The people of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) love children and families, and they demonstrate this love through many acts of mercy in their communities.
To support these local pro-life efforts — both big and small — the LCMS offers matching grants to LCMS districts and congregations.
Bible Studies
As a part of the initiative LCMS Life Ministry is pleased to offer a series of Bible studies written by LCMS pastors who are engaged in local life ministry efforts. The studies are available to download for personal devotional use or with your congregation or small group.
Contact us
Questions about the application process should be sent to lifeministry@lcms.org.
Media Kit
Resources are available to help your congregation build excitement around starting a new pro-life mercy project or expanding an existing one and to promote your work in the community.
Application Process Video Tutorial
Grant applicants 1
- All member congregations and districts of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) within the United States are eligible.
- Congregations and circuits may collaborate on a project and application. The congregation completing the application will be the one to receive the grant award.
Eligibility
Projects eligible for this grant include expanded or new projects that are focused on the beginning-of-life stage:
- Human care — Support the body and soul needs of families and children.
- Advocacy — Speak up for the value of every life created by God.
- Education — Teach about the sanctity of human life.
Projects must be carried out in close proximity to the Word and Sacrament ministry of the congregation.
Projects will be ineligible if they involve organizations or resources that provide abortion services, refer to abortion service providers or do not uphold God’s design for marriage as between one man and one woman. In-kind donations (products, facility usage, supplies, labor, etc.) are excluded.
Examples of use of funds
The following are some examples of appropriate uses for these funds, though this list should not be considered comprehensive or limiting:
- Congregational efforts in pregnancy and infant support outreach (examples: Swaddling Clothes, Breakfast with Baby)
- Congregational partnership with LCMS Recognized Service Organizations (RSO) in adoption services and maternal and family material good supports (examples: Redeeming Life Outreach Ministries, Lutheran Family Service of Iowa, Place of Refuge, Shepherd’s Hand)
- Educational programs that teach about God’s creation of life in the womb (examples: LCMS “Looking at Life in the Womb” resources and curriculum)
- Advocacy events in the community that witness to the value of human life as created by God, beginning at conception (examples: sponsorship or participation in a March for Life, a “Lutheran Day” at the state capitol building)
- Sister congregations or circuits working together on any of the above types of projects
Awards
Range from $1000 to $10,000
Awards will be a match amount (up to maximum) that may not be equal to the dollars requested in the grant application.
Application Process
Applications will be made through the Synod’s online applicant portal. Log in to the applicant portal to begin your application. A detailed budget for the total project must be uploaded with the application.
Questions about the application process should be sent to lifeministry@lcms.org.
Matching funds
When completing the application, congregations will submit the estimated date that the congregational funds will be available. If approved, matching funds will be provided with a 100% match up to the maximum amount of the award. The matching funds may not always equal the amount of funds that the congregation has raised for the project. Congregations must provide proof of funds in hand before matching funds are disbursed. Project reports must include information on the full project amount (congregational funds + matching grant).
Application dates
The online application will open for congregations on Jan. 1 in 2024, 2025 and 2026, and will be due by Feb.15. Awards will be made in May. Reports are due Oct. 1.
District applications have different dates, please contact LifeMinistry@lcms.org for more information.
Volunteer activities
Volunteer information and service hours will be recorded in the LCMS Office of National Mission volunteer database. LCMS Life Ministry will provide training for the database but will not provide volunteer coordination.
Grant agreements
The LCMS grant administration manager will send a grant agreement to every grant recipient. The recipient will accept the award by signing and returning the signature page.
Recipient reporting process
Grant reports will be due six months following the award of the grant. If the project is expected to run longer than six months, an interim six-month report will be due in addition to the final report.
Communication about grant recipients
As part of their six-month grant report, grant recipients must agree to submit photos and impact stories on the project that may be shared publicly via LCMS communication platforms. The names of individuals will not be associated with the photos and stories unless a media release is on file with the LCMS.
Program
LCMS Office of National Mission (ONM) will administer the program through LCMS Life Ministry.
Procedures
All grant applicants must complete the online request form. Any necessary congregational approvals required for a project or to apply for a grant must be obtained prior to submitting the application. The ONM (LCMS Life Ministry) will review all grants after the submission window closes. ONM will select grant recipients. ONM is not obligated to award a grant to any application that does not meet program criteria. By acceptance of a grant, recipients consent to the use of anonymized reports of grant activity to program stakeholders. ONM will verify the disbursement of funds to grant recipients.
1 Please note: These policies are not a promise to districts and congregations. In accord with the third LCMS Mission Priority, these matching grants may support RSOs, non-profit organizations and non-LCMS entities, but these entities are not eligible to be applicants. All matching grants will normally be provided via the grant application process available to U.S. congregations of the LCMS.