Below are the major categories of grants that faith communities and religious nonprofits may be eligible for. Eligibility depends on your programs, location, and status.
Administered by FEMA, this program provides funding to eligible nonprofit organizations — including houses of worship — for physical security enhancements such as surveillance systems, access control, lighting, and security training. Awards can range from tens of thousands to over $150,000 per applicant.
Eligibility requirements apply. Not all applicants receive funding. Program availability subject to Congressional appropriations.
Faith-based organizations running food pantries or meal programs may qualify to participate in USDA food assistance programs. These programs provide food commodities, supplemental funding, and administrative support. Many churches and community organizations already participate.
Requirements vary by state and program. Not all organizations will qualify. Contact your state agency for current availability.
21st Century Community Learning Centers and similar HHS-funded programs support after-school and summer learning initiatives. Faith-based organizations with established youth programs in low-income communities may be competitive applicants.
Eligibility is competitive and based on community need, program quality, and geographic criteria.
Licensed church-run daycare and preschool programs may access CCDF child care subsidies, USDA CACFP meal reimbursement, Head Start partnerships, and state pre-K contracts. State child care licensing — not the religious exemption most states allow — is generally required first.
Requirements vary by state licensing agency. Not all organizations will qualify.
CDBG funds flow from HUD to local cities and counties, which sub-grant to nonprofits — including churches — delivering secular community services or public facility improvements to low- and moderate-income residents. Worship space itself is not fundable.
Applications route through your city or county community development department, not HUD directly.
HUD's programs support emergency shelter, rapid rehousing, and homelessness prevention. Faith-based organizations operating transitional shelters or emergency housing programs may qualify through their local Continuum of Care network.
Approval is competitive. Organizations typically apply through local CoC leads or state ESG programs. Not all applicants receive awards.
Churches running a senior shuttle, adult day program, or disability transport ministry can be eligible subrecipients for vehicle funding under FTA Section 5310 — not for general church transportation. Applications go through your state DOT, not FTA directly.
Restricted to seniors and individuals with disabilities as the funded population. Local match and coordinated plan inclusion required.
A provision called elective pay lets tax-exempt organizations, including churches, receive the cash value of certain federal clean energy tax credits after a solar or clean energy project is built and placed in service. It's not upfront grant money — the congregation finances construction first and claims the payment afterward.
Rules, credit percentages, and deadlines are set by federal tax law and change periodically. Confirm current terms with a qualified tax professional before budgeting a project.
Community foundations, national foundations (e.g. United Way, Lilly Endowment, Pew Charitable Trusts), and corporate giving programs often fund faith-based community service organizations. These grants may have fewer restrictions than government sources and can be more accessible for smaller organizations.
Requirements and funding levels vary widely by foundation. We help identify the best-fit opportunities for your organization.
These don't hand your church a check the way a federal or foundation grant does. They still reduce real costs or add real staff capacity, and every congregation reading this page should know they exist.
Up to $10,000/month in free Google Search advertising for eligible 501(c)(3) organizations, including churches. Not cash — ad inventory for getting a funded program found by the people searching for it.
Many employers won't match a gift to a house of worship directly — but will match a gift to a church's affiliated, nonsectarian community program. Knowing the distinction can double a donation's value.
Steep discounts — often up to roughly 90% off retail — on software from Microsoft, Adobe, and other vendors for eligible nonprofits. Requires formal 501(c)(3) status; automatic church exemption alone doesn't qualify.
More than 70% of states offer a historic rehabilitation tax credit, and some — Texas among them — explicitly let nonprofits, including churches, use them. A different funding lane than a grant, worth checking on a designated building.
A full-time, AmeriCorps-funded staff member for a year to build grant-writing, volunteer, and program capacity for a poverty-focused ministry. Faith-based organizations are an explicit priority in FY 2026 guidance.
The Lilly Endowment National Clergy Renewal Program awards $15,000–$60,000 to Christian congregations for a pastor's structured renewal leave, with up to $15,000 available for interim pastoral coverage. Not a facility or program grant — this one funds clergy wellbeing directly. For ongoing peer support and counseling access rather than a sabbatical, see our clergy wellness and mental health grants guide.
HHS's Healthy Marriage and Relationship Education (HMRE) program funds relationship-education work, and faith-based organizations qualify on the same basis as any other nonprofit. Most churches access it as a delivery partner for an existing grantee rather than applying direct.
Lowe's Hometowns Grant Program pairs materials and volunteer labor for a community-space renovation, and Thrivent Choice/Thrivent Charitable fund churches through member-directed dollars and direct foundation grants. Neither replaces a capital campaign, but both stack well alongside one.
The programs listed above are examples of grant categories that faith-based organizations may be eligible for. We are an independent grant assistance service and are not affiliated with any government agency. Eligibility, award amounts, and program availability vary and are not guaranteed. All grant decisions are made by the respective funding agencies.