What you need to know about grants
How do you fund a New Worshiping Community?
NCDC is here to help.
NCDC Strategic Grants Overview
Starting a new worshiping community (NWC) requires resources. Many of NCDC’s resources provide LINCSS: Leadership coaching, Infrastructure development support, Network expansion, Community consulting, Startup training, and Strategic Grants to new worshiping communities (NWCs) who are a part of the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta (PGA).
As a vital part of a new worshiping community’s intentional, sustainable, and strategic development, NCDC offers Strategic Grants designed with a passing lane philosophy. In other words, our grants are for a particular moment in a new worshiping community’s life when an investment is needed to help build for the long term. We focus on providing short-term, high-impact support to promising new worshiping communities, helping them "move ahead" temporarily or achieve a critical milestone. The idea draws from the concept of a passing lane on the highway, where drivers use it to pass slower vehicles before merging back into the main flow of traffic.
Thus, strategic grants are not meant to sustain regular, ongoing ministry; rather, they are tools given to help a new worshiping community move ahead, building from one stage of growth to another. These funds should be used in conjunction with other grants, funds development strategies, and internal new worshiping community giving. Due to limited funding, the grants are competitive, and applications should be submitted no later than the deadlines posted below.
NCDC’s Strategic Grants
Click the name of each grant to be directed to an online form for each grant. There is a table listing known deadlines below.
Assessment Grants are for those who are discerning whether they are called to start a new worshiping community. Designed to pay the registration fee for 1001 New Worshiping Community’s Discerning Missional Leadership (DML) program, Leadership Assessment grants are for Presbytery of Greater Atlanta connected leaders who are considering their call to start a new worshiping community.
The DML assessments last 5 days, are held around the country in small cohorts, and are led by 1001 New Worshiping Communities. This grant covers the cost of the assessment registration fee and is paid directly to the 1001 New Worshiping Communities movement in the national offices of the PCUSA.
Coaching Grants are available to Greater Atlanta’s NWC leaders. A coach’s primary role is to empower new worshiping community leaders to achieve their goals by facilitating insight, self-awareness, and actionable strategies. Coaching grants are $1,500 - $3,000 per year and must be applied for annually. For those approved for a coaching grant, 1001 provides the coach; NCDC provides payment to the coach. Investment and Growth grants require a NWC leader to have a trained and approved coach.
NCDC and Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Grants
In addition to Mid Council grants such as NCDC’s grants, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) also offers grants through the Board of Pensions, Mission Program, and 1001 NWC Program. Grant opportunities for new worshiping communities and leaders are outlined below, and you may visit the program links above for additional grants/scholarships. Click the name of each grant to prompt your device to download a copy of the application for each grant. There is a table listing known deadlines below.
The Benefits Grant is offered exclusively through the Board of Pensions and provides five years of funding for health insurance coverage, retirement pension, and other benefits for NWC leaders. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Health Insurance Grants are available for active NWC leaders. They are twice renewable, for a total of three years. This grant provides supplemental funding for health insurance. NWC leaders must apply for the grant each year. NCDC’s application process uses the PCUSA’s Health Insurance Grant application, which requires an up-front commitment of $3,000 already raised through individual donors, another congregation or partnering organization, and/or a Mid Council.
Completing the application and sending it to the NCDC Resources and Grants Committee constitutes an application to NCDC to provide up to $3,000 and to send the application to the national offices of the Presbyterian church for consideration for their own up to $3,000 grant. Thus, the total potential amount granted is $3,000 from NCDC and $3,000 from the national offices of the Presbyterian Church.
If a new worshiping community would like NCDC to consider providing this up-front $3,000 in funding, this application should be completed and the request for funds from both NCDC and the national offices of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) should be indicated in the cover letter/email accompanying the grant application. Please send to ncdc@atlpcusa.org.
If a new worshiping community would like to raise the initial $3,000 in another way, please do so and then send the completed form to ncdc@atlpcusa.org for endorsement and to be sent to the national offices by the deadline posted below.
The Seed Grant is a one-time grant of $10,000 offered to assist those who are in the process of starting a NWC that aligns personal and shared discernment with community needs. This grant asks NWC leaders to share their discernment process and how the Holy Spirit has led them to begin ministry in their community. This is a grant given by the national offices of the PCUSA, and the application process goes through the national offices of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
Please speak with NCDC’s Executive Director about your application ahead of time and return the application to larmstrong@atlpcusa.org for endorsement and subsequent application to the national offices of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Please note application deadlines listed below.
The Investment Grant is a one-time grant of up to $30,000 over a span of 18 months. This grant is for NWCs who are already established; have discerned their mission, role, and identity in their community; and are proactively building their worshiping community.
The application process is two-fold. First, $30,000 must be raised by the new worshiping community from individual donors, other congregations or partnering organizations, and/or a Mid Council. If a new worshiping community would like NCDC to consider providing this up-front $30,000 in funding, this application should be completed and the request for funds from both NCDC and the national offices of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) should be indicated in the cover letter or email accompanying the grant application.
If a new worshiping community would like to raise the initial $30,000 in another way, please do so and then send the completed form to ncdc@atlpcusa.org for endorsement and to be sent to the national offices by the posted PCUSA deadline below.
The Investment Grant can be applied for 12 months after the Seed Grant is awarded.
The Growth Grant is a one-time grant for up to $30,000 over a span of 18 months. A Growth Grant is dependent on the progress of the initiatives outlined in the Investment Grant. Like the Investment Grant, the application process begins with NCDC and progresses to the national offices of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
Like the Investment Grant, the application process is two-fold. First, $30,000 must be raised by the new worshiping community from individual donors, other congregations or partnering organizations, and/or a Mid Council. If a new worshiping community would like NCDC to consider providing this up-front $30,000 in funding, this application should be completed and the request for funds from both NCDC and the national offices of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) should be indicated in the cover letter/email accompanying the grant application.
If a new worshiping community would like to raise the initial $30,000 outside of NCDC funds, please do so and then send the completed form to ncdc@atlpcusa.org for endorsement and to be sent to the national offices for their consideration by the posted deadline.
The Walton Award funds capital projects to enhance space and properties owned or stewarded by NWCs. Each year, presbyteries nominate NWCs who fit the criteria. If you would like to be considered for nomination for the award, contact Lindsay Armstrong at the email listed below. The number of awards given annually is based on funds available. 2025 nominations are due on July 1.
If you have questions about NCDC or 1001’s Strategic Grants, please contact Lindsay Armstrong at larmstrong@atlpcusa.org.
2025 Grant Deadlines
| NCDC | PCUSA | Anticipated Award Date |
|---|---|---|
| January 21 | January 28 | March 21 |
| April 22 | April 29 | June 20 |
| June 24 | July 1 | August 22 |
| August 26 | September 2 | October 24 |