Foundery Annual Fund Grants
Grant Guidelines
The Virginia United Methodist Foundation’s grants program is now known as the Foundery Annual Fund and accepts applications on a rolling basis.
About the Foundery Annual Fund
The Foundery Annual Fund, administered by the Virginia United Methodist Foundation, provides grants to Virginia United Methodist churches and affiliated agencies of the Virginia Conference. Since the grants program began in 2013, the Foundation has awarded a total of $900,000 to ministries across Virginia.
The fund supports projects, ministries, programs and activities that strengthen, expand or enhance ministries and community impact.
Funding Priorities
Based on research conducted in the fall of 2025, the Foundery Annual Fund places particular emphasis on projects that support:
· Clergy and laity training
· Local church engagement in communities
· Communications for the local church
Eligible Uses and Funding Restrictions
Grant funds may be used for programs and ministry activities, including operating expenses and supplies necessary to carry them out.
Grant funds may not be used for:
· Salary supplement
· Building remodeling, repair or replacement
· ADA-related building modifications
· Furnaces, air-conditioning systems or similar facility improvements
Grant Guidelines:
Applicants should review these guidelines before applying.
1. Grant amounts: Grants generally range from $1,000 to $5,000. To support as many qualified applicants as possible, awards may be less than the amount requested.
2. Application Frequency: A church or ministry can apply for a grant once within a 12-month period. Applications previously submitted and not approved may be revised and re-submitted the following year.
3. Broader Ministry Impact: Grants may be awarded to a local church, district or the Virginia Conference to support ministries that strengthen, expand or enhance multiple churches or affiliated agencies throughout the Virginia Conference.
4. Staff-Directed Grants: Staff-directed grant awards are considered and awarded on a rolling basis.
5. Final Decisions: The decision of the Foundery Annual Fund is final for all grant awards.
6. Exceptional Circumstances: Awards greater than the standard $5,000 maximum may be considered in exceptional or exigent circumstances.
7. Grant Reporting: Each grant recipient is required to submit a 250-word report on how the funds were used. Failure to do so can affect eligibility for receiving future grant awards.
Application Process
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis in a two-step process.
Step 1: Letter of Intent
Applicants first submit a brief, one-page letter of intent (LOI) through the Foundery's online grants platform. The LOI should include:
· Introduction: List your organization’s name, project title, total cost and the exact dollar amount requested.
· Statement of Need: Define the specific community problem using brief, compelling statistics and target population demographics.
· Project Solution: Outline your action plan, major project activities and the measurable outcomes you expect to achieve.
· Organizational Credibility: Briefly explain your track record with this or other ministries and why your team is qualified to do the work.
· Budget: Provide a high-level cost breakdown of anticipated project costs.
Step 2: Full Grant Application
· Applicants whose letter of intent is approved will be invited to submit a full grant application through the Foundery's online grants platform. Instructions on how to use the platform will be provided with the invitation.
· Applications must be submitted according to the provided instructions. An application may be removed from consideration if it is incomplete or improperly prepared or does not provide sufficient information for review.
Review and Notification
Foundery staff members review all submitted application materials. Applicants selected to receive funding will be notified directly by Foundery staff.
Questions?
For questions about the Foundery Annual Fund or the application process, please contact us at info@foundery.org