Northern Maine District GrantsNew England Annual Conference

United Methodist Churches and church-affiliated organizationsin the Northern Maine District may apply for one-time grants. These grants may be considered at regular meetings of the District Ministry Team after review by the Grant subcommittee of the DMT. In accordance with the parameters of RS-205, grants may be awarded

  • To local churches with high operational costs due to geographic considerations in the Northern Maine District, for new initiatives in mission and ministry;
  • Small church initiatives within the Northern Maine District, for training pastors and churches for transformational ministry in rural Maine;
  • Ministry with youth within the Northern Maine District
  • Other uses as determined to support the transformation of existing United Methodist congregations and the development of emerging United Methodist congregations in Northern Maine, as identified by the Northern Maine District Superintendent and the District Ministry Team.

Grants will be awarded for no more than 50% of the project, and no more than $2,500 for an individual church. Additional funding may be considered for cluster ministries.

When submitting a request for a grant, in addition to a description of the mission, please include the following:

1)What tool will be used to evaluate the progress of the mission? Please describe.

2)What is the mission statement of the church? What is the vision of the pastor for this church and its ministries?

3)Describe how this grant money will be used to live out the church’s mission statement.

4)Who will benefit from this mission?

5)Have a lay member of the church write a statement of support for this mission.

Background information needed:

1)Brief narrative history of the church specific to mission work, written by lay leadership. Of special interest would be any previous work in this area of mission, or reasons why the church body enters into this mission now. How was this mission chosen?

2)What group of people will implement the grant monies?

3)What is the total estimated cost of the mission and how much will the church contribute?

4)Describe the long-term impact of the mission on the church and/or local community. How will it be funded after the grant money is used?

5)Does this mission educate and develop leaders within the church, and if so, how?

6)Demographics which support the mission need.

7)Average weekly worship attendance (identify if more than one worship weekly).

8)Provide copies of the budget and expense reports for the previous 2 years as well as the current year’s income and expenses to date. Also include the percentage of Mission shares paid each year.

9)Describe the church’s connectional involvement with the Northern Maine District.

10)List and explain other grants the faith community is currently receiving from church or secular resources. Also include any requests that have been denied and any that are in process.

11)Signatures of Lay Leader, Pastor, and District Superintendent, with any comments from each pertaining to the project.

Applications may be sent to: Northern Maine District, 44 Kennebec Rd, Hampden, ME 04444