GRANTS, SCHOLARSHIPS, AND LOANS
The New Hampshire Conference, United Church of Christ, makes funds available to churches, clergy, members-in-discernment, lay people, ministries, mission groups, and other similar groups in the Conference for various purposes including church growth and ministry, clergy and member-in-discernment professional education, lay leader growth and development, youth ministry, building and renovation projects, and many other purposes that further the ministries of the UCC and its churches in New Hampshire.
The Conference’s endowment funds, many of which originated from generous donors wishing to further the Conference’s mission, provide the funding to make these grants available on a sustainable annual basis. The Grants and Scholarships (G&S) Committee of the Conference’s Board of Directors administers these funds and accepts applications on a continuing basis to support many needs of churches and individuals in the NH Conference.
The G&S Committee encourages churches, groups, and individuals to engage with the Committee and share your funding needs with us, and we will help identify the appropriate source of funding for your needs and work with you through the application process.
APPLICATION PROCESS
To begin the application process, please select one of these three categories based on your needs, and click to download the application form and process instructions:
To engage with the Grants & Scholarships Committee once you have completed one of the above applications, or if you just have questions about the process, use the following email address to contact us: grants@nhcucc.org
FUNDING SOURCES BY ROLE
Below is a list of restricted funds that are the source of these grants and loans. Click on each to bring up a description of the fund and the types of activities that the original donor envisioned funding with it. If none of these funds seem to fit your need, please reach out to us anyway so we can help you identify other possible sources.
CLERGY & MIDs
The MID Scholarship Fund assists Members-in-Discernment within the New Hampshire Conference, United Church of Christ, in their preparation for ordained ministry by providing financial aid for educational and professional development programs. Applicants submit detailed applications to the Conference Minister, and while scholarships are available year-round, recipients are eligible for only one grant annually, not exceeding $2,000. Recipients are required to submit progress reports to the Conference Minister at the end of the year in which the scholarship was awarded.
Under review...
Congregations & Laity
The Lay Leadership Development Fund is available to help congregations in the New Hampshire Conference, United Church of Christ, to defray expenses incurred for lay leaders to participate in workshops, seminars, conferences, and other leadership training events. Examples might include events related to Christian education/formation, lay pastoral care, stewardship, music, parish nursing, youth ministries, and technology - whether created by or sponsored by a local church.
The Strengthen the Church All-Church Offering is one of four special offerings, in addition to Our Church´s Wider Mission (Basic Support), in which each local church is encouraged to participate. The New Hampshire Conference retains 50% of the Strengthen the Church offering received for use within the conference.
This fund was established to grow the United Church of Christ´s future by initiatives that promote growth and renewal. All gifts are directed to activities and programs of both the church´s local conference as well as the UCC´s national ministries. Youth Ministry Grant applications are reviewed to determine eligibility by the New Hampshire Conference´s Local Church Support Ministry.The Frank L. Irvine Fund for Justice and Nonviolence was established by South Congregational Church, United Church of Christ i n Concord, New Hampshire in conjunction with the Irvine family. This Fund seeks to honor the legacy of The Rev. Dr. Frank L. Irvine, who devoted his life and ministry to the cause of justice and nonviolence.
The Fund assists the New Hampshire Conference in bringing speakers and preachers who are recognized advocates for justice and nonviolence to Conference-wide gatherings.
The Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) was established as part of the Bicentennial Capital Campaign of the New Hampshire Conference, United Church of Christ. This campaign was conducted in 2001. The purpose of the RLF is to provide low interest loans to local churches who are engaged in new construction or renovations projects that will enable them to better serve their mission.
The Small Church Support Fund is available to small churches to support their ministries. In previous years funds have been used to help pay for heating the church, to help start a Sunday School or to jumpstart a youth mission program. Small churches are encouraged to apply for help to enable them to spread the good news of Jesus Christ.
The North Country Sacred Space Maintenance Fund (NCSS) was established in June 2020 with the proceeds of the now-defunct Berlin Church Endowment. This endowment was established in June 1883 by the Murray and Erikson families to promote religious services in the Berlin church building.
When the Berlin church building was sold for non-religious purposes, a clause in the trust led the courts to dissolve the original fund and disburse the proceeds to the New Hampshire Conference of the United Church of Christ. Now named “North Country Sacred Space Maintenance Fund” the invested funds will follow the disbursement allowances set by the Investment Mission Group and will serve as a grant fund to assist North Country Association UCC churches in maintaining their properties. The fund will provide approximately $2,500 each year for grant awards.
Under review...