Grants and Scholarships
Each year, many different government, community and LCA/district grants are offered that churches and parishes could apply for. Grants can provide seed funding for church projects, help kick-start new ministries and community initiatives and assist in bringing on new staff members. If you have a talent to serve the church or have ideas for mission in the LCANZ, you might benefit from one of the several grants and scholarships available.
Grant writing
A good grant application will help you get the grants you apply for. If you’ve never written a grant before or would like to improve your skills in this area, we’ve provided some useful guidelines.
Local Mission Fund
The purpose of the Local Mission Fund is to enhance and equip a missional culture across the Lutheran Church of Australia and New Zealand.
The Mission Fund intends to promote collaborative mission across the church, through districts and within regions. It aims to support activities that are most needed by Lutheran congregations and agencies.
Local Mission Fund offers two funding streams: Local Mission Fund (maximum value of $100,000) and Local Mission Seed Project Fund (value of $10,000 p/a).
Borgfeldt Legacy Grants
Borgfeldt Legacy grants are available to congregations, schools, aged care and community services, and departments/agencies of the Lutheran Church of Australia and New Zealand that require financial support for projects that support the welfare of children (defined as under the age of 18 years).
An application may be for a specific once-off project or for initial support for a longer-term child-focused program.
LCA Study Grants
There is a moratorium on this fund while it is under review to ensure that the terms of reference are fit for purpose.
Special Ministry Fund
There is a moratorium on this fund while it is under review to ensure that the terms of reference are fit for purpose.
LCA Student Fund
This fund is available to assist students who propose to train or are training at Australian Lutheran College (ALC) for service in the Lutheran Church, to an extent that they are not prevented from entering into such service through their own inability to meet in full the cost of the training involved or through their inability to secure assistance from other quarters.
For more information contact the ALC Business Manager at business@alc.edu.au
Alf and Charlotte Stiller Fund
Grants of up to $100,000 will be made available in 2025 to go towards the maintenance and restoration of old Lutheran churches and buildings of historical and practical significance to the LCA. Available thanks to a $1,000,000 bequest from the late Alf and Charlotte Stiller, the grants will be conditional on a co-contribution of $1 for every $2 of grant funding. Applications are now closed.
Applications should be marked ‘Alf and Charlotte Stiller Fund’ and submitted to the Secretary of the Church, either via post to PO Box 731, North Adelaide SA 5006 or via email to soc@lca.org.au
Find out more about the fund here.
External grants
Many external grants are being offered each year. The first three websites below provide a good and comprehensive starting point when searching for possible grants.
GrantConnect provides centralised publication of forecasted and current Australian Government grant opportunities and grants awarded.
The Community Grants Hub administers community-based grants on behalf of Australian Government departments, agencies and organisations.
The Grants Hub has a grants directory. It does cost, but you can sign up to search for grants and have a free 14-day trial.
Australia Post offers community grants every year.
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