PURPOSE

Financial health and fiscal leadership skills are essential to a minister’s ability to lead effectively at home and in the church. The Minister’s Aid Initiative Grant is a learning opportunity for church leaders and ministers to increase their fiscal leadership and stewardship skills, and equips ministers with the financial tools necessary for long-term ministry. The grant is $2,500. If the pastor/church raises up to $2500, the NHCLC will match that amount dollar for dollar. Grant funds may be used by the minister to pay off student loan debt, medical debt, credit card debt, mortgage loans, or to build an emergency fund, and/or increase retirement savings. Grant funds may not be used for church ministries, church building repair, or other church-related expenses. Funds may not be used for current educational expenses and/or tuition. Funds must be used for the pastor’s personal financial needs as described above.

REQUIREMENTS

Ministers must commit to meet the following requirements within the one-year grant period:

Meet with an assigned financial counselor at least three (3) times during a 3-month period,
Attend in person or watch a financial webinar with a lay leader (who is not a relative or staff member of the church) and complete and submit the attached worksheets,

Raise matching funds (unless the pastor receives matching funds from NHCLC), Complete a final report.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Ministers must complete and submit an online application.
Once the application is submitted, our aid initiative team will review the application with the minister within 5-7 working days.

Once the application has been reviewed with the aid initiative team, it will be submitted to the Ministerial Aid Initiative Steering Committee for approval. Please note that identifying information, such as names of ministers and churches, is removed for privacy reasons.

Once the Ministerial Aid Initiative Steering Committee has reviewed the application, the minister will be informed of the committee’s decision and next steps.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

The pastor’s church must be affiliated and participate with the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference. If the church ceases to affiliate with the NHCLC, the amount awarded, if not already distributed, will be given to another pastor. If funds have been distributed within the grant year, the funds must be returned to the NHCLC immediately.

Ministers cannot be currently employed or contracted by the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference.

The minister must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.

Ministers must have served in their current church for at least one (1) year.

First-time applicants will receive priority consideration.

More than one pastor/minister in a church may receive a grant.

Because financial hardship may occur more than once, pastors may receive two (2) Ministers Assistance Initiative grants, but not within the same calendar year.