Grant Process

This grant process applies if you're submitting an application for a grant in one of Siebert Lutheran Foundation's three funding priorities. Please review what we fund before submitting an LOI.

1. All grant applicants must register as a new user with Siebert's online grant portal. You will answer a series of questions related to your organization and the program or project for which you are seeking funding.

   • ​​Registration Guide

2. Register or login to your existing account on the online grant portal. 

   • Organizations may only have one profile. If you're not sure if a profile exists for your organization, please email us or call 414.269.2832 before creating a new profile.

   • An organization may have more than one user/contact assigned to its profile. Please contact us to add additional users to your organization's profile.

3. If applicable, submit a Letter of Inquiry (LOI)

   • ​​​LOI Submission Guide

   • ​​Select the grant process that is applicable to your program/project and complete a Letter of Inquiry (LOI).

     • Grant process options (more information about these funding priorities is available here or contact us / 414.269.2832 if you need guidance on which process to select):

       • Growing the Body of Christ by investing in Lutheran leaders, ministries, and evangelism. Click to preview the LOI questions.

       • Educating While Sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ by funding high-performing Lutheran-affiliated schools and other education programs that provide children and youth in socioeconomically disadvantaged communities a path to Christ-centered academic success, empowerment, and hope for themselves and future generations. Click to preview the LOI questions.

       • Serving as the Hands and Feet of Christ by supporting effective strategies at Lutheran churches and church-affiliated organizations to meet the basic short-term needs of disadvantaged people, and to create pathways toward greater self-sufficiency and empowerment for all people. Click to preview the LOI questions.

   • Siebert will review your LOI and respond in approximately five business days after the LOI deadline for the grant cycle. You will be informed via email if your LOI is approved or denied with the necessary information for completing a full grant application if approved.

4. Submit a Grant Application

   • Grant Application Submission Guide

   • ​Preview the grant application questions (PDF) that are applicable to your program/project:

     • Growing the Body of Christ

     • Educating While Sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ

     • Serving as the Hands and Feet of Christ

   • Complete your application before deadline dates. If you anticipate not being able to meet a deadline, contact us as early as possible and we will advise. 

   • After submitting, you'll receive an email confirmation and Foundation staff will contact you with follow-up questions, to request a site visit or meeting if necessary, etc.

   • Foundation staff will determine when and if the grant application is ready to present to the Board of Directors. An application submitted in a timely manner does not guarantee presentation to the Board of Directors at its next meeting or, in some instances, at all.
      

   • ​Online Application Tips

     • ​Bookmark the grant application login page or the Siebert Online Portal page.

     • We suggest you develop your grant application in Word first, in order to utilize the built-in spell check function and to also count characters to comply with character/word count limits. After you have completed the application, you can cut and paste from Word into the online grant application fields. Utilize the grant application question PDFs listed above for the application process that is applicable to your program/project.

     • Periodically scroll to the bottom of the screen and click "Save as Draft." If you do not, your information may be lost after a period of inactivity.

     • Remember to click "Submit" when you are finished.

5.  Decision Making and Notification

   • The Board of Directors make funding decisions based on the schedule in the table above.

   • ​Foundation staff will advise in writing of the Board's decision regarding your application.

   • If approved, you are required to sign and return the Foundation's Grant Agreement prior to distribution of funds.

6. Outcomes Reporting

   • After a grant request is approved and funds disbursed, the organization is required to report on progress toward expected results.

   • A final outcomes report will be required at completion of the project. In some instances, interim reports during the lifetime of the project will also be required. This will be detailed in the terms of the Grant Agreement. These reports are completed in the online grant portal. 

   • Follow-ups assigned for grants approved before May 1, 2019, will be submitted via Siebert's legacy grant portal. Grant applications submitted after May 1, 2019, will have follow-ups assigned in the new grant portal.

   • An organization may only have one Siebert Lutheran Foundation grant working each year. However, in special circumstances, permission is given to submit a proposal for a new project or program. Follow-up reports must be submitted prior to applying for new funding.