Community Impact Grant
Turn Your Vision Into Action
Move from discernment to tangible action in your ZIP code with a $500 seed grant for a new, community-focused initiative shaped by your Immerse journey.
From Discernment to Action in Your Community
Over the past months in the Immerse Project, you've done the deep work—community mapping, partnership assessment, vision refinement, and cultural immersion. You've been listening to God's call and your community's needs.
Now it's time to take the next tangible step.
The $500 Community Impact Grant is designed to fund a new community initiative that came directly out of your Immerse experience. This isn't for general operating expenses or existing programs—this is seed money to launch something fresh that moves your church from discernment to action in your ZIP code.
What Can This Grant Fund?
The Community Impact Grant is seed funding to help you launch a focused, ZIP-code-specific initiative that flows directly out of your Immerse learnings and clearly responds to a real need in your community.
Every funded initiative must actively engage at least one community partner that was identified or strengthened through your Immerse partnership assessment.
Examples of eligible initiatives
- Neighborhood Listening Tables or Community Dinners – Co-host regular gatherings with a community partner to build relationships and surface community needs.
- Partnership Projects – Pilot a collaboration with an organization you identified during your assessment (after-school tutoring, food distribution, community events).
- Ministry Launch Costs – Fund initial supplies or space rental for a new ministry addressing a barrier identified in your community mapping, in partnership with a local organization.
- Strategic Community Events – Support a ZIP-code-specific outreach event co-designed and co-hosted with a strategic partner.
- Mobilization Resources – Develop context-specific materials, training, or communication tools that help your congregation serve alongside a community partner around a specific heartbreak area (beyond the GIC playbook resources).
Not eligible for funding
- General operating expenses.
- Existing programs without a new or clarified community focus.
- Activities that do not engage at least one community partner.
- Initiatives unrelated to your partnership assessment outcomes.
Grant Details
Each church in Immerse Project Cohort 1 can receive a $500 Community Impact Grant by submitting a complete application by the deadline.
Grant Size
$500 per church
Application Due
Feburary 16, 2026 at 11:59 PM EST
Award Date
March 20, 2026 at the Mission Impact Celebration
Fund Usage Window
Within 6 months of award (by September 2026)
Impact Report
Brief report (1–2 paragraphs + 1–2 photos) due 30 days after project completion
Apply Now
Applications are due by February 16, 2026 at 11:59 PM EST. Completing the brief application below secures your church’s $500 Community Impact Grant.
Before you submit, please gather the required materials:
- Completed online application form (below).
- Completed IRS W9 form for your church (legal name and EIN).
- Agreement with the Community Impact Grant Covenant (signed inside the application form).
You will upload your W9 and sign the covenant digitally inside the Immerse Community Impact Grant application form.
Immerse Community Impact Grant Application
Complete the application below to request your $500 Community Impact Grant. You can save your progress and return later if needed.
Inside this form you will: share contact and church information, describe your proposed initiative, identify Immerse strategies you’ll apply, explain how you’ll measure impact, upload your completed W9, and sign the Community Impact Grant Covenant.
Frequently Asked Questions
Explore the questions below for clarity on eligibility, the application process, W9 requirements, how to use funds, and what to expect after your project.
General Questions
Who is eligible to apply?
All churches participating in Immerse Project Cohort 1 are eligible to apply for the Community Impact Grant.
How many grants are available?
Every church in Cohort 1 that submits a complete application by the deadline will receive a $500 Community Impact Grant.
When is the application deadline?
Applications are due by February 16, 2026 at 11:59 PM EST.
When will grants be awarded?
Grants will be awarded at the Mission Impact Celebration on March 20, 2026.
Application Questions
What if we’re not sure exactly what we want to do yet?
That’s okay. Your application should reflect your best thinking right now based on what you’ve learned in Immerse and how your initiative connects to your partnership assessment and refined vision.
Can we apply for multiple initiatives?
Each church receives one $500 grant. Focus your application on one specific initiative, even if that initiative has multiple components (for example, a community dinner series that includes listening tables).
Do we need to have a community partner already confirmed?
You should have at least one community partner identified that you plan to engage through this initiative. The covenant requires that your initiative engage at least one partner identified or strengthened through Immerse.
What if our initiative costs more than $500?
The $500 grant is seed funding to help you get started. You can supplement it with other church funds, fundraising, or partner contributions as long as the grant portion is used for eligible expenses.
W9 & Payment Questions
Why do we need to submit a W9?
The W9 form provides the tax information required for us to process your grant payment. This is a standard requirement for grant distributions.
Where can we download the W9 form?
You can download the blank W9 form from the link at the top of this page or directly from the IRS website.
Who should be listed on the W9—the church or the pastor?
The W9 should be completed with your church’s legal name and tax ID number (EIN), not a pastor’s personal information.
How will the grant funds be paid?
The grant check will be written to the church using the legal name and mailing information provided on your W9 and application, not to an individual.
When will we receive the grant funds?
Grant funds will be distributed after the Mission Impact Celebration on March 20, 2026. Processing typically takes 2–3 weeks.
Using Your Grant
Can we use the grant for staff salaries?
No. The grant is for program expenses related to your new community initiative, not for general operating expenses or staff salaries.
Can we use the grant to rent space for a new ministry?
Yes. Space rental for a new ministry initiative is an eligible expense—for example, renting space for a community dinner series, tutoring program, or neighborhood gathering.
What if we can’t use all the funds within six months?
The covenant commits you to using funds within six months (by September 2026). If you anticipate challenges with this timeline, please contact us before applying to discuss your situation.
Can we change our initiative after we apply?
Minor adjustments are fine as you refine your plans. Significant changes should still align with the spirit of your original application; if you need major changes, please reach out to us.
Reporting Requirements
What does the impact report need to include?
Your impact report should be brief (1–2 paragraphs) and include how the initiative aligned with your refined vision, which Immerse strategy or framework you applied, which community partners you engaged, key outcomes or learnings, and 1–2 photos.
When is the impact report due?
The impact report is due 30 days after project completion. Since funds must be used by September 2026, your report would be due by October 2026 at the latest.
What format should the report be in?
We’ll provide a simple online template after grants are awarded. It will be a straightforward form, not a complicated narrative report.
Still Have Questions?
How can we get additional help?
If you don’t see your question answered here, please reach out to the Immerse team. We’re here to help you move from discernment to action in your community.