About the opportunity
The Serving Neighbors Through Congregational Collaborations Initiative aims to enhance the quality of life for individuals and families by fostering partnerships between Christian congregations and charitable organizations. By leveraging their respective strengths, these collaborations seek to address community needs and priorities while providing Christians with opportunities to practice their faith through service. The initiative operates in two stages: Stage 1 involves the submission of concept papers for planning grants of up to $50,000, which will be awarded in March 2027. Stage 2 invites selected organizations to submit proposals for implementation grants of up to $5 million, intended to support programs over a period of up to four years.
Funding and benefits
- Planning grants of up to $50,000 for successful Stage 1 applicants.
- Potential implementation grants of up to $5 million for selected Stage 2 applicants.
- Funding for programs lasting up to four years during the implementation stage.
Who can apply?
- Must be a charitable organization.
- Must be capable of collaborating with Christian congregations.
- Must be able to demonstrate alignment with the initiative's aims and objectives.
Required documents
- Official Request Letter (one page)
- Concept Paper Information Form
- Concept Paper Narrative (maximum five pages)
- Planning Grant Budget (up to $50,000)
- Letters of Support (optional, up to three)
- Copy of Organization's Current Year Operating Budget
- Copy of Organization's Annual Audited Financial Statements
- Exempt Status and Charity/Foundation Status Information Form
- Copy of IRS Exempt Status Determination Letter
When to apply
- Concept papers must be submitted by January 19, 2027.
- Planning grants are anticipated to be awarded in March 2027.
How to apply
- Review the Request for Concept Papers and associated resources.
- Register for and attend a virtual information session if desired.
- Prepare all required documents as a single PDF.
- Submit the application via the official Serving Neighbors Concept Paper Submission Form on the Lilly Endowment website.
Additional information
- The initiative is conducted through a two-stage process: Stage 1 (Concept Papers) and Stage 2 (Implementation Grant Proposals).
- Virtual information sessions are scheduled for November 2, 3, and 10, 2026.
- All documents must be combined into a single PDF file not exceeding 256 MB for submission.
Our Take on This Opportunity
This section reflects Open Opportunities’ own analysis of the opportunity from an applicant’s perspective.
You may be a strong fit if…
- Charitable organizations with existing or planned partnerships with Christian congregations.
- Organizations seeking significant, multi-year funding to scale community service programs.
- Entities with strong financial documentation and established tax-exempt status in the United States.
What should you think carefully about?
- The application requires a comprehensive set of financial and organizational documents, which may take time to compile.
- The initiative is highly competitive and requires a clear, well-defined collaborative strategy between the applicant and a congregation.
- The implementation phase is a separate, invited-only stage following the initial planning grant.
How could this fit your current goals and plans?
This initiative is an excellent fit for organizations looking to formalize or expand their community outreach through faith-based partnerships. It provides a structured pathway from initial planning to large-scale implementation, making it ideal for groups that have a clear vision for community impact but require the financial resources to develop and execute that vision over several years.
Our take
Charitable organizations with a strong mission to serve their neighbors through collaborative, faith-based efforts should seriously consider this opportunity. It is less suitable for organizations that do not have a clear, actionable plan for partnership or those that lack the necessary financial documentation to meet the rigorous application requirements.
Ready to apply?
Review the opportunity on the official website before applying.
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