Health Ministry Grants for Local United Methodist Churches
The Florida Conference, thanks to the generosity of the Florida Blue Foundation, is able to make small seed grants to local churches who are starting health ministries. Congregations who are trying to engage their communities in missional ways and developing health ministries to accomplish that may apply for a grant from the Florida Conference. The grants are available on a one time basis, must specify the outcomes desired for the ministry, and need to demonstrate the congregation's investment of time and volunteers to help make the ministry happen.
For example, one area that has surfaced in local churches is how to respond to persons with dementia given the impact that families are facing. If your congregation wanted to provide respite care training to members and support groups that might alleviate the stress, a grant like this would help you with this ministry.
Ideally, these ministries are just getting off the ground, though the committee will consider existing ministries who are developing a new phase to their ministry. The funding pattern for these is designed to complement the resources local churches are willing to invest and, since our funds are non-recurring, the church must demonstrate their plan to continue funding.
Grants will be awarded based on the quality of the ministry, the capacity of the church to deliver, and how that balances with the scope envisioned.