Youth Theology Network Leadership and Connection Grants
The Leadership and Connection Grant supports program directors as they expand their expertise to accompany youth in exploring their call.
APPLICATIONS ARE CLOSED FOR 2025
Develop Leadership Skills to Sustain Your Program
Forum for Theological Exploration will award Leadership and Connection Grants of up to $50,000 to grantees in the Youth Theology Network (YTN). Grant proposals will include activities that either 1) Provide coaching and technical assistance to YTN program directors who need support sustaining their programs or 2) deepen connections and relationships with other YTN program teams.
FTE invites grant proposals from YTN program directors to develop leadership skills and capacities in these areas: marketing, fundraising, recruitment, networking within their institution, networking outside of their institution, alum development, partnership development, and other areas as determined in conversation with FTE’s Director of Community Engagement.
Funds may be used for the professional development of program directors, training and development of their teams, or programmatic efforts to gain skills and experience in the abovementioned areas. Applicants are expected to use a portion of their budget for coaching to aid capacity building and project completion. Programs may apply jointly and are encouraged to consider using funds to convene other program leaders in their geographic area or affinity.
ELIGIBILITY & AWARDS
The YTN Leadership and Connection Grant is available by invitation only to programs that received a High School Youth Theology Initiative (HSYTI) sustainability grant or Lilly Youth Theology Network (LYTN) programs that have remained active in the network. If you have any questions about your eligibility, please get in touch with FTE’s Director of Community Engagement, Allison Arsenault (aarsenault@fteleaders.org), before applying. Programs that have previously received a capacity-building grant from FTE can apply as long as they have completed their final reporting. Programs currently holding a grant from the Lilly Endowment are eligible to apply.
Successful proposals will describe the specific leadership needs of the program director or staff related to sustaining their YTN program. The proposal should identify grant activities and the intended outcomes, detailing the particular impact they hope to achieve through this grant. Proposed activities will strengthen the program staff's leadership to recruit, fundraise, measure impact, or build partnerships.
Examples could include:
- Engaging an outside consultant to assess and implement activities related to fundraising, marketing, or social media
- Creating resources and digital content to expand reach online
- Participation in the Lake Institute's program offerings on fundraising
- Creating a database and processes for tracking alums to continue relationships for fundraising, recruitment or measuring impact
- Engaging researchers to create a longitudinal study of the program's impact
- Partnering with a nearby YTN program to convene local youth ministers to share YTN program offerings and resource their congregations
- Coaching program leaders to develop capacity in relevant areas (i.e., fundraising, recruitment, partnership development).
Funds may not be used to cover institute participant fees or programming, development of student leaders or overhead costs. This grant is a one-time opportunity to build capacity, so funds may not be used to cover full-time staff salaries or equipment purchases. However, using funds for stipends, honorariums, or compensation for outside consultants is appropriate. Additionally, up to 10% of grant funds can be allocated to increasing the hours of part-time staff working on grant-related projects.
The application will open on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, and applications will be received until April 14, 2025, at 11:59 pm PST. Applicants will be notified of their status by May 15, 2025.
Grantees must submit a mid-year report by January 15, 2026, and a final report detailing their activities by November 1, 2026.
A brief narrative that details:
- Budget: Applicants will describe the budget and complete a budget template, including line item descriptions for how grant funds will be used.
- Timeline: Attach an 18-month timeline of proposed activities and outcomes.
The following questions are aimed to guide you in thinking about potential areas where you could strengthen capacity through your grant. Consider the following when preparing your grant application:
- What strategies, resources, and activities are you using for recruitment?
- What have you learned from the strategy, resources, or activities of other YTN program directors that may be helpful to you and your program?
- Are there other relationships or partnerships you might need to develop to help with recruitment?
- How do you engage with and support alums?
- How are alums helpful in your recruitment and fundraising efforts?
- Is there anything that might enhance their role and support of your YTN program?
- How do you promote your YTN program?
- What marketing or promotional strategies have been most helpful?
- What do you need to learn regarding promotional or marketing strategy?
- What kinds of activities have been most valuable in promoting your program?
- What methods have you employed for fundraising?
- Have you received financial or in-kind support from your institution?
- What are the fundamental practices and aspects of your program that you want to sustain, and how can this capacity-building grant help you set yourself up for success?
- What are the benefits of your existing partnerships?
- What additional 1 or 2 partnerships would benefit your program and why?
- Possible partnerships within your institution include marketing and communications, student life or religious life offices, advancement and admissions. Possible partnerships outside your institution include congregations, denominational bodies or other youth-serving organizations.
- How will you leverage coaching to complete your capacity-building project, including spending down funds and reporting outcomes to FTE?
A selection committee will evaluate applicants on the following criteria:
- Has this proposal identified a strategic need for institute leadership related to sustainability, technical skills or relationship building? Does it state explicitly the ways in which that need connects to the ongoing work of the institute?
- Does this proposal articulate activities and outcomes that respond to the strategic need creatively and compellingly?
- Does the budget detail adequate funding for the activities proposed? Does it avoid proposing funds for expenses not allowable under the grant?
Abstract:
- Please complete the following summary sentence. This project is to build the capacity of _________'s (institute name) staff by ________________ (project goal).
- Please share a few sentences about your high school youth theology program.
- Briefly describe the current status of your program, including any major changes since the beginning of your sustainability grant (if applicable).
- At this stage of your program's development, what are your specific needs related to sustainability? How would building capacity help you move towards sustainability?
- Describe the specific capacity-building activities that will respond to your strategic need. Detail proposed outcomes for building capacity for the program director and staff, as well as how these outcomes will contribute to the program's long-term sustainability. Include information about partners who are involved in the implementation of this proposal.
- Attach an 18-month timeline of proposed activities and outcomes.
- Attach a budget proposal using the template provided, using the $50,000 grant over 18 months. Please note that these funds cannot be used for staff salaries or equipment purchases.
Collaboration with other programs is encouraged to build leadership and connections across institutions. Programs should apply jointly by submitting one application by the institution responsible for receiving and disbursing funds. Funds could be used to convene program leaders in their geographic area or affinity. Please get in touch with FTE’s Director of Community Engagement with any questions: Allison Arsenault (aarsenault@fteleaders.org)
Please contact Allison Arsenault (aarsenault@fteleaders.org) or message us on our contact page.
Info sessions where applicants can ask questions about the process will be held on the following dates: