2027 Reflective Leadership Grants — Forum for Congregational Life
Application status: OPEN. Applications opened October 8, 2026; the controlling deadline is December 7, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Awards are expected February 15, 2027.
Individual applicant funding: Up to $20,000. Up to 50 awards are expected; funds are paid to qualifying organizations, not directly to individual leaders. The grant period is April 1, 2027 through August 31, 2028. A universal mandatory cash match or reimbursement mechanism is not published in the current program instructions.
Eligibility: U.S.-based Christian, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organizations, including congregations, seminaries, Christian nonprofits and related ministries, supporting an established lay or clergy leader with a demonstrated contribution and a significant adaptive leadership challenge. Organizations must be able to administer funds and provide reports. One proposal for one leader per organization; separately incorporated entities with distinct EINs may apply separately. Prior program grantees face a seven-year wait after completion. Organizations currently holding this Forum’s Capacity Building Grant are not eligible.
Allowable activities: protected reflection time, listening sessions, facilitated stakeholder conversations, coaching, spiritual direction, relevant learning visits or conferences, books/materials and directly necessary salary or temporary coverage, childcare or senior care. The budget can include personnel, contractors, travel, events, books, equipment and other necessary expenses. Limits: travel may not exceed 20% of the request, equipment 10%, and indirect costs 10%; double funding is prohibited.
Excluded: ordinary sabbaticals or vacations, tuition, degree-related work, independent academic research, personal career exploration and commercial product development. Every activity must contribute to structured reflection on a challenge within the leader’s present organization.
Application requirements: submit the funder’s online form with applicant/organization information, a narrative within the published word limits, a reflective-leadership plan, an itemized budget and a signed institutional support letter (from a board chair or comparable governing body if the applicant is the senior leader). A funded leader must attend the June 2–4, 2027 convening in Durham, North Carolina and advisory sessions. Final narrative/financial report due September 30, 2028. See the official 2027 application and FAQ.
Source reviewed: November 7, 2026. Genuine competitive organizational assistance, not a procurement contract.