Building Leaders Grants

Building Leaders Grants

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Catholic Extension
Last Updated: March 25, 2026

Summary

The Building Leaders Grants by Catholic Extension aim to enhance the recruitment, education, and ongoing formation of church leaders. This initiative provides critical funding for the professional development of both ordained and lay leaders in mission dioceses. By fostering partnerships with various organizations, it addresses the need for trained ministers and supports various funding areas, including seminarian sponsorship and diaconate formation, ensuring a robust future for church leadership.

Overview

Goals To assist dioceses with the recruitment, education and ongoing formation of current and future leaders in the church. Summary A critical need for the church is the availability of trained, competent, and faithful ministers. "Building Leaders" supports efforts to develop well-trained diocesan and parish leaders in sufficient numbers to sustain excellence in church life. Funding through this initiative supports the recruitment, education, ongoing formation, and professional development of ordained and lay leaders. Additionally, Catholic Extension has developed a number of existing partnerships with external organizations and universities that offer opportunities for training and leadership development, offered over and above the diocese's particular funding requests. Qualifying Funding Areas- Recruitment and Training of New Church Leadership Catholic Extension will consider funding the following recruitment and training opportunities for new church leadership in mission dioceses: Seminarians For seminarians, Catholic Extension offers two types of funding: Subsidies cover a portion of a diocese's overall financial obligation for seminary tuition costs, room and board, as well as the operation of diocesan seminary recruitment programs. *Funding amounts are determined by the number of seminarians being sponsored by the diocese in the year of the request. Challenge Funding are available on a limited basis, enabling dioceses to build an endowment fund for seminarians so they can manage fluctuating expenses from year to year. Dioceses that receive seminarian subsidies as described in #1 can also seek challenge funding. To receive funding, dioceses will be required to raise a minimum amount of funding within a specific time period. Catholic Extension will provide a one to one match for funds raised. This funding must be directed to a separately established restricted fund. Deacons Subsidies for dioceses funding cohorts in any diaconate formation program Funding for the professional development of permanent deacons in the Catholic Church, including regional and national conferences Funding to support diaconate recruitment efforts in a diocese Lay and Religious Leaders Funding for the education of lay and religious leaders preparing for full-time ministry, including Masters degree programs Funding for online education and distance learning programs Funding for national or regional church leadership training workshops Funding for non-degree certification of lay leaders Funding to support diocesan recruitment efforts for lay leaders Ongoing Formation of Church Leadership Catholic Extension will consider funding the following opportunities for priests and deacons as well as lay and religious leaders in mission dioceses: "New skills" training if the skill is of strategic interest to the diocese or parish where the minister serves. (i.e. language or administrative skills) Opportunities for pastoral leaders to convene and engage in ongoing education

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Catholic Extension provides funding directly to designated Extension Dioceses that are approved by Catholic Extension’s Board of Governors.

Ineligibility

Funding is not available to individuals or organizations that do not work in these specified dioceses.