LWGT Mini Grant Cohorts

About the Opportunity

This grant allows students, faculty, and staff opportunities to create cohorts focused on spiritual formation through Scripture and participation in a service project. Cohorts will have the chance to be resourced up to $1,000 for the 2024-25 academic year.

"I praise God for all who made the Life With God Together Mini-Grant Initiative possible! Thank you for entrusting us with the resources to fuel the vision God put in our hearts for students on campus, to grow in their intimacy with God, be strengthened in the Truth and be encouraged by the fellowship with others. It truly came at the perfect time.” – LWGT Grant Recipient

Am I eligible?
The LWGT Mini Grant Initiative is open to all Wheaton College students, staff, and faculty who are committed to fostering biblical literacy and Scripture engagement. The Chaplain’s Office will select to fund proposals that prioritize evangelism, biblical literacy, Scripture engagement, and feasibility.

How can I get involved?
As a Wheaton College student, faculty, or staff you can create a cohort to lead in a ministry project with a service component centered around Scripture engagement and spiritual formation. If you are already a part of a group then this is a great opportunity to be resourced in your current mission, which might look like applying to support your involvement in a discipleship small group on campus, your floor community or apartment group, your sports team or an academic club.

Why should I get involved?
Has God ever given you an idea for His kingdom or put something on your heart for His people? Your heart said, “yes!”, and then you had this thought: How am I going to get the resources for this? Let us help! In addition to the financial support, here are a few other reasons you should get involved:
1. Grow in your love for God – Gather with others to pursue the heart of God, get to know His character and learn His ways through studying His Word in community. Fall in love with the God of the Bible and grow in your relationship with Christ.
2. Engage with Scripture in a new way – Maybe you’ve been part of a more traditional Bible study, but want to know what it would be like to engage with the Bible through Lectio Divina, a journaling practice or ________? Allow God to meet you in new ways and revive your heart towards Scripture.
3. Connect with the body of Christ – God has not called you to walk alone. He has placed you in His body, to build you up, strengthen you and encourage in your walk with Him. Let’s pursue Christ together.

Is this a one-time grant?
Grants may be renewed in subsequent academic years for eligible students, faculty or staff. All renewals are subject to availability of funds and committee discretion.

What is a service project?
All grant recipients are required to have a service component within your proposed ministry project. Service here refers specifically to an organized community outreach or joint venture where ministry project participants gather together in Jesus Name, share the Gospel and love others with the love of Christ (1 John 3:18). You can start your own service project or join in where the Lord is already working. If you’re interested in joining an existing service project or have further questions, reach out to the Chaplain’s Office for more information.

What recommendations for service project do you have?
The Office of Ministry and Evangelism has so many wonderful service opportunities and is an awesome place to get connected. Some recommendations for service projects include:
• Prison ministry
• Elderly care
• Juvenile Correction Center ministry
We want you to feel free to be creative in how you serve. Consider serving by creating a Scripture mural in downtown Wheaton (we have a wall available). Grow in hospitality by serving others. Host bi-weekly or monthly meals and invite Christians and non-Christians into your space to experience the love of God in community. Cultivate a heart for evangelism by hosting an event in Downtown Wheaton or collaborating with a Christian organization on another college campus to organize an outreach event. Are you interested in feeding and clothing the needy? Serve at New Life Centers in Chicago on Saturdays throughout the semester.

Ways to study Scripture
The body is diverse and so is the way we study God’s Word! This is by no means an exhaustive list, but you could study Scripture using:
• Lectio Divina
• Inductive Bible Study Method
• The Bible Project
• Enduring Word Bible Commentary

I’m interested! What are my next steps?
1. Write the vision – Draft a proposal for your ministry project.
2. Choose a co-leader – Two leaders per ministry project are recommended.*
3. Apply for the grant – Submit your application in the fall. If awarded, you will receive up to $1,000 to go toward your ministry project to begin in the spring.

*While applications with two leaders listed are strongly encouraged, applications with one leader listed will still be considered.

