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Apply for Children’s Faith Initiative Grant

Apply for a Children’s Faith Initiative Grant

Azusa Pacific University’s Institute for Faith, Leadership, and Service invites churches in San Bernardino County and Orange County to submit applications for the Children’s Faith Initiative.

Purpose: To support churches in cultivating intergenerational models of faith formation through worship and prayer for children up to age 12.

We are particularly interested in projects that:

  • Integrate children into the worship and prayer life of the whole congregation.
  • Equip adults and cultivate children’s leadership in ways that are contextual, feasible, and sustainable.

Apply For Grant

The Process

  1. Let us know of your interest in the grant: Complete the form, and we will send you more details about what your application needs to include.
  2. Develop a proposal: We’re here to support you throughout the process, from planning your project to understanding your budget needs.
  3. Attend meetings: We’ll have weekly meetings on Zoom to support you in your process. Join in at your convenience.
  4. Submit online: Submit your proposal using a link we'll send you. You’ll need to upload separate PDFs.

Submission Deadline:

March 16, 2026

Apply For Grant

Proposal Evaluation

Your church’s proposal will be reviewed by a committee, which will be in communication with you on next steps, revisions, and decisions.
  • Proposal evaluation: March 17-April 17, 2026

Announcement

  • Award announcements: Late April 2026
  • Earliest start date: September 1, 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

We encourage all types and sizes of churches to apply. Official documentation of IRS or state of California tax-exemption status is required. Churches must be based in San Bernardino County or Orange County in the state of California. Any group or team that works with children at the church may apply. The team will need support from the senior leaders of the church, such as the lead pastor and senior financial officer.

The Children’s Faith Initiative Grant program takes place over one year. The members of selected projects will gather in person by county to form learning communities. These gatherings will include dynamic collaborative learning to share insights and experiences focused on various stages of children’s spiritual formation.

Grant proposals will be evaluated by a committee to meet the guidelines. Key considerations are:

  • Clarity and feasibility of the project design.
  • Alignment with the project goals of intergenerational spiritual formation for children through worship and prayer.
  • The strength of the organization’s and group’s capacity to lead the project.
  • Potential for long-term impact on children’s faith formation.

Projects that foster children’s integration into an intergenerational church community through worship and prayer. Projects with the purpose of worship and prayer practices that support how children experience God and express their faith.

Examples include (but are not limited to):

  • Consulting services or strategic planning for intergenerational ministry.
  • Developing resources or practices for children, parents, and caregivers.
  • Implementing formative worship or prayer practices.
  • Drawing on the arts (music, visual arts, drama) to support shared worship.
  • Offering innovative worship or prayer experiences within the congregation or wider community.

The following are not supported as part of the Children’s Faith Initiative Grant project:

  • Vacation Bible School
  • Facility improvements
  • Events focused solely on children and food
  • Maintaining existing programs
  • Funding existing staff roles without significant expansion of a program or program activities

View the next submission deadline.