Grands for Ministry: Where Generosity and Capacity Meet
September 23 – October 14, 2026
When the cost of a ministry project you want to embark on exceeds your own resources, but you know others in the wider community would be excited to see it succeed, you might have the right recipe for proposing a grant from a foundation.* Foundations have been entrusted with resources from generous people who care about creating the kinds of change you can make happen. In other words, you have the project and the capacity to see it through; they have the passion and the funding to help you realize it. But as sources of money, grants do come with challenges. In this course, you will learn whether grants are the right way to fund your ministry project and, if so, how to write a persuasive proposal. The course has four sessions that will meet on four Wednesdays via Zoom. There will be a homework exercise each week as well as interactive work in class.
During the class, we will address the following topics using the strategies listed:
What are the pros and cons of funding ministry with foundation grants?
You will complete a checklist to see if you are grant ready.
What are grant makers looking for?
You will pretend you are a funder and review a sample proposal.
What goes into writing a persuasive proposal?
You will complete a few writing exercises about your ministry.
How do grant seekers find funders?
You will search an online database for grantmakers that might fund your project.
*Note: This course will primarily assume private, denominational, and community foundations rather than government and corporate ones.
Facilitators
Barbara Blodgett is an educator, minister, and ethicist with several decades of experience in theological education helping students, practitioners, and other leaders achieve excellence and effectiveness. She believes that when the head brings purpose, structure, and integrity, the heart can love and serve others well.
Schedule
Via Zoom on Wednesdays, 12:00-1:30 PM Eastern Time on September 23 & 30 and October 7 & 14, 2026
Program Fee
The program fee for this course is $150, with $50 nonrefundable deposit. All balances are due two weeks before program start. Cancellations must be received at least two weeks before program start to receive a refund of the program fee minus the deposit.
Contact
For questions about registration or for technical assistance, email lifelonglearning@ctsnet.edu. For questions about the course content, please contact Barbara Blodgett at bblodgett50@gmail.com.
