Grants

Southwest California Synod offers several grants to congregations with ministry and mission goals. 

The Warner Family Trust provides funds to be used by congregations for educational purposes. Applicants seek support for Sunday school and education wing upgrades and construction, purchasing educational materials and supporting Vacation Bible School and other education programs. Adult education qualifies too!

Our Mission and Ministry Grants tend to range from $500-$8000 and support congregations looking to start a new ministry or support ongoing work. Food banks, after school programs, LGBTQ outreach, men’s prayer breakfasts, all these types of ministries (and many more!) may be eligible for this grant. 

The grants are offered once a year, usually receiving applications in the early spring or late winter. Recipients are expected to report back to the synod on the ministry. We look forward to celebrating what God is doing in your midst!

Congregations wishing to send young people to events may also reach out to the bishop for small grants from our youth gathering fund. 

Bishop’s Accessibility Fund also has small grants available to support a congregation’s desire to improve accessibility for the disabled. Contact the bishop about this fund. 

Church Finance

We offer a church treasurer’s workshop and a church secretary’s workshop every year. The 2025 trainings will be found here:

• Church Treasurer resources are found here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1W9lAsWbNIC5PmS2OZ7LoXBvwMyi8XJwJ
• Church Secretary resources are found here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1TB2WqMn1GkYKkjho444_ibtvmF0jdo7u
• The ELCA offers a wide variety of financial resources for congregations at: https://www.elca.org/about/financial/finance-for-congregations