Neighbors in Need Grant Information
The Neighbors in Need fund is a special mission offering that supports works of justice and compassion
throughout the United States. The Neighbors in Need Grant program is supported by this offering, as well
as other National Ministries funding sources. Grants awarded to churches and organizations working in
alignment with the purpose, mission and vision of the United Church of Christ National Ministries:
United in Spirit and inspired by God’s grace, we welcome all, love all, and seek justice for all.
These grants fund projects whose work ranges from direct service to community organizing and advocacy
towards systemic change to transformative, cultural initiatives that can be replicated across the denomination.
About Grant Options
Direct Service
($1,000 – $3,000)
Provides funding to meet the immediate needs of an individual or group (i.e. food, clothing, utilities).
Advocacy
($3,001 – $5,000)
Offers funding to assist communities who wish to change policy on a state or federal level via an advocacy campaign.
Grass Top
($5,001 – $10,000)
Highly competitive tier which seeks to award uniquely innovative programs which can be replicated in other settings.
Share your story.
If you were a past recipient of a Neighbors in Need (NIN) grant, help us inform our members, whose contributions to the NIN fund have made your grant possible, about how lives have been transformed because of their generosity.
Neighbors in Need: Stories of Faith & Transformation
Read about the ministries who have received a grant and how they found success with it in their communities.
Neighbors in Need donations help bolster justice work in churches and communities
This summer, an average of 172 children participated daily in STEAM (science, technology,…
Read More
Phoenix church adapts its border ministry to meet neighbors’ changing needs
Sometimes a church sets out to help its neighbors in need. Then those needs change — and the…
Read More
Neighbors in Need helps people understand housing insecurity, provides pandemic relief
Helping people understand homelessness through the insight of others who have lived with housing…
Read MoreGrant Requirements
To be eligible for any United Church of Christ Grants, all recipients must be a United Church of Christ Local Church with standing in an Association of the United Church of Christ (Schedule 0 UCC Church), proposed congregations/new church starts (Schedule 4), and organizations in a covenant relationship with a Conference of the United Church of Christ or the National Ministries of the United Church of Christ. UCC covenantal relationships grant applicants will demonstrate their covenantal relationship with the UCC by securing the endorsement of their Conference Minister and other references.
Program Grant Timelines
Grant application portals will open on June 15th and will close on September 15th for the review and granting process. Notification of awards go out by the end of November, and payments are made in December. Programs and projects to begin after January 1st. Please direct questions to the emails below.
Neighbors in Need Grant
(Direct inquiries to: nin@ucc.org)
Neighbors in Need is a special mission offering that supports works of justice and compassion throughout the United States. The Neighbors in Need grant is a program supported by this offering as well as other National Ministries funding sources. Grants are awarded to churches and organizations working in alignment with the purpose, mission, and vision of the United Church of Christ National Ministries: United in Spirit and inspired by God’s grace, we welcome all, love all, and seek justice for all. These grants fund projects whose work ranges from direct service to community organizing and advocacy towards systemic change, to transformative cultural initiatives that can be replicated across the denomination. These requests must relate to work supported by General Synod actions in one of the following programmatic areas:
• The Rights and Freedoms of all Persons • Environmental Justice • Economic Justice
Interested individuals and churches can find out more information and apply for the grant here: Application
For NIN Grants and Operational Support Grants awarded during the 2025 Grant Cycle, please use the report link here.
For NIN Grants and Operational Support Grants awarded during the 2026 Grant Cycle, please use the report link here.
