Grants for Professional Development
for Lay Ecclesial Ministers

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Eligible Applicants

Lay ecclesial ministers in any department serving a parish in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis who are employed at the parish during the class or program.

Eligible Programs

This grant is for assistance with the cost of graduate level education, ministry certificates, or continuing professional education designed to provide our ministers with strong theology and management skills needed to strengthen the parishes in which they serve. This can take the form of classes (online or on-site), conference registration, or certain retreat experiences.

Amount of Grant

The Catholic Community Foundation of Minnesota (CCF) will award grants for related expenses. First-time applicants can apply for a grant up to $1,000.  The limit for subsequent requests is $500, with a total lifetime maximum of $2,000.

Application Process

You apply for a grant toward the program of your choice. The grant check is made payable to your parish.  The parish reimburses you, or pays for the program directly.

Decision Process

This is a competitive grant application. Decisions will be based on (1) our assessment of how well your proposal fits the guidelines and (2) competing opportunities outlined in all submitted proposals. Repeat funding is only allowed if funds are available.

Application Deadlines

Applications will be processed up to three times per year, as funds allow. The deadline for Summer classes and programs is March 15th. The deadline for Fall classes is July 1st.  The deadline for Spring classes November 1st.  Notification of commitments will be made to you, your pastor, and your business administrator within three weeks of applying.

Questions? Please call CCF Vice President of Impact Meg Payne Nelson at (651) 389-0882.

Application Form

Please only complete this form if you are the individual participating in the course or program. Do not complete the form for multiple individuals or on behalf of someone else.

  • Contact Information

  • Class or Program Details

  • Cost and Funding

    First, enter the total cost of your participation in this class or program (not the cost of the whole program, if it covers multiple semesters). You may include registration, materials, travel, etc. Then, list all sources of funding for this class or program, so they add up to the total cost.
  • Please enter a number greater than or equal to 0.

  • Submitting your Application

    After you click the "Submit" button, a "Thank you" page should appear and you should receive a copy of the submitted application in email. If this does not happen, we have not received your application. If that happens, first scroll up and review for errors, and try clicking the Submit button again. If you still do not see a confirmation message, contact Meg for help at 651-389-0882.
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.