Grants
SeaPres Grants
Seattle Presbytery annually budgets funds to help support the mission and ministry of congregations and their members, and to advance the work of the presbytery through its commissions, committees, and task forces. SeaPres Grants funds come from the realized interest on the presbytery’s socially responsible investment from the sale of assets (properties), managed by the New Covenant Trust Company (of the Presbyterian Foundation).
Application: The grant application must be complete when submitted. This includes the session endorsement, a detailed program budget, and the plan to raise and invest matching funds if the grant is approved. See application for other required information and attachments.
To obtain a grant application, please contact EJ Lee. Please email a copy of the completed application to grants<AT>seattlepresbytery.org.
Endorsement: Grant application shall be endorsed by the Session of the church that applies for the grant. If the project involves more than one congregation, all Sessions involved in the project shall submit an endorsement.
Reporting: If you receive a grant, you may be asked to share your experience with the committee approving the grant and the presbytery including presentations, articles or consultations with other churches considering similar projects. This report will be an opportunity for grant recipients to share their experience with both the grant process and the project itself.
Application deadlines: 15th of the month prior to commission meeting.
Executive Board: Contact office<AT>seattlepresbytery.org.
COM meeting dates: Contact com<AT>seattlepresbytery.org to confirm meeting schedule (typically first Thursday of each month).
CPM typically meets the first Tuesday of each month. Contact cpm<AT>seattlepresbytery.org to confirm meeting schedule.
Note: To ensure a broad distribution of limited funds, only one grant may be funded per church per year.
Other PCUSA & BOP Grants:
Additional grants are available from the PCUSA & BOP for specific purposes. Please visit the following pages to learn more:
BOP Assistance Program (retired church workers, church workers, pastors with vocational leadership needs)
Covid-related grants (contact EPS<AT>seattlepresbytery.org for latest.
seapres Grant Categories:
Grants for BIPOC Leaders
SeaPres BIPOC Scholarship // amounts vary
The BIPOC Scholarship is established to support BIPOC employees, members, inquirers, candidates, and ministers of Seattle Presbytery and its churches who wish to pursue theological education and training for ministry. The program is managed and funded through a collaboration between the Race & Equity Task Force and the Executive Board, with additional support and guidance from the Presbytery staff. Scholarship funds are awarded through a reimbursement process to help minimize tax implications for students. Participants may submit receipts for up to 50% reimbursement of tuition and/or fees for the duration of their education.
Grants for Pastors
Sabbatical Grant // $6,000
The Commission on Ministry (COM) awards matching funds up to $6,000, for a session approved sabbatical.
Emergency Assistance // amounts vary
The COM provides matching funds to pastors who apply to the Board of Pensions for financial assistance. Grants are awarded on a case-by-case basis.
Continuing Education Grant // $1,000
The COM provides matching funds up to $1,000 to pastors for continued ministry related study or training. The COM covers half the cost (up to $500) of any minister or candidate who takes Transitional Ministry Workshops (TMWorkshops covers the other half.)
Grants for Congregations
Economic Relief // $5,000
The EB awards a one-time $5,000 grant to any congregation of Seattle Presbytery with demonstrated economic need. Congregations with a membership of 300 or less (budget of $500,000 or less) who ended 2022 with, or project in 2023, a deficit budget may apply. Congregations with the most economic need will receive preference. Churches that have received SeaPres grants in 2022 or 2023 are eligible, however the purpose and amount of the prior grants grant will be factors in determining economic need.
New Mission Initiatives // $5,000
The EB awards one-time matching funds of up to $5,000 to support a new local (or global) mission endeavor of a congregation. (Excludes new worshipping communities and their leadership).
Facilities & Capital Improvements // $20,000
The EB awards, at the recommendation of the Property and Finance committee, matching funds for facility repairs and upgrades to a congregation’s building or property.
Legal Assistance // $5,000
The EB awards, in consultation with the Co-Executive Presbyters, matching funds up to $5,000 for legal assistance through the presbytery’s legal support team. Contact eps@seapres.org to initiate the process.
Grants for New Worshiping Communities
New Worshiping Communities Matching Grant // amounts vary
The EB awards matching funds to any new worshiping community who receives any 1001 New Worshiping Community Grant.