Seed Fund

MUSTARD SEED FUND APPLICATION

2024-2025

 

Information About the Mustard Seed Fund:

The purpose of the Mustard Seed Fund is to test and scale promising new ministries and programs that inspire and motivate a new generation of Orthodox Christians to participate in the church. Microgrants will be awarded to Metropolis of Chicago clergy and stewards seeking to develop and implement new or existing parish-level initiatives that advance evangelism, welcoming and outreach. To learn more, please read the Metropolis’s announcement of the Mustard Seed Fund.

Throughout 2024, those who are selected to receive a microgrant will:

  • Receive funding and support to develop their proposed initiative/ministry.
  • Refine initiatives and evaluate benchmark progress toward goals, assessing effectiveness of programming.

Upon completion of the first year, participants will present their proposed ministries to the Metropolis. By sharing presentations, participants will learn from each other’s experiences, and be better able to implement their ministries within their own parishes. In the future, successful ministries will be implemented at other parishes within the Metropolis.

Information Regarding the Development of Ministries:

The Mustard Seed Fund aims to support the development or enhancement of ministries that are designed to promote evangelism, welcoming and/or outreach. These important concepts are defined below. Ministries can take many different creative forms. We welcome you to think outside the box based on your parish and surrounding community’s needs.

Evangelism
  • Sharing the Good News of Christ to offer greater meaning and purpose to all people.
Welcoming
  • Fostering a Christ-centered friendship among believers, seekers, and visitors in our parishes.
Outreach
  • Offering compassionate service, inspired by Christ’s love, to those in our surrounding communities.

 

 

Parish Priest Letter of Support:

It is important that your parish priest supports the initiative that you will be developing and implementing. Please share with him your interest in applying to the Mustard Seed Fund and discuss your initial ideas. After this meeting, please have your parish priest complete the “Parish Priest Letter of Support”.

Forms can be completed by: 

1. Downloading the Letter of Support PDF and uploading a scanned copy of the completed form with your online application.

2. The Parish Priest can complete the digital version of the Letter of Support online at: chicago.goarch.org/mustard-seed-priest-letter

 

 In order to apply to the Mustard Seed Fund, please complete the following application form. We encourage parishioners of all ages to submit their ideas. There is no idea too small or big.

 

IMPORTANT – Prepare your Application:

We recommend preparing all short answer questions in advance. Make sure to speak with your parish priest prior to submitting your application – applications cannot be submitted without the Parish Priest Letter of Support. 

 

Thank you for your interest in the Mustard Seed Fund - we are no longer accepting applications for the 2024 application cycle.

 

Help Grow the Faith

The purpose of the Mustard Seed Fund is to test and scale promising new ministries and programs that inspire and motivate a new generation of Orthodox Christians to participate in the Church. Micro-grants will be awarded to Metropolis of Chicago clergy and stewards seeking to develop and implement new or existing parish-level initiatives that advance evangelism, welcoming, and outreach.

Please consider making a gift to the Metropolis of Chicago Annual Vision Campaign to help us grow the faith together.

To make a gift to the Mustard Seed Fund, go to www.chicago.goarch.org/donate/
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