Mission Development Fund

  • The Bethany Mission Development Fund was established in 2001 to support Bethany's ministry to others
  • Grants are awarded annually. 
  • The Mission Development Fund's purpose is to enhance those in need both locally, regionally, and globally, sharing our resources, and discovering and offering our unique talents
  • The amount of money available for each of the four grant programs varies from year to year
There are four kinds of grants given each year as follows:
  • Bethany Lutheran Church Grant:  This grant is designed for extraordinary programs, capital improvements, or other ministry initiatives within the congregation.  Only under-funded programs will be considered.

  • Community Grant:  This grant is designed to improve the lives of people living in the communities of the Fox Valley from Elgin to Aurora.  Emphasis is given to supporting ministry to and within special populations with unmet needs.

  • ELCA Metropolitan Chicago Synod Ministry Grant:  This grant is designed to support the congregations of our synod.  Emphasis is given to supporting under-funded areas of ministry.
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  • ELCA Church-Wide Ministry Grant:  This grant is given to support under-funded areas of ministry outside the Metropolitan Chicago Synod.

Groups requesting financial support through the Community Grant or both ELCA Grant Programs should use the application form entitled "Grant Application - Outside Bethany."  Organizations may make more than one request to the fund to support different programs. However, the funds are set up to support distinctly different types of programs and the same program cannot be submitted for consideration in more than one grant category.