NCDC Strategic Grants Overview

 Starting a new worshiping community (NWC) requires resources. While many of NCDC’s resources provide LINCSS (Leadership coaching, Infrastructure development support, Network expansion, Community consulting, and Startup training), NCDC also offers 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 a particular 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

Clicking the name of each grant will lead to an online application form or prompt your device to download a copy of an application, depending on the format of each grant application.

Assessment Grant

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 ministry.

The DML assessments last 5 days and happen around the country in small groups. This grant covers the cost of the assessment registration fee and is paid directly to the 1001 office of the Presbyterian Mission Agency.  

Coaching Grant

Coaching Grants are available to NWC leaders. A coach’s primary role is to empower new worshiping community leaders to achieve personal and professional goals by facilitating insight, self-awareness, and actionable strategies. Coaching grants are $1,500 - $3,000 per year and must be applied for annually. Investment and Growth grants require a NWC leader to have a trained and approved coach.

Health Insurance Grant

Health Insurance Grants are available for 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 Presbyterian Mission Agency’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 found here 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.

Presbyterian Mission Agency’s Grants

The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) offers Mission Program Grants, which are outlined below. Clicking the name of each grant will prompt your device to download a copy of the application for that grant.

Seed Grant

The Seed Grant is not a NCDC grant but is funded fully through the national offices of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

A 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. The application process is 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.

Investment Grant

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 deadline.

The Investment Grant can be applied for 12 months after the Seed Grant is awarded.

Growth Grant

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.

If you have any questions about the NCDC Strategic Grant application process, please contact Lindsay Armstrong at larmstrong@atlpcusa.org.

2025 grant deadlines will be posted once available.