Gather Seed Grant

The Young Adult Community Resource Grants are provided by ELCA Young Adult Ministry and are awarded to new, current, or soon to be Gather communities whose mission serves to connect young adults (ages 18-35) from a defined region, for in-person gatherings centered on community, justice, and love. Applicant ministries must include plans to develop a sustainable forward thinking platform for community building and engagement of Young Adults. The expectation of these ministries will be to join the Gather Network (gathernetwork.org) and attend at least 4 monthly network meetings throughout 2025.

Applicants include any ELCA organizations whose mission serves to connect young adults (18-35) from a defined region, are invited to submit a proposal on how their community will be a part of the larger Gather Network and demonstrate how young adults (ages 18-35) can gather in a community faith. The majority of Grant recipients will receive $1,000-3,000, with outliers receiving $4,000-5,000. The intention of this grant is to assist in funding projects and initiate programming (such as branding/merchandise, small stipend, hospitality supplies, training materials, event/retreat costs, etc.), not to sustain ongoing ministry.

Applicants are required to: 

• Partner with at least one other ministry organization that currently serves young adults. (Most likely will be your fiscal agent)

• Join the Gather Network: 

• Attend the ELCA Young Adult Ministry Gather Network meetings 

• Connect with a mentor from the Gather Network 

• Have values that align with the Young Adult Ministry purpose statement: “Called to radically affirm and connect young adults while equipping all young voices for strategic disruption and divine justice.” 

• Must submit synod communication & contact form (attached in the grant application)