We are committed to engaging churches in their role as catalysts for rural communities. We support clergy and congregations — ensuring they have the tools to walk faithfully together — as they strengthen their communities. We invest in rural United Methodist churches to make greater contributions that create meaningful and measurable change.
Grants Awarded By Strategy
CULTIVATE AND SUPPORT PASTORAL LEADERS
We support programs that recruit and retain candidates for ministry; nurture clergy growth and competencies; and support training for district superintendents that strengthens connections between churches and their communities.
IDENTIFY AND TEST SELECTED PROGRAMS
We identify, develop and test programs that have demonstrated positive outcomes, with a special focus on children. Simultaneously, we provide funding for churches to implement these programs.
BUILD CONGREGATIONAL CAPACITY
We support programs that engage rural congregations with their neighbors to identify and implement solutions that could have a lasting, positive impact on their rural region.
REIMAGINE CHURCH REAL ESTATE
We support structures that help rural congregations make informed decisions about optimizing their assets and using them as catalysts for community-focused ministry.
Zero to Eight
The Duke Endowment is focusing on early childhood as a way to produce greater impact across our grantmaking and provide for better and more equal opportunity for children and families. The Rural Church program area’s early childhood priorities include a Summer Literacy Initiative that puts summer reading camps in rural United Methodist churches.
*Included in above strategies.
2025 Grantmaking
Grantee Feature
