Grants

Please read the following three grants that are available come July 1, 2017.

Ministerial Excellence Fund / Grant for Unexpected Medical Expense / 2017

Purpose
To assist pastors serving in our synod who are experiencing the high financial costs of an unexpected medical crisis in their family.

Guidelines
Grant application may be made on behalf of the pastor or a pastor’s immediate family member for unexpected illnesses or medical treatments incurred in 2017.

• Pastor must be serving in the Southwestern Minnesota Synod.
• One grant per family for up to $1,000.
• Applications may be made from July 1, 2017, to December 31, 2017, or until the funds designated for 2017 are gone. When a complete application is received (application and document of evidence), the application will be considered.
• The grant amount is the same regardless of full-time and part-time statuses.
• Application will be reviewed and approved by the Ministerial Excellence Fund review team (Pastor Kathryn Skoglund, Pastor Erik Karlson, Mort Meyenburg).
• The total amount designated for 2017 disbursement is $10,000. A new round of these grants will be offered in 2018.

Application Includes

• Personal information on identity and illness/treatment.
• Either (a) a copy of the “Explanation of Benefits” page from your insurance company showing the charge(s) in the year for which you are applying, or (b) a copy of the billing from a medical provider related to the illness/treatment. Multiple documents of evidence may be submitted to show charges up to the $1,000 limit of the grant.
• A copy of a bill or bills will be needed if you would like the grant paid directly to the medical provider. (See Tax Implications)

Tax Implications
The applicant may decide how the grant is to be distributed, to the pastor or to the medical provider. There are different tax consequences between these two choices.

• A grant paid to the pastor will be regarded as taxable income by the IRS. You will submit a form W-9 to us, and we will issue a 1099 to you.
• A grant sent directly to the medical provider to pay a medical bill is not considered taxable income by the IRS.

If your medical bill has been turned over to a collection agency, we will issue the grant to the pastor.

Allocation

• Allocation will be made once the MEF review team has approved the application, which will be done within 30 days of receipt. The grant will be paid as the applicant has indicated, either directly to the pastor or to the medical provider.

Click here to apply

Ministerial Excellence Fund / Grant for Retirement Equity / 2017

Purpose
To give pastors serving in the synod who are paid below our synod’s guidelines an opportunity to receive a payment to their retirement account so that the total 2017 contribution to their retirement account is equal to what a contribution would be if they received compensation at guidelines.

Guidelines

• Grant application may be made by a pastor for 2017 from July 1, 2017, to September 30, 2017.
• Pastor must be serving in the Southwestern Minnesota Synod as of January 1, 2017.
• To qualify, applicants must have turned in their 2016 Parochial Report (Forms A and C) and Report to the Bishop.
• The grant will make up the difference between the retirement contribution being paid in 2017 by the employer and the amount that would be paid if the pastor were receiving a compensation package at the SW Minnesota Synod guidelines for his/her years of experience. This is calculated at a 10% retirement contribution rate.
• Grant will be prorated for those with less than full-time calls.
• Application will be seen and grant award will be determined by the Ministerial Excellence Fund review team (Pastor Kathryn Skoglund, Pastor Erik Karlson, and Mort Meyenburg).

Application Includes

• Personal information on identity and call status.
• Salary approved for 2017 as shown in Report to the Bishop.
• Information on the retirement account.
• Years of service shall be defined by the ordination date plus, if applicable, half of the years in previous related vocation.

Tax Implications
If you are a Portico Benefit Services member, the grant will be sent to Portico and deposited into your account. It is not regarded as additional taxable income for the pastor. If you have your retirement account in another company, we will attempt to directly deposit payment into your account. If we are unable, we will issue the check to you and it will be taxable income, you will submit a form W-9 to us, and a 1099 will be issued to you.

Allocation

• Allocation will be made in October 2017.

Click here to apply

-Click here for a worksheet on calculating the amount of the retirement equity grant. 

Ministerial Excellence Fund / Retirement Contribution Challenge / 2017

Purpose
To challenge pastors serving in the synod to grow their contribution to their retirement savings by being personally invested.

Guidelines for Personal Contribution Increase

• Grant application may be made by a pastor for 2017 from July 1, 2017, to September 30, 2017.
• Pastor must be serving in the Southwestern Minnesota Synod as of January 1, 2017.
• To qualify, applicants must have turned in their 2016 Parochial Report (Forms A and C) and Report to the Bishop.
• The grant amount is the same for both full-time and part-time statuses.
• The grant will reimburse a pastor 50% of the amount the pastor increases her/his contribution to their retirement account after July 1, 2017, and for the remainder of 2017. For example, if the pastor contributes an extra $100/month until the end of 2017, she/he will be reimbursed $50/month for those months that the pastor contributed the additional amount. If the pastor contributes an extra $50/month, she/he will be reimbursed $25/month.
• This grant intends to encourage a pastor to grow in their personal contribution. If the pastor is already contributing to their retirement account, the pastor can still apply by showing an increase in that contribution after July 1, 2017. If, however, the pastor is already contributing the maximum amount allowed by law, she/he is not able to increase their contribution and therefore not eligible for this grant.
• The grant is limited to a maximum of $50/month/pastor for the remaining months of 2017. The earlier you begin, the more months are eligible.
• Though not required, the desire is that the pastor will continue the increased amount for 2018. A Retirement Contribution Challenge Grant may be applied for in 2018 also. If you increased in 2017, you can apply in 2018 to maintain that increase for 2018.
• Payment will be sent in a lump sum to the pastor.
• Application will be seen and award decided by the Ministerial Excellence Fund review team (Pastor Kathryn Skoglund, Pastor Erik Karlson, and Mort Meyenburg).
• Note: The Retirement Contribution Challenge Grant will also be available for 2018. Application will be opened earlier in the year so that all the months of 2018 will be eligible.

