Mental Health Initiative

(En Español)

The Mental Health Initiative is an education and grant initiative designed to assist Indiana congregations in addressing mental health and wellness among their members. This opportunity includes educational sessions and a grant of up to $40,000 to fund expenses and activities that support mental health programming in congregations.

The Center for Congregations is committed to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and therefore encourages congregations of color and rural congregations to apply.

As a result of participating in this Mental Health Initiative, your congregation will:

• Understanding ways that their congregation can benefit from the intersection of mental and spiritual wellness.
• Harnessing their congregation’s spiritual practices and faith claims to promote healing and mental well-being.
• Understanding cultural dynamics that can limit the discussion of mental health in congregations.
• Equipping themselves to identify and offer mental health resources to support their faith community.
• Finding rejuvenation and healing while learning how to offer it to their own congregation.
• Learning ways to support clergy people and their spiritual and mental wellness.

This grant awards 90% funding up to $40,000 and will require a 10% commitment from each participating congregation. More information is below in Details for Selected Congregations section.

Continue scrolling for more information.

Timeline

• January – April 2026: Educational component of the cohort
• October 2026: Submit Project Proposal
• November – December 2026: Grant checks awarded
• January – December 2027: Implementation and reporting of Mental Health project

Team Member Requirements 

• Select two to four people from your congregation to be your Mental Health Initiative team.
• Designate one person as the project director who is expected to attend all sessions.
• Include a pastor or clergy person on your team.

Educational Session Requirements

• Cohort participants must attend three educational sessions.
• Educational sessions are comprised of in-person and online gatherings.
• Stable internet or cellular connection is expected and Zoom access is required.
• Two to four team members may attend each educational session.
• 2025 sessions are scheduled for:
  • January 15, 2026 – Program Orientation (6pm-7pm Eastern Time on Zoom)
  • Friday, February 13, 2026 (9am – 3pm Eastern Time in-person in Indianapolis)
  • Friday, April 17, 2026 (9am – 3pm Eastern Time in-person in Indianapolis)
• Other Requirements for Accepted Congregations:
  • Meet for two hours per month as a congregational team
    January 2026 – October 2026.
  • Meet for thirty minutes per month with a Center for Congregations consultant
    January 2026 – October 2026.
  • Complete monthly assignments on the Center for Congregations’ online Grant
    Portal January 2026 – October 2026.

Project Description and Funding 

• Cohort participants will submit a Project Proposal in October 2026.
• The maximum grant dollar amount awarded is $40,000, or 90% of the total cost of
  grant activities, for each project. Therefore, each congregation’s financial
  responsibility is 10% of the grant eligible expenses and must be in the form of dollars
  and cannot include in-kind donations.
• Congregations may apply for and receive less than $40,000.

Grant Eligible Activities may include, but are not limited to, a combination of the following (all activities must be related to mental health): 

• Guest speakers (food and/or travel costs)
• Retreats (food/travel costs/supplies/facility rental)
• Licensed counselor for family, group, or individual sessions where insurance is not available (not applicable for salary of licensed counselors already on staff at a participating
  congregation)
• Conference attendance (registration, travel and lodging expenses)
• Online courses related to mental health
• Books
• Curriculum
• Training (i.e. Mental Health First Aid, Celebrate Recovery)
  • Coursework in pursuit of a degree is not grant eligible
• Technology or building improvements/fixed assets that support mental health activities