04 February
10:30 am - 12:00 pm
Innovation Grants
The Innovation Grant was established to fund creative new projects that emerge out of and mobilize Presbyterian communities to engage with their local communities in ways that foster person-to-person relationships.
Supporting Innovation in Ministry
The Synod of the Northeast invests in ministries that do more than launch new ideas—we invest in ministries that transform communities, deepen relationships, and bear lasting Gospel fruit.
The Innovation Grant supports bold, creative projects emerging from Presbyterian communities that engage their local context in faithful, imaginative ways. These projects are rooted in real relationships, responsive to real needs, and shaped by the conviction that the Gospel is most powerfully proclaimed through presence, partnership, and person-to-person connection.
Innovation Grant projects also serve as learning laboratories for the wider Synod. Through shared reflection and storytelling, these ministries help the church collectively discern how God is calling us to live, serve, and witness in this present moment.
We are committed to making the Innovation Grant more accessible to the diverse communities we serve. We are pleased to announce that the grant application has now been translated into Spanish and Korean to assist applicants in better understanding the grant’s purpose, priorities, and process.
These translations are designed to support your preparation process—helping you and your team embrace the vision and values behind the grant more clearly and confidently. We hope this resource will empower more congregations, ministries, and leaders to engage with the opportunity to grow bold, Spirit-led communities of faith.
Please note: While these translations are available to guide your preparation, all final applications must still be submitted in English through our grant software platform, Foundant, which only operates in English. We encourage you to identify someone within your grant team or church community who can help translate your final responses into English before submission.
The Innovation Grant supports bold, creative projects emerging from Presbyterian communities that engage their local context in faithful, imaginative ways. These projects are rooted in real relationships, responsive to real needs, and shaped by the conviction that the Gospel is most powerfully proclaimed through presence, partnership, and person-to-person connection.
Innovation Grant projects also serve as learning laboratories for the wider Synod. Through shared reflection and storytelling, these ministries help the church collectively discern how God is calling us to live, serve, and witness in this present moment.
We are committed to making the Innovation Grant more accessible to the diverse communities we serve. We are pleased to announce that the grant application has now been translated into Spanish and Korean to assist applicants in better understanding the grant’s purpose, priorities, and process.
These translations are designed to support your preparation process—helping you and your team embrace the vision and values behind the grant more clearly and confidently. We hope this resource will empower more congregations, ministries, and leaders to engage with the opportunity to grow bold, Spirit-led communities of faith.
Please note: While these translations are available to guide your preparation, all final applications must still be submitted in English through our grant software platform, Foundant, which only operates in English. We encourage you to identify someone within your grant team or church community who can help translate your final responses into English before submission.
We are hopeful that this step toward greater accessibility will spark even broader participation in this Spirit-filled initiative. You can find the translated application documents on these links below:
2026 Innovation Grant Structure: A Mission-Aligned Investment
Beginning with the 2026 grant cycle, the Innovation Grant reflects the Synod’s updated funding model—shifting from one-time funding to a two-year, mission-aligned investment focused on outcomes, learning, and sustainability.
- Year One: Up to $10,000
Supports the launch or strengthening of an innovative ministry, with clear goals, measurable outcomes, and an articulated vision for growth. - Year Two: Up to $15,000 (by reapplication)
Awarded based on demonstrated progress, meaningful impact, and evidence that the ministry is moving toward sustainability and long-term capacity.
This structure moves the Innovation Grant from a transactional model to a relational partnership—one that fosters accountability, encourages thoughtful evaluation, and strengthens ministries for lasting impact beyond the grant period.
What the Synod is Seeking
Strong Innovation Grant proposals will:
- Represent a clearly defined project that is new or recently launched within the geographical bounds of the Synod of the Northeast
- Build upon existing relationships or partnerships within a Presbyterian congregation, presbytery, or other Presbyterian entity
- Embody a fresh and faithful expression of the Gospel in action
- Utilize team-based leadership models, avoiding dependency on a single individual
- Reflect Synod values of Community, Diversity & Inclusion, Missional Identity, and Partnership
- Demonstrate intentional planning for impact, evaluation, learning, and sustainability
Applicants are encouraged to think beyond what the project will do and articulate why it matters, who it serves, and how it will grow and endure.
Additional Grant Criteria
Introduction:
Under the new funding structure for 2026, Innovation Grants will be set at $10,000 in the first year, with an additional $15,000 available in the second year, contingent on demonstrated progress and sustainability. This model shifts the focus from transactional funding to mission-aligned outcomes, encouraging grantees to pursue meaningful and measurable impact. By fostering greater accountability, the Synod aims to support congregations in strengthening their capacity, expanding their reach, and implementing sustainable practices. Ultimately, this approach enhances innovation, impact, and alignment with the Synod’s mission.
This Innovation Grant application describes:
▢ A specific project that is being launched or has recently been initiated.
▢ A project with roots or established connections within a Presbyterian congregation/Presbytery/or other Presbyterian entity.
Criteria related to Innovation
This Innovation Grant application describes a project that:
▢ Is truly creative, innovative, and entrepreneurial.
▢ Mobilizes the Presbyterian community to engage with its neighbors and the needs of the world in a way that will bring a fresh experience of Christ’s love to both the local and Presbyterian communities.
▢ Exhibits an experimental edge that will provide a source of learning both for those living it out and the larger Synod community.
Criteria related to Leadership and Partnerships
This Innovation Grant application describes a project that:
▢ Is led by a team or teams of people responsible for the flourishing of the project.
▢ Focuses on developing strong partnerships in support of the project.
▢ Fosters connections within the broader community.
▢ Maintains a solid connection to the Presbytery in which it is present.
Criteria related to Synod Values
This Innovation Grant application describes a project that:
Community
▢ Draws people into meaningful relationships with one another.
Diversity & Inclusion
▢ Helps bridge difference (of any kind!) and promotes greater understanding between people.
Missional Identity
▢ Addresses real needs in the community and world with the hope, care, and love of Jesus Christ.
Partnership
▢ Shares commitments with other aspects of the Synod’s work to promote justice and vitality within our region and world.
Budget Criteria
This Innovation Grant application’s budget/financials provide:
▢ A clear explanation of the financial components of the project.
▢ A snapshot of the funding sources for the project.
▢ A description of how Synod funds will be used to support the project.
Red Flags – Checks in the boxes below will require conversation between the applicant and the Synod’s Mission Working Group for additional discernment/clarity.
This application:
▢ Red Flag: The proposed budget includes use of grant funds to offset existing staff salaries or routine church operational expenses. Grant funds are intended to support new or expanded ministry initiatives, not to underwrite pre-existing payroll obligations.
▢ Red Flag: The project appears to rely primarily on the leadership or vision of one inspiring individual rather than demonstrating a strong, collaborative core team to sustain and carry out the ministry.
▢ Red Flag: The proposal designates a significant portion of the requested funds for building construction or renovation. Grant funding is intended to support ministry innovation and community engagement, not capital improvement projects.
Funders of Faith Updates
Innovation Grant Events
February 2026
06 February
11:00 am - 12:30 pm
Se Anuncian Seminarios Web Sobre la Solicitud de la Becas de Innovación
09 February
10:30 am - 12:00 pm
Innovation Grant Application Webinars Announced
No event found!