to Margaret Lias, Administrator for Governance and Grants, at mlias@diomass.org or 617-482-4826, ext. 229.
Learn more:
Find a brochure summarizing all diocesan grant and loan programs here.