Mentoring For Young Adults
Applications Closed
Faithfully Guiding the Next Generation
Young adults find direction and strength from mentors who walk alongside them as they explore their purpose and discern their vocation. FTE Mentoring Grants lay a foundation upon which congregations and church-related organizations can support and accompany the next generation of leaders for the church.
Awards
The Mentoring Grant brings together experienced, gifted leaders who have a history of mentoring to work with talented young adults exploring their purpose and call. These mentors guide and support, cultivating space for young people to consider what their vocational journey holds.
FTE awards grants to diverse leaders of congregations and church-related organizations working to develop mentoring programs to encourage and inspire young adults exploring a call to Christian ministry.
Recipients receive up to $10,000 to develop mentoring programs. Mentors gather annually to share challenges, best practices and mentoring resources.
The Mentoring Grant is available to congregations and church-related organizations in the U.S. or Canada that are working to develop mentoring programs to accompany young adults exploring their vocation and call to ministry.
Note: Organizations who are current FTE Grantees or hold current Lilly Endowment grants that are coordinated by FTE are not eligible.
Applicants may apply annually for grants up to $10,000 a one-year mentoring project. These are non-renewable grants.
Grant recipients are required to provide a mid-term and final report.
Complete applications include:
- Online application form
- Cover letter (1p.)
- Proposal narrative (up to 3 pp.)
- Project budget (1 p.) (Download a sample template)
- Financial information (most recent audit or annual financial statement)
- Description of the congregation or organization applying (no more than 400 words)
- Explanation of why engaging youth and young adults in exploring models of pastoral ministry and Christian leadership committed to changing the world is important to your organization, its vision and mission at this time
- Description of your access to diverse ecclesial networks and/or networks within communities of color; your experience working with these networks; your capacity and commitment to work with diverse networks beyond your own cultural and theological orientation
- Project description (no more than 750 words)
- Key project activities, along with vocational methodology
- Key leadership and role
- A strategy for evaluating the project's effectiveness
FTE will evaluate application using the following criteria. Proposals should demonstrate:
- Mentors working in a context with young adults open to exploring a vocation and call to ministry.
- A track record or gifts for mentoring young adults.
- A desire to expose young adults to ways faith communities can be places where they can make a difference in the world.
- A realistic plan to continue mentoring efforts beyond FTE’s initial investment.
- A commitment to participate in FTE’s research project on mentoring.
- A commitment to participate in Grantee Learning Cohort conference calls.
Please contact Heather B.P. Wallace or send a message to us on our contact page.