What happens after I apply?
Your application will be reviewed by the LWGT committee in October and decisions will be communicated via email to all applicants by October 31. Grant payments will be disbursed in December. Your cohort will begin its ministry project in January and continue for the duration of the spring semester.

At the Chaplain’s Office, we continue to work diligently to ensure wise stewardship of the LWGT Mini-Grant Initiative and its mission. Thank you for laboring with us.

September
You receive: LWGT Packet, Link and Instructions for application
• Wheaton College students, staff and faculty receive announcement about the LWGT Mini-Grant Initiative opportunity
• Interested students, staff and faculty are invited to attend info sessions and receive:
- LWGT Annual Timeline
- Students: What to Know About the Life With God Together Mini-Grant
- LWGT Instructions and Guidelines and a link to the application
- The Chaplain’s Office requests proposals

October
Committee reviews proposals and sends out notice of funding decisions
• LWGT committee conducts reviews of proposals, and sends notices of funding decisions to all applicants (by October 31)

November
You are invited to the launch dinner and commissioning
• LWGT grant recipients attend a leadership workshop and receive:
• Stewardship training
• LWGT Reporting overview

December
You attend a leadership workshop and receive a reporting template
• LWGT grant recipients are invited to a launch dinner and commissioning
• LWGT grant recipients receive grant disbursement payment

January
You receive spring grant disbursement and project begins
• LWGT grant recipients kick off ministry project

February-March
You attend Chaplain’s Office sponsored LWGT events
• LWGT grant recipients carry out proposed ministry project

April
You submit completed reporting template and thank you letters
• LWGT grant recipients prepare to wrap up ministry projects
• All LWGT grant recipients and project participants attend the Chaplain’s Office LWGT Year End Celebration Banquet
• LWGT grant recipients submit completed reporting template and thank you letters to the Chaplain’s Office via email to chaplains.office@wheaton.edu (by April 15)

May
Chaplain’s Office reviews reports and publishes Impact Summary

Ongoing

• LWGT grant recipients submit student testimonies, ministry project photos and thank you letters to the Chaplain’s Office via email to chaplains.office@ wheaton.edu
• LWGT grant recipients submit receipts and expense reports via Oracle (if applicable) and reach out for support as needed

The following guidelines provide Life With God Together (LWGT) Mini-Grant Initiative recipients with clarification regarding the process of selecting LWGT recipients and distributing LWGT grants. These guidelines are updated regularly, based on feedback received from LWGT administrators, recipients and the anonymous LWGT donor. This document is meant to ensure that the anonymous donor’s intent of promoting biblical literacy and Scripture engagement among Wheaton College students, staff, and faculty is realized while minimizing the administrative burden on LWGT administrators and LWGT recipients.

Updated June 2024

The following guidelines provide Life With God Together (LWGT) Mini-Grant Initiative recipients with clarification regarding the process of selecting LWGT recipients and distributing LWGT grants. These guidelines are updated regularly, based on feedback received from LWGT administrators, recipients and the anonymous LWGT donor. This document is meant to ensure that the anonymous donor’s intent of promoting biblical literacy and Scripture engagement among Wheaton College students, staff, and faculty is realized while minimizing the administrative burden on LWGT administrators and LWGT recipients.

Overview

Grant funds from the LWGT are distributed annually to Wheaton College students, staff, and faculty by the Chaplain’s Office. By providing financial support and resources, this program aims to encourage recipients to foster a deeper relationship with God and His Word through small LWGT ministry projects that align with the principles of biblical service and spiritual growth. Additional information about the LWGT Mini-Grant Initiative and answers to specific questions not answered below are available by contacting chaplains.office@wheaton.edu.

LWGT Grant Amounts

The Chaplain’s Office for Wheaton College’s Life With God Together Mini-Grant Initiative will award recipients up to $1,000 per academic year.

