How to Apply for a Grant

Moravian Ministries Foundation Grant Guidelines and Procedures

MMFA awards grants from a number of field of interest funds. Each fund aims to address a specific area of need.

Eligibility

  • Applicant must be a 501(c)3 public charity
  • Preferred recipients include U.S. Moravian congregations, fellowships, agencies, missions, and emerging ministries
  • Previous recipients may apply for a grant from the same fund every three years*
  • Previous recipients may apply for a grant from a different fund at any time

*Subject to change depending on fund availability; some funds may allow for a repeat application sooner than three years.

Timing

  • Consultations begin May 15
  • Applications due by June 15
  • Applicant notification by July 27
  • Awards announced on July 28

How to apply

Cary Grant says the phone call is easy

Cary Grant says the phone call is easy

Contact Ainsley Davis, our intern, at (336) 725-2589 or adavis@mmfa.com, to let us know you are interested in applying. She will then schedule a phone or Zoom consultation with you to learn more about the project and to ensure it could qualify. After you’ve had a consultation, you’ll be emailed the application. Complete and submit it, along with any supplemental materials, before the application deadline.

MMFA’s 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

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.