Application Includes

• Personal information on identity.
• Verification that you have increased the amount you personally contribute to your retirement account.

Tax Implications
Since the pastor is receiving the grant, the grant is regarded as additional taxable income for the pastor. Please plan accordingly in making your estimated tax payments. You will need to provide a form W-9 to the synod office, and a 1099 will be issued to the grant recipient.

Allocation

• Allocation of the reimbursement will be made in December 2017.

Click here to apply

-Click here for instructions on changing your personal contribution to your retirement account at Portico.

Wellness Dollars from SW MN Synod
Wellness grants are available for up to a maximum of $250 per eligible person each fiscal year for the purpose of encouraging activities that focus on health and wellness. Grant funds are limited and are not automatically awarded, except for the specific items that are listed as examples. Each person who is rostered in the SW MN Synod and serves as a non-retired, rostered leader in a part-time or full-time call in the synod is eligible for the grants. Paid, non-rostered staff members who serve in a congregation or synodical office setting in the synod AND who have Portico Benefit Services health insurance are also eligible. All rostered leaders must have completed this year’s Annual Rostered Leader Report to the Bishop.

Wellness grants are available to be used for a variety of ways of stewarding your health as leaders:

• Spiritual (spiritual direction sessions, attend a spiritual-centered retreat)
• Vocational (vocational building books for staff/council, staff development retreat and/or facilitator expenses, sabbatical support)
• Intellectual (attending a formal continuing education event—tuition, housing, mileage, travel)
• Emotional (counseling sessions, life coach sessions, attend a retreat for renewal)
• Physical (exercise equipment for home gym or church group, exercise classes, resources or programs)
• Social (Pastor-2-Pastor, Family Camp)

Click here to apply for a Wellness Grant

You must submit a receipt for reimbursement. Please send receipt to Carla Klawitter at carla.klawitter@swmnelca.org or SW MN Synod, PO Box 499, Redwood Falls, MN 56283.

$400 Wellness Dollars Incentives for ELCA-Primary Health Plan Members
Login to your MyPortico account to earn up to $400 in Wellness Dollars, which will be deposited into your personal wellness account, legally a health reimbursement arrangement (HRA), or a health savings account (HSA).

Debt Reduction Grant for Seminary Student Loans
These grants are paid to lending agencies with proceeds from the synod’s Rural Ministry Debt Reduction endowment fund. Applications are received in the Fall for distribution in early October.

Qualifications:
1) ELCA rostered leaders serving in good standing in SW MN Synod as of July 1 of the current year;
2) who served under call in this synod in the previous calendar year;
3) with payments on seminary loans in the previous calendar year (documentation submitted to our office at the time of application);
4) with remaining seminary student loan balance of at least $500 as of June 30 of the current year; and
5) application received in synod office by September 15 of the current year. (Disbursement of funds will be paid directly to lending agencies.)

Pension Equity Grants
These grants are paid to the rostered leader’s pension/retirement account from the synod’s Pension Equity endowment fund. The purpose is to help equalize pension funding for rostered leaders called to serve in our synod, especially early in their ministries. Applications are received in the Fall.

Qualifications:

1) ELCA rostered leaders serving in good standing in SW MN Synod;
2) who are paid below synod guidelines;
3) who have completed the current year’s Forms A and C; and
4) who have submitted their Rostered Leader Report to the Bishop for the current year.

Seminary Tuition Scholarships
These scholarships are available from the synod’s endowment for seminary scholarships, individual gifts, and the ELCA Fund for Leaders endowments, including funds from the synod, Trinity (Chandler) and Marble (Hendricks) Lutheran Churches, Lutheran Men in Mission, and Green Lake Lutheran Ministries. Applications are received in the Spring for distribution in the next academic year.

Qualifications:
1) Enrolled at an ELCA seminary;
2) Have a positive entrance decision through the ELCA candidacy process (or in progress), pursuing ordained or rostered lay ministry in the ELCA; and
3) Academic excellence.

Students may be full- or part-time. Traditional, distance learning, and TEEM candidates are all eligible to apply.

“Equip Grants” are grants supported by our Embrace God’s Mission + Equip God’s People Funding Initiative. These grants will empower and equip God’s people for God’s work. Equip Grants will change periodically and offer a variety of learning opportunities in our three main areas of the Funding Initiative, Deepen Congregational Vitality, Enhance Local and Global Mission, and Develop Servant Leaders.

How to apply:

1. Seek support and approval by your pastor; if you are a rostered minister, seek support and approval from your synod minister. Please download the grant informational PDF below, fill out the sign-off portion, and send to the synod office.
2. To fill out online application, click here.

Equip Grants available now:

• Teens in Mission (TIM) Team, click here for grant information and sign-off.
  To learn more about TIM Team click here. This link will take you to the camp webpage.
• Luther Seminary School for Lay Ministry Course, click here for grant information and sign-off.
  To learn more about Luther Seminary’s School for Lay Ministry click here. This link will take you to the Luther Seminary website, Lifelong Learning, Kairos.

CEU credits are available upon request for all grants.

How to get reimbursed:

• Please submit your receipt or registration confirmation to Carla Klawitter at carla.klawitter@swmnelca.org or SW MN Synod, Attn: Carla Klawitter, PO Box 499, Redwood Falls, MN 56283. Also, include who should be reimbursed with contact information.