THE THRIVING GRANTS

At its November 2025 meeting, the Executive Board established two new grants to assist Seattle Presbytery congregations. The Executive Board deliberated how best to advance the learning gleaned from the Thriving Congregations Initiative. The initiative encouraged the development of a framework applicable to how congregations learn to do new things, in particular, those projects and activities that intersect a community’s social and cultural issues and a congregation’s ecclesial practices.  

As the presbytery seeks to support all churches in the Seattle Presbytery, the Executive Board adopted a plan for congregations to apply for Thriving Grants. The goal is to support congregations learning to 1) address the community’s social and cultural issues, 2) address any related congregational practices, and 3) move towards integrating and sustaining projects and activities. The grants are divided in two separate categories:

Learning Grant

A learning grant is designed to assist congregations who are seeking to engage the thriving process through an initial learning process. Max $10k. For up to 3 years. 

Operations Grant 

The purpose of the operations grant is to address the challenge of meeting basic operational sustainability (not including capital projects or expenses), while seeking to more deeply engage the thriving process. Congregations who show a budget deficit in 2026 are eligible to apply. The operations grant will cover up to 10% of congregational budget (income or expenses, whichever is least) up to a maximum of $50k. The session must be engaged with the thriving process (see below). One grant per year, for up to three years (provided the above criteria are met). Prior year deficits (2023, 2024 and 2025) and the amount of cash reserves are other factors in determining eligibility. 2026 Operations Grant deadlines are: February 17, July 21, November 17.

Initiative Grant

The purpose of the initiative grant is to promote congregational learning and community connections through a specific learning activity. The initiative may be a current congregational engagement or a new learning activity that supports the church’s engagement with the social and cultural issues of the community. The grant supports up to 20% of the budget (income or expenses whichever is least) up to a maximum of $75k per year for up to 2 years; and up to 10% of the budget (maximum of $50k) in the 3rd year. The session must be engaged with the thriving process. 

The Thriving Process

Relationships are at the heart of a thriving congregation and applying for either an Operations or Initiative grant commits both pastor and session to remain engaged with presbytery staff as part of our shared learning.

This includes: 

1.     Direct and consistent engagement with session and pastor.

• Presbytery staff will be in relationship with both pastor and session throughout the calendar year to support the ongoing development and implementation of learning practices. Engagement may include attending session meetings, scheduling a session retreat, and/or ongoing accompaniment

2.     Annual reporting of learnings

• We want to hear what you are learning and discovering. A brief written report outlining the work you have done as a congregation will be due annually. Due the last quarter of the year covered by the grant.

3.     Administrative and financial review.

• Presbytery staff will ask to review annual financial statements and discuss administrative processes.

4.     Building capacity leadership/administration

• Opportunities will be provided for developing leadership and administrative skills to strengthen existing leadership teams and nurture new congregational leaders.