Selection of LWGT Grant Recipients

The Chaplain’s Office administers an application process to verify eligibility for LWGT grant recipients. The Chaplain’s Office must choose LWGT grant recipients based on the following pre-established criteria, with evangelism, biblical literacy, Scripture engagement, and feasibility receiving top priority:

• Wheaton College students, staff, and faculty must have verified eligibility to participate in LWGT Mini- Grant Initiative and demonstrate a commitment to fostering biblical literacy and Scripture
• Applicants must submit a proposal that aligns with the objectives of the LWGT Mini-Grant Grant proposals require departmental supervisory approval prior to submission.

It remains the Chaplain’s Office responsibility to ensure all LWGT grant recipients meet the criteria required to receive a grant.

Additional Criteria to be Considered

In addition to alignment with pre-established criteria, each proposal will be assessed based on its creativity and innovation with regards to potential impact on Wheaton College’s residential Christian community. It remains the responsibility of the local college to ensure the intent of the donor is honored in the grant awards process.

Grant Renewals

If LWGT recipients continue to qualify in subsequent academic years, their grant may be renewed. Recipients will need to submit a full application each time for continued funding.

It is important to note that no former recipient should be given the impression that funding is guaranteed for more than one academic year at a time and that all renewals are subject to availability of funds and committee discretion.

Use of Grant Funds

Since students, staff, and faculty must demonstrate a commitment to fostering biblical literacy and Scripture engagement, the LWGT awards cannot be used for purposes beyond this scope. LWGT funds cannot be used for salaries or personal stipends. They can be used for other ministry related expenses, including hospitality, curriculum, printing and marketing, local travel, special events and other resources required for participation.

It is up to the Chaplain’s Office to ensure, to the best of its ability, that recipients understand the purpose of the grant and engage in responsible stewardship of funds.

Grant Awards Timeline

The Chaplain’s Office will call for applications in the fall term (September of each year) and provide recipients with their disbursements of LWGT funds once annually (December of each year) for ministry projects to begin in the spring term. The Chaplain’s Office will provide funds to recipients as early as possible in order to allow for distributions to recipients prior to the start of the term.

LWGT Thank You Letters

Once a student, staff, or faculty receives a LWGT grant award, they should be prompted to write a thank you letter to the Chaplain’s Office for its generous support. Students should provide their thank you letter to the Chaplain’s Office, which will then submit the letters to Wheaton College for inclusion in annual reporting to the anonymous LWGT donor. Thank you letters can be submitted to the Chaplain’s Office in person or via email to chaplains.office@wheaton.edu.

Reporting Requirements for Wheaton College

Wheaton College reports to the anonymous LWGT donor annually and includes an overall summary of grants awarded for that year, ministry outcomes, participant testimonies and thank you letters. Accordingly, each grant recipient must submit an annual report of their LWGT grant award to the Chaplain’s Office. A reporting template is provided to recipients at the beginning of each LWGT cycle and is due to the Chaplain’s Office at near the end of the spring term (April 15 of each year). Specific details, instructions, and timelines are communicated in the distribution of the reporting template. Reports must be submitted via email to chaplains.office@wheaton.edu.

Commitment to Financial Stewardship

The Chaplain’s Office remains committed to the proper stewardship of the LWGT Mini-Grant Initiative and to the significant impact it will have on the lives of students, staff, and faculty of the Wheaton College community. The Chaplain’s Office’s intent is to ensure the LWGT grant instructions and guidelines continue to be met in a consistent manner and that recipients work cooperatively with our LWGT administrators to address and resolve financial issues that arise in a timely manner, and responsibly steward the funds entrusted to them.

Grant Awards and Distributions

Q1: How are the grant awards from the Life With God Together Mini-Grant Initiative calculated and distributed each year?
Grant funds from the LWGT Mini-Grant Initiative are distributed annually from the Chaplain’s Office to Wheaton College students, faculty and staff who have been awarded. Grant funds are provided in December for projects to begin at the beginning of the spring semester.

