Love in Action Grant Application

Love in Action Grant Application

The Love in Action Grant provides micro-grants to congregations in the Baltimore-Washington and Peninsula-Delaware area to strengthen their capacity to care for neighbors facing economic, food, and healthcare hardships. This application helps us determine whether your congregation is currently eligible to receive a grant and provides information that will enable us to collaboratively support one another. Please answer as completely and concisely as you can; it is perfectly fine if you do not have all the pieces in place yet.
Section 1: Congregation & Contact Information

Please provide your church and contact details.
Church Name*
Church ID*
This is a four digit number.
Conference*
District*
Church Address*

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province

Postal / Zip Code
County/Ward*
Please provide contact information for the primary contact for this grant.
Primary Contact Name*

First NameLast Name
Primary Contact Role*
Primary Contact Email*
example@example.com
Primary Contact Phone*
Section 2: Community Context & Need

Help us understand the needs in your community.
What needs have been shared by people connected to your congregation and surrounding community? (check all that apply)*

Affordable childcareAffordable housingCommunity safetyDiapers and formulaEmployment or income stability (loss of hours, layoffs, furloughs)Food securityHealthcare or medication affordabilityImmigration supportIntimate Partner Violence/Domestic Violence (IPV/DV) supportMental-health support (stress, isolation, grief)Rent or utility assistanceReliable transportationUnhoused neighbor supportWorkforce development and job-readiness supportOther
Approximately how many households connected to your congregation or neighborhood are currently affected by the needs checked above these issues?*

0–1011–2526–50More than 50We’re not sure but we believe the need is significant
Which of these needs have increased in the last several months? (check all that apply)*

Affordable childcareAffordable housingCommunity safetyDiapers and formulaEmployment or income stability (loss of hours, layoffs, furloughs)Food securityHealthcare or medication affordabilityImmigration supportIntimate Partner Violence/Domestic Violence (IPV/DV) supportMental-health support (stress, isolation, grief)Rent or utility assistanceReliable transportationUnhoused neighbor supportWorkforce development and job-readiness supportOther
Which of these needs is your congregation currently working to address? (check all that apply)*

Affordable childcareAffordable housingCommunity safetyDiapers and formulaEmployment or income stability (loss of hours, layoffs, furloughs)Food securityHealthcare or medication affordabilityImmigration supportIntimate Partner Violence/Domestic Violence (IPV/DV) supportMental-health support (stress, isolation, grief)Rent or utility assistanceReliable transportationUnhoused neighbor supportWorkforce development and job-readiness supportOther
To help ensure the Love in Action Grant resources reach communities experiencing significant economic hardship, please briefly describe your congregation’s local context. You may reference factors such as elevated poverty rates, food insecurity, recent federal workforce impact, community safety, or access to affordable health care.
Why is your congregation’s community a strategic location for a Love in Action investment at this time?*
Please share a brief example of someone or a situation that illustrates the needs you’ve identified. (No names needed.)*
Section 3: Current Ministry & Capacity

Please provide the most accurate information you can. If you’re uncertain about any details, it’s best to give a conservative estimate.
Does your congregation currently offer financial assistance / benevolence funding?*

YesNo
How many financial assistance requests did your congregation fulfill in 2024?*
If you’re uncertain, it’s best to give a conservative estimate.
How many financial assistance requests did your congregation fulfill in 2025?*
If you’re uncertain, it’s best to give a conservative estimate.
What is the average amount awarded per request?*
If you’re uncertain, it’s best to give a conservative estimate.
What is MOST OFTEN the nature of the assistance? (select one or two at most)*

Addressing safety concerns for those experiencing intimate partner violenceChild careDiapers and formulaEmployment or income stability (loss of hours, layoffs, furloughs)GroceriesImmigration supportMedicalMental health costsMortgage/rent paymentTransportation costsUnhoused neighbor supportUtility billsOther
Who is primarily served by the financial assistance / benevolence funding ministry? (check all that apply)*

ChildrenCollege students / young adultsCongregation membersGovernment workersImmediate neighborhood / ZIP codeImmigrant and refugee communitiesIndigenous peopleIncarcerated or formerly incarcerated individualsLGBTQIA+ community membersPeople with disabilitiesPeople living with low income / beneath the poverty linePeople experiencing homelessnessSeniors / older adultsSingle parentsVeteransWider community (beyond your ZIP code)YouthOther
Does your congregation currently offer food pantry / grocery distribution?*

YesNo
How often does the food pantry / grocery distribution ministry operate?*

WeeklyMonthlyOccasionally / As NeededNot yet operating (planning stage)
If weekly, please indicate the days of the week on which the food pantry / grocery distribution ministry operates:

SundayMondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdayFridaySaturday
Who is primarily served by the food pantry / grocery distribution ministry? (check all that apply)*

ChildrenCollege students / young adultsCongregation membersGovernment workersImmediate neighborhood / ZIP codeImmigrant and refugee communitiesIndigenous peopleIncarcerated or formerly incarcerated individualsLGBTQIA+ community membersPeople with disabilitiesPeople living with low income / beneath the poverty linePeople experiencing homelessnessSeniors / older adultsSingle parentsVeteransWider community (beyond your ZIP code)YouthOther
Does your congregation currently serve meals where people sit down to eat?*

