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.

Frequently Asked Questions

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.

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.