Living well is a personal journey that presents each of us with unique opportunities to steward our gifts in all dimensions of our lives. The following grants are to assist you in your journey.
These grants are inspired by the Portico Benefit Services’ Wholeness Wheel. Wellness is multi-dimensional — made up of spiritual, vocational, intellectual, emotional, physical, social, and financial dimensions of well-being. Spiritual well-being is intertwined with and influences our well-being in all other dimensions.
MEF Grants
Gifts of Grace Ministerial Excellence Fund
Information and applications for Ministerial Excellence Fund grants are now available! Three categories of grants are being offered:
Reduction of Student Educational Loans (Up to $3,000),
Retirement Readiness (up to $1,200) and
Medical Expenses (up to $1,000).
Applications for Reduction of Student Educational Loans and Retirement Readiness Grants opened on April 1, 2020. Applications for Medical Expense grants may be received throughout the year.
Please click here to read the guidelines and requirements for each grant, then click the following links to apply.
-2020 Reduction of Educational Loans Grant Application
-2020 Retirement Readiness Grant Application
-2020 Medical Expenses Grant Application
These grants are made available through generous gifts to our Gifts of Grace: Toward Financial Wellbeing program and matching funds provided by Lilly Endowment Inc. If you have questions, please contact Pr. Andrew Hermodson-Olsen, 507-375-3472, pastorandy@flcstjames.org or Pastor Dwaine Bruns, 320-290-7537, dwainelbruns@gmail.com.
Mission Grants
The Southwestern Minnesota Synod Endowment Fund will once again make grants to support the mission of Congregations in their local communities in 2020-2022. The Fund Committee is looking for projects proposals in the following areas:
- Community Outreach
- Youth Activities
- Special Mission Projects
In addition, the Committee encourages proposals in response to the mission challenges of COVID-19. These may include, but are not limited to:
- Addressing community food insecurity
- Purchasing Technology to support congregational outreach.
These grants are intended for new initiatives or for significant expansion of existing programs to serve new people. The Endowment Fund is particularly interested in proposals that involve partnerships with other faith communities and organizations in the community. In evaluating applications, the Endowment Committee will consider sustainability following the initial grant period where applicable.
Congregations of the SWMN Synod, as well as Conferences and Campus Ministries, are invited to apply.
There is $18,700 available to be awarded. Funded projects must be completed by November 30, 2021.
This is the second year for Congregational Mission Grants. In 2019 a total of $15,400 was awarded, which funded eight projects. The awards ranged from $1,350 to $2,200.
The Endowment Committee will decline to fund building improvements, maintenance, or renovation, and congregational mission trips. In addition, while welcoming application which involve project staffing, ongoing staff positions will not be considered.
Deadlines
- September 15, 2020 – Application deadline
- October 30, 2020 – Applicants will be informed of approval or denied the proposal on or before this date
- November 30, 2020 – Successful applicants return signed agreement form
- December 1, 2020 – Funds will be available for distribution
Click here for the online application
-Click here to download and print grant information with application.
For more information, please contact:
Pr. Stephen W. Cook
SW MN Synod Minister
507-627-9046 (office)
320-310-8851 (cell)
Endowment Committee Members:
Anthony Christoffels, Circle of Faith Parish, Welcome
Chuck Engebretson, Celebration Lutheran, Sartell
Caren Johnson, Our Savior’s Lutheran, Montevideo
Steve Jou,l Celebration Lutheran, Sartell
Gary Olson, American Lutheran, Windom
Wendy Seefeld,t Gethsemane Lutheran, Dassel
Lori Wold, Trinity Lutheran, Boyd
Wellness Dollars
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 minister 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 minister must have completed this year’s Annual Rostered Leader Report to the Bishop to receive a grant.
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 Maggie Berggren at maggie.berggren@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).