YesNo
How often does your congregation serve sit-down meals to community members in need?*

WeeklyMonthlyOccasionally / As NeededNot yet operating (planning stage)
If weekly, please indicate the days of the week on which your congregation serves sit-down meals:

SundayMondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdayFridaySaturday
Who is primarily served by the sit-down meal ministry? (check all that apply)*

ChildrenCollege students / young adultsCongregation membersGovernment workersImmediate neighborhood / ZIP codeImmigrant and refugee communitiesIndigenous peopleIncarcerated or formerly incarcerated individualsLGBTQIA+ community membersPeople with disabilitiesPeople living with low income / beneath the poverty linePeople experiencing homelessnessSeniors / older adultsSingle parentsVeteransWider community (beyond your ZIP code)YouthOther
Does your congregation currently provide health or mental health referrals or support?*

YesNo
How many health or mental health referrals did your congregation make in 2024?
If you are unsure, please skip this question or make a conservative estimate.
How many health or mental health referrals did your congregation make in 2025?
If you are unsure, please skip this question or make a conservative estimate.
Who is primarily served by the health or mental health referrals your congregation has made? (check all that apply)*

ChildrenCollege students / young adultsCongregation membersGovernment workersImmediate neighborhood / ZIP codeImmigrant and refugee communitiesIndigenous peopleIncarcerated or formerly incarcerated individualsLGBTQIA+ community membersPeople with disabilitiesPeople living with low income / beneath the poverty linePeople experiencing homelessnessSeniors / older adultsSingle parentsVeteransWider community (beyond your ZIP code)YouthOther
Does your congregation currently provide job or workforce readiness support?*

YesNo
How is the job/workforce readiness ministry formatted? (select all that apply)*

Small group meetingsClass offeringsIndividual coaching or mentoringEvent or expo styleOther
How often are small group meetings for job/workforce readiness taking place?*

WeeklyBi-WeeklyMonthlyAs needed, but not monthlyAnnually
If weekly, please indicate the days of the week on which your congregation offers small group meetings for job/workforce readiness :*

SundayMondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdayFridaySaturday
How many job/workforce readiness classes are offered in a “session”?*

2 - 56 - 1010 or more
Who is primarily served by your congregation's job or workforce readiness ministry? (check all that apply)*

ChildrenCollege students / young adultsCongregation membersGovernment workersImmediate neighborhood / ZIP codeImmigrant and refugee communitiesIndigenous peopleIncarcerated or formerly incarcerated individualsLGBTQIA+ community membersPeople with disabilitiesPeople living with low income / beneath the poverty linePeople experiencing homelessnessSeniors / older adultsSingle parentsVeteransWider community (beyond your ZIP code)YouthOther
Does your congregation currently offer other ministries that are relevant to this grant that are not already listed above?*

YesNo
Please provide a description of each additional needs-based ministry, how frequently each ministry operates, and who each ministry primarily serves: *
Do you have at least 3-5 leaders (clergy and/or laity) who can help steward this grant and track basic information (e.g., number of households served)?*

Yes, we have a teamNot yet, but we can form oneNo / not sure
Section 4: Grant Request & Intended Use
What grant amount are you seeking at this time?*
How do you intend to use the Love in Action Grant? (check all that apply)*

Expanding hours or days of service so that more households can access supportIncreasing capacity (e.g., refrigeration, shelving, storage, equipment)Increasing community safetyProviding micro-grants or direct assistance to households in our careStrengthening our existing food or meal ministrySupporting transportation to food, medical, or support servicesSupporting workforce developmentOther
Who will be eligible in your congregation/community to receive support funded by this grant, and how will you identify them?*
Short paragraph – emphasize relationships, referrals, or simple criteria
Section 5: Equity, Partnerships
Does your church currently collaborate with other congregations or community organizations to meet community needs?*

Not yet, but we are open to collaborationNoYes
Is your congregation willing to coordinate with other churches in your area in order to collaboratively address a community need (as aligned with our Social Principles)*

YesMaybe – we’d like more informationNot at this time
Section 6: Accountability & Agreements
If awarded a grant, do you agree to use funds only for purposes consistent with the Love in Action Grant?*

YesNo
Do you agree to provide simple follow-up information (e.g., number of households supported, basic uses of funds, 1–2 stories of impact) using a short reporting form?*

YesYes, but we may need help doing thisNo
Is there anything else we should know about your congregation’s situation, readiness, or needs as we discern eligibility and grant size?
Please read the Love in Action Grant Guidelines before checking the box below
Please read the Love in Action Grant Guidelines before checking the box below.
I have read the Love in Action Grant Guidelines above*

I acknowledge
By submitting this application, I affirm that the information provided is accurate to the best of my knowledge, and that this request reflects support of the pastor, chair of trustees and finance chair.*

I agree
Name*

First NameLast Name
Role*
Date*

MonthDayYear
Date
Signature: Please provide your digital signature to certify this application.*

Clear
Should be Empty:

Section 1: Congregation & Contact Information

Section 2: Community Context & Need

Section 3: Current Ministry & Capacity

Section 4: Grant Request & Intended Use

Section 5: Equity, Partnerships

Section 6: Accountability & Agreements

Please read the Love in Action Grant Guidelines before checking the box below