Grants for Ministries with Young People (GMYP) fund creative, innovative approaches to ministries for, with, and by young people. This includes age ranges traditionally labeled as youth and young adults. This grant values both outreach and community impact with young people, whether they are already connected to a faith community or not.

Expressions of ministry with young people are as diverse as the global youth and young adults who connect with their community, their church, and God through their involvement in those ministries. Ministries by, with, and for young people thrive when partners at every level of the church’s connectional network support creative expressions to connect and support young people in discipleship. If the Church, on all fronts, unites behind the mission of sharing the Good News of God’s unconditional love in Christ with young people, then young people themselves will rise and become the world-transforming disciples that the UMC works so hard to help create and form.

Projects and programs that receive funds from Grants for Ministries with Young People should enable creative, life-transforming ministries with young people to take hold and begin to spread the fire and passion for this ministry throughout the denomination. Funded projects will address the causes of critical issues related to young people in their local context, with an eye toward how their work can have a positive impact on the priorities of The United Methodist Church in a broader context. We expect transformation of individuals and communities because of these funds and will celebrate with you when we learn about the stories of impact made through your efforts.

ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

• Local United Methodist churches in the United States and Central Conferences, including cooperative parishes and ecumenical shared ministries.
• Annual Conferences and Districts in the United States and Central Conferences.
• Other United Methodist entities, such as campus ministries, youth serving agencies, and so forth.

Eligible applicants will also meet the following criteria:

• The project or program must be driven in design and implemented by young people (ages 12-30 in U.S. or ages 12-35 in Central Conferences) within and outside the church. Applicants outside of this age range may support those young people in design and implementation, but primary leadership of the project or program should be done by young people.
• The project or program must demonstrate a strong biblical/theological foundation.
• The project or program must reflect a diversity of racial, gender, or economic (class) differences both in its leadership or in its desired impact for the Church, community, and wider context.

The maximum award available is up to $15,000 USD. That said, projects and programs should submit realistic budgets and not simply ask for the maximum award if it cannot be justified.