Q2: What is the maximum award per year?
The current maximum amount a student, faculty or staff can receive from the LWGT Mini Grant Initiative is $1,000 per academic year.

Grant Recipients Eligibility Requirements

Q3: Can students apply for the LWGT Mini-Grant during the spring semester?
The Chaplain’s Office will call for applications in the fall term (September of each year) and provide recipients with their disbursements of LWGT funds at the end of the fall term in December for projects to begin at the beginning of the spring semester, therefore students are not eligible to apply during the spring semester and will be encouraged to apply the following academic year in the fall.

Q4: Are faculty and staff eligible to apply for the LWGT Mini-Grant?
Yes. The LWGT Mini Grant is open to all Wheaton College students, staff, and faculty who have met pre- established criteria and proposal requirements.

Q5: If a proposal was submitted with only one leader, will it be considered?
Yes. The Chaplain’s Office recommends two leaders per cohort, but only one is required for submission.

Q6: If an application does not have departmental supervisory approval and letter of support, will their project still be considered?
Because the Chaplain’s Office values campus support, departmental supervisory approval and a letter of support is required in order to be awarded.

Q7: Do students, staff and faculty qualify for the LWGT Mini-Grant if they have already been awarded the grant in a previous academic year?
Yes. If LWGT recipients continue to qualify, their grant may be renewed. It is important to note that no former recipient should be given the impression that funding is guaranteed for more than one academic year at a time and that all renewals are subject to availability of funds and committee discretion.

Q8: What are the application requirements for the renewal of a LWGT Mini-Grant?
Original application requirements for the LWGT Mini-Grant apply. Former grant recipients applying for renewal will need to submit a full application and secure departmental supervisory approval as evidenced by the submission of a letter of support.

LWGT Finance and Administration

Q9: What are the reporting requirements for the LWGT Mini-Grant?
Each grant recipient must submit an annual report of their LWGT grant award to the Chaplain’s Office. A reporting template is provided to recipients at the beginning of each LWGT cycle and is due to the Chaplain’s Office near the end of the spring term (April 15 of each year). Specific details, instructions, and timelines are communicated in the distribution of the reporting template. Reports must be submitted via email to chaplains.office@wheaton.edu.

Q10: Should grant funds be returned to LWGT if they were not distributed to recipients during the duration of the project?
Yes. Funds that are not used at the conclusion of the project are automatically returned to the LWGT Mini-Grant Initiative and reserved for the next LWGT cycle. Any grant funds that are not used in the current academic year are considered to be cash- on-hand and should be reported to the Chaplain’s Office in the annual LWGT reporting template.

Q11: Is it allowable to pray for salaries and personal stipends with LWGT funds?
In order to honor the intent of the donor, LWGT grant funds are not to be used to augment an individual’s salary or to cover stipends. They can be used for other ministry related expenses, including hospitality, curriculum, printing and marketing, local travel, special events and other resources required for participation.
It is up to the Chaplain’s Office to ensure, to the best of its ability, that recipients understand the purpose of the grant and engage in responsible stewardship of funds.

Q12: When will recipients be expected to report on project outcomes?
Reporting timelines coincide with the conclusion of the spring semester (April of each year).
Specific details, instructions, and timelines are communicated in the distribution of the reporting template at the beginning of the LWGT cycle.

Q13: How are the funds accessed and made available for use?
Grant recipients who have Wheaton College credit cards (p-card) will be encouraged to make expenses on their college credit card and submit monthly expenses reports via Oracle to reconcile expenses against their grant award. Grant recipients who do not have a college credit card will work with the LWGT grant administrators to make purchases for their ministry projects. Specific details and further instructions will be communicated during a one time stewardship training.

Q14: What is the reimbursement process for out of pocket expenses?
It is the goal of the Chaplain’s Office to provide and make available funds to recipients as early as possible in order to give cohort leaders adequate time to prepare for a smooth ministry project start, therefore, grant recipients should refrain from making any out of pocket purchases and instead reach out to the LWGT administrators with any urgents needs or questions.