Grant Information Page

ABCRM grants are limited to churches that fulfill the “covenanting congregation” criteria in the ABCRM Bylaws and/or clergy who are in good standing with ABCRM.

• Affirm and participate in the mission and purpose of the Region by:

  • Participating in the ABCRM Gathering or other ABCRM events.

  • Complete the Annual Report.

• Conduct regular weekly worship services that conform to the statements in 10 Facts You Should Know about American Baptists.

• Support of the ABCRM mission at a responsible financial level by through American Baptist Mission Support, the United Mission or  ABCRM (RMT).

• The church is led by a pastor who is in good standing with ABCRM and ABC-USA and who has  signed the Covenant and Code of Ethics for Ministerial Leaders of American Baptist Churches and who cooperates with fellow ABCRM churches and pastors.

Grant applications should be submitted to Grants@abcrm.org or ABCRM, 9085 E Mineral Circle Suite 170, Centennial, CO 80112.

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• Backfilling: ABCRM grants cannot be used to reimburse clergy or churches for money already spent.

• Grant Reports: All grant recipients must submit a narrative report on the impact of the program/project.  This report should include a spreadsheet that includes the proposed budget and actual income and expenses. Receipts for expenses over $100 should be included with the report. (See more under Attachment section of the Grant Application.)

• Subsequent Grant Requests: Grant reports are critical if a church is submitting for a subsequent grant request for the same program/project. This report needs to show reflection on what you have done, what you have learned, and what you are going to do next. ABCRM recommends using the Action Learning Model to guide this report.

• Report Format: Applications and reports must be submitted in PDF or Word formats. Handwritten applications or reports will not be accepted.

• Return of Funds: Any funds not used for the approved project/program within 24 months and accounted for in above report must be returned to ABCRM so that other churches or clergy can use those funds. 

• Changes in Plan or Program: If the program/project has significant changes from the approved grant design must be resubmitted for approval even if money has already been received by the church/pastor.

The Pueblo Pastoral Resource Grant (Pueblo PRG) provides a matching grant for pastors to participate in continuing education or to purchase resources to enable the pastor to be more effective in their ministry. ABCRM prefers to pay the Pueblo PRG directly to a provider or to the pastor’s church. If the grant is paid directly to the pastor, the pastor must submit receipts or ABCRM will report the grant as income and will send the pastor a 1099 at the end of the year. The Pastor Resource Grant is not designed for degree programs.

Maximum Grants Awarded:

• Pueblo PRG are 80% matching. (e.g. Pastor or church provides $600, the Pueblo PRG provides up to $3,000.)

• The max Pueblo PRG is $3,000.  

• Each project/program is eligible for a single grant.

• A pastor may receive only one Pueblo PRG in a 24-month period.

Due Dates:

• Pueblo PRGs requests are due by January 31 or July 31.

• Grant letters will be sent to applicants by March 31 or September 30.

The Pueblo Community Service Grant (Pueblo CSG) provides a matching grant for ABCRM churches to build new connections with their local community by developing community service projects (e.g., food pantries, outreached to unhoused, immigrant services, addiction recovery, etc. see Mt 25:31-46). Successful grant requests will provide a clear description of the program/project with SMART goals in the application. Pueblo CSG targets new projects/programs, but churches can apply for a grant for an existing project/program. These programs/projects will be eligible for a reduced maximum grant and a total of two grants. See the Grant Application for more information.

Maximum Grants Awarded:

• Pueblo CSGs are 50% matching grants. The church must provide at least 50% of the funds for the program/project.

• The max Pueblo CSG for a new project/program is $5,000.

• Each project is eligible for up to two additional grant requests for the same project/program. (Year 1 max: $5,000, Year 2 max: $2,500, Year 3 max: $1,000)

• ABCRM will consider grants for existing projects/programs with a max grant of $2,500. (Year 2 max: $1,000)

• A church may only receive one Pueblo CSG in a 12-month period.

Due Dates:

• Pueblo CSGs requests are due by January 31 or July 31.

• Grant letters will be sent to applicants by March 31 or September 30.

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The Church Transformation Grant (CT Grant) provides a matching grant for ABCRM churches to engage in a healthy transformation process. ABCRM believes that every church needs transformation to be a healthy, thriving, mature, incarnational presence of Jesus in their community. Successful grant requests will provide a clear description of the transformation process in which they are participating. They will identify clear SMART goals in the application. The application needs to describe what resources they are using to help guide their transformation process. ABCRM believes that outside support and leadership can be a key to an effective transformation process (e.g. Unstuck process, Bridge Builders, Fresh Expressions, etc.)

Maximum Grants Awarded:

• CT Grants are matching 75% grants. The church must provide 25% of the funds, ABCRM will match up to 75% of needed funds.

• The maximum CT Grant is $10,000 per transformation process/program.  

• ABCRM recognizes that true transformation is a multi-year process. Each CT Grant is eligible for two additional grant requests; however, these additional grants must be directly linked to the original grant process in purpose and goals. (Year 2 max: $5,000, Year 3 max: $2,500)

• A church may only receive one CT Grant in a five-year period.

Due Dates: Church Transformation Grant requests may be submitted at any time.

The Church Planting Grant (CP Grant) provides initial working capital for a healthy new church planting process. ABCRM believes that every church plant will be different in the way they are formed and when and how they need funds. ABCRM’s goal is to provide support (money and other support) to help new churches become healthy, thriving, worshiping communities that are an incarnational presence of Jesus in their community. CP Grants are not sufficient for providing salary support for the church planting team. Successful grant requests will provide a clear description of the church planting process in which they are participating. They will identify SMART goals in the application. They will describe what resources they are using to help guide their planting process. In the application, they will provide a timeline for becoming a “covenanting congregation.” ABCRM believes that outside support and leadership can be a key to an effective church planting process.

Maximum Grants Awarded:

• CP Grants match the human capital of those seeking to plant a new church.

• ABCRM recognizes that church planting is a multi-year and difficult process. Each CP Grant is eligible for two additional grant requests; however, these additional grants must be directly linked to the original grant process in purpose and goals. The maximum CP Grant over the three-year period is $35,000.

• A church may receive two additional grants of up to $5,000 in years four and five. These grants are not included in the $35,000 grant cap.

Due Dates: Church Planting Grant requests may be submitted at any time.

In the years following the COVID-19 pandemic, many churches discovered a need to increase their technology to stay connected and reach new people. The Technology Grant (Tech Grant) provides a matching grant for churches to upgrade their technology. Successful grant requests will include how the purchased technology will enable them to increase their effectiveness in maintaining relationships and building new relationships. Items purchased through this grant need to be clearly identified in the application.

Maximum Grants Awarded:

• Tech Grants are not matching. They are limited to a maximum amount of $5,000 per church or organization.

• A second Tech Grant application can be submitted if the full $5,000 was not used in the first grant.

Due Dates: Tech Grant requests may be submitted at any time.