Mustard Seed Program Migration Grant✦

Introduction:

The UMCOR Mustard Seed Migration Grant program is designed to encourage United Methodist churches to engage in ministry to migrants and refugees in their midst. The Foundation has been chosen by UMCOR to serve as the local agent across the Michigan Conference of The United Methodist Church to receive and evaluate local church applications and to award grants. Grants of $2,000.00 each may be awarded to United Methodist churches engaging in community-based service projects and ministries focused on migrants and refugees.

The goal of this program is to nurture deeper understanding and care for the most vulnerable in our communities. We also encourage participating congregations to think about what they might do on a long-term basis, how they might raise awareness to address systemic injustices present in immigration policy or consider how they might more completely live into a new understanding of church as the kingdom of God, actively engaged in caring for the most vulnerable in the community.

Program Criteria:

An application for consideration must meet the following criteria:

  • Aligns with UMCOR’s mission and vision
  • Engages the congregation in implementation of the project
  • Serves refugees and migrants, whether those migrants are refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced persons, trafficked persons, stateless persons, or economic and environmental migrants
  • Identifies and responds to a localized and specific problem or fills a specific need or gap in services
  • Is informed by the refugees and migrants they are serving
  • Is feasible given the partner’s capacity, background, expertise, staffing, infrastructure, existing partnerships, and proposed budget
  • Must be completed within six months
  • Does not exceed a budget of $2,000 USD

The awarded funds to local United Methodist Churches for the Mustard Seed Migration Program should NOT be utilized for any of the following purposes:

  • Transporting or assisting in the transport of undocumented immigrants across state or international borders or at all if the intent in transporting them is to help them remain in the United States unlawfully
  • Harboring or concealing an undocumented immigrant, including but not limited to, providing housing (including within a church), or hiding someone from immigration authorities
  • Employing undocumented workers or retaining them as employees, knowing they are undocumented
  • Purchase of tracts/bibles/worship materials
  • Renovation of church property
  • Salaries of clergy (or clergy time) to work with migrants
  • Complete pass through of funds to a third organization without any congregational involvement in the project
  • Traveling to see or assist migrants in locations beyond the local community
  • Shipping items to other locations or otherwise sending donations outside the local community
  • Any illegal activity under federal, state or local laws

Only local United Methodist churches in the Michigan Conference are eligible for this grant through the Foundation. The grant proposal must be for a congregational project based in the church’s local community. Grants will not be awarded to applications for travel or the shipping or transporting of supplies; sub-granting to other organizations; proselytizing, pastoral care or worship; or multiple congregations intending to pool separate Mustard Seed grants for the same community project. The grant proposal must be a congregation-based community project.

Application Instructions:

  • All sections must be completed, and information should be clear and concise.
  • When completing the application, please be sure to address the program, especially the requirement for congregational implementation of the project and exactly how refugees/migrants will be selected separate and apart from their relationship with the church or Christianity, and how the refugees/migrants will benefit from this project.
  • Grants are intended for activities in your local community. The program must also be completed within six months.
  • Applications must be signed by the pastor and grant contact person.

Deadlines:

Completed applications will be evaluated on an ongoing basis. We encourage churches to submit their applications as soon as possible, since awards will be given on a first-come first-served basis. Applications must be signed by the project grant manager and pastor.

Questions:

For more information or questions, please contact the Foundation at 888-451-1929 or Info@UMFMichigan.org.

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