Seed Fund

The Mustard Seed Fund: Applications

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.

Frequently Asked Questions and more info >>

 

Submit Your Application

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 help us grow the faith together.

10% of the funds donated to the Annual Vision Campaign will fund the Mustard Seed Fund or Project HOPE.  

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MUSTARD SEED FUND PRESS RELEASES:

Metropolis of Chicago Announces a New Parish Advancement Initiative

Metropolis of Chicago Mustard Seed Fund Awards Grants

MUSTARD SEED FUND 2022-23 GRANT RECIPIENTS

The following parishes were awarded Mustard Seed Fund grants for 2022-23:

  • Annunciation, Milwaukee, WI: Outreach program for impoverished areas of Greater Milwaukee
  • Annunciation, Kankakee, IL: Church-based community theater troupe
  • St. Athanasios, Aurora, IL: Expansion of men’s group ministry – Read an Update on their progress! 
  • St. Basil, Chicago, IL: Expansion of prison ministry
  • Sts. Constantine and Helen, Swansea, IL: “Spring Back to Church” outreach program
  • St. George, Chicago, IL: Bicycle repair class to help impoverished residents of the Chicagoland area with their transportation needs
  • St. George, St. Paul MN: Inter-Orthodox shared catechism program
  • St. George, Schererville, IN: Byzantine music youth group for girls and boys – Read an Update on their progress! 
  • St. Luke the Evangelist, Columbia, MO: Billboard to raise awareness of Orthodox Church – Read an Update on their progress! 

 

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