How to Apply for a Grant
MMFA awards grants from a number of field of interest funds. Each fund aims to address a specific area of need. Please note the 2026 Grant Cycle Updates below and in the attached document.
Eligibility
- 501(c)(3)s domiciled in the United States and Moravian ministries in North American countries may apply. Preference is given to U.S. Moravian congregations, fellowships, agencies, missions, and emerging ministries.
- All new applicants will be required to have a consultation prior to receiving the information to apply online.
Eligibility Update:
After careful deliberation, MMFA has modified the applicant eligibility for the 2026 grant cycle.
Previous Condition: Applicants who received a grant could reapply to the same fund every 3 years. However, they could apply to a different fund every year, provided they had not received a grant from that fund in the previous three years.
New Condition: Applicants who receive a grant can apply to any fund every 2 years from the date of their most recent grant award. If you applied for a grant in the past and were not awarded one, you may apply to that fund again at any time.
We understand this change affects recent grant recipients differently, depending on when they last received funding. If you have been awarded a grant from MMFA in 2024 or 2025, please read below for further explanations regarding your eligibility to apply during the 2026 grant cycle.
- For 2025 Grant Recipients: If you are a recipient of a 2025 grant, you can apply for a grant in 2026. However, it cannot be from the same fund. If you receive a grant in 2026, you cannot apply for a grant again until 2028.
Example: Holy Moravian Church received a grant from the Healing & Health Fund in 2025. Holy Church applies for and receives a grant from the Racial Awareness, Equity and Repair Fund in 2026. Holy Church can apply for another grant from any MMFA fund in 2028.
- For 2024 Grant Recipients: If you are a recipient of a 2024 grant, you can apply for a grant from any of our funds in 2026.
Example: Holy Moravian Church received a grant from Hunger & Thirst in 2024; they are eligible to apply for any of the funds MMFA provides in 2026, including Hunger and Thirst. They can apply for another grant from any fund in 2028.
This change helps us distribute funds more equitably between new ministries/organizations and our existing partners.
Number of Applications:
- MMFA accepts one application per eligible ministry or organization during a grant cycle.
Pass-through grants (defined as the applicant giving all or a portion of the grant award to another organization):
We strongly encourage the organization that will be utilizing the grant award to be the applicant.
For pass-through grants that will be utilized in another country, we strongly encourage the applying organization to collaborate with the Board of World Mission or Unity Women’s Desk.
Pass-through grant applicants will answer additional questions on the application to assist our Grant Advisory Committee with making award decisions.
Timing
- June 1-June 30: application period
- August 10: applicants notified of decision
- August 13: grant awards announced
Application Process
Applicants submit their grant application online through MMFA’s Grant Lifecycle Manager (GLM) site.
New applicants create an account for their organization and log in to submit their application, see the award decision, and submit their grant report once the funds have been utilized. More information will be shared during the grant consultation.
Applicants from previous years who already have a GLM account for their organization will log in to their existing account to submit their 2026 application.
To begin the application process, please contact Laura Watson, Vice President/Director of Programs at 336.725.2589 or lwatson@mmfa.com. Laura will determine whether your organization is required to have a consultation; if it is not, Laura will provide you with online access to the correct grant application in GLM.
If you have any questions about this year’s field of interest fund grant cycle, please contact Laura.
FAQs
How can I access the application portal?
To access the application portal, you must first contact the MMFA Vice President/Director of Programs, Laura Watson, at 336.725.2589 or lwatson@mmfa.com.
NOTE. If you are a new applicant, you must first attend a consultation with MMFA’s summer intern and then receive access from them.
How do I start the application process?
If eligible, you will receive an email from Laura or our summer intern that contains a code to access your chosen fund application. You can insert the code in the ‘APPLY’ link next to the Home button at the top of the screen.
What if my organization does not have an Employer Identification Number (EIN)?
Not every organization will have an EIN, especially if you are a Moravian ministry that falls under a Provincial umbrella. If you do not know your organization’s EIN, simply enter any 9-digit number to continue; unfortunately, the GLM program requires this data field, and we can’t change that.
Do I have to complete my application in one sitting? Can I save my work?
You do not have to complete your application in one sitting. The Grant Lifecycle Manager includes an autosave feature in each application, allowing you the freedom to work on your application at your own pace.
Can I add a user to my application?
Yes, the Grant Lifecycle Manager allows easy access to invite anyone to collaborate on your application. To add a user, open your application and find the black “collaborate” button in the top-right corner. It will open a box where you can send an email invitation to any potential collaborator to the application.
Can I receive an extension on a grant application if needed?
Extensions are not permitted for our applications. If you are unable to complete your application within the cycle, you are invited to apply again in the following grant year.
Can I upload files or images to my application?
Currently, GLM only supports inserting files into the ‘Budget’ section within the application. Click on the ‘Upload a file’ button to attach any docx, png, jpg, pdf, .xlsx, .csv, and so on to the application.
Can I apply for a grant as an individual?
MMFA can only accept applications from established churches, ministries, and organizations. We cannot provide funds for individual projects, repairs, or needs.
Can I apply for a grant as an organization outside of the United States?
Unfortunately, MMFA can only provide grants to organizations based in the North American provinces (Canada and the United States). However, these organizations can apply for a grant on behalf of an international organization.
Is there a tutorial or instruction guide for Grant Lifecycle Manager?
Yes, you can access the GLM Applicant Tutorial by following this link.
MMFA's Grant Program Generally Does Not Support:
- Endowments
- Debt reduction/deficit funding
- Duplication of existing programs or services
- Salaries
A Strong Application will Demonstrate:
- The implementation of a new ministry or outreach that is clearly linked to the purpose of the chosen Field of Interest Fund
- Strong rationale and significance of proposed project
- Feasible timeline and achievable goals
- Multiple methods for assessing and evaluating the project and its outcomes
- Complete, accurate, and cost-effective budget
- Steps to identify appropriate collaborative partners within the Moravian denomination
- Sustainability beyond the grant period
Visit each individual field of interest fund’s page to see a fund description and ideal initiatives.
Awards and Administration:
A Grant Advisory Committee (GAC) is responsible for evaluating grant applications and recommending to the MMFA Board of Trustees which applications should receive funding. The GAC is appointed by the MMFA Board and consists of at least one MMFA trustee, one MMFA staff member, and no fewer than five additional members.
All applicants are telephoned to be notified of award decisions. If the applicant cannot be reached via telephone, they will receive an email. Recipients are asked to announce their award after MMFA has made its announcement.
Checks are mailed as soon as possible after the announcement has been made, and recipients are asked to acknowledge receipt of all checks.
MMFA provides oversight for all grant awards. Recipients are required to submit a report which is provided via email approximately six months after awards are made. Understanding that a grant-funded initiative may just be underway, MMFA will provide the report again approximately ten months after grants are made, with the expectation that it be returned no later than twelve months from grant receipt. Consideration for future funding will depend on the submission of this report and whether a grant was used appropriately, and the project’s outcomes were as expected.
MMFA staff may also conduct site visits, interview participants, take photographs, and publish recipient stories.
For more information:
Please contact Laura Watson, Vice President/Director of Programs, at (336) 725-2589 or lwatson@mmfa.com.