Eligibility

• Student must be enrolled in one of the following approved non-traditional track programs for the purpose of ordination or leadership in Lutheran pastoral ministry:

  • TEEM (ELCA)

  • SMP or EIIT (LC-MS)

  • Pastoral Studies Institute (WELS)

• Seminary students in traditional M.Div. programs are no longer eligible to receive funding within this grant program. 

• The student must be a member of a Lutheran congregation in the state of Wisconsin prior to application to seminary.

• Upon initial application, the student must provide a letter from the church where he/she was a member prior to applying to the seminary verifying church membership.  The letter must be original and on church letterhead (no copies) and include the dates of membership.

• Grant funding is undesignated, so it can be used for room and board or other non-tuition expenses related to attending seminary.

• Funding is not limited to three academic years; it remains available if the student needs more time to complete their seminary education or vicarship or internship, if funding is needed and the lifetime cap has not been reached. 

• The maximum lifetime amount of money the Foundation will provide for an individual is $15,000.

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How to Apply

ELCA - TEEM Program:  Complete the Siebert Lutheran Foundation Financial Aid Application Form and submit it to the Financial Aid Office at the seminary you will be attending along with a letter from your church verifying your membership prior to applying to the seminary.  Please remember, you must be a member of a Lutheran congregation in the state of Wisconsin prior to applying to the seminary to be eligible for funding.  The financial aid office at your seminary will apply for funding on your behalf.

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LC-MS - SMP Program and EIIT Program:  Complete the Siebert Lutheran Foundation Financial Aid Application Form and submit to your District Office (South Wisconsin District or North Wisconsin District) along with a letter from your church verifying your membership prior to applying to the seminary.  Please remember, you must be a member of a Lutheran congregation in the state of Wisconsin prior to applying to the seminary to be eligible for funding.  The District will apply for funding on your behalf.

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WELS – Pastoral Studies Institute:  Complete the Siebert Lutheran Foundation Financial Aid Application Form and submit to the Financial Aid Office at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary along with a letter from your church verifying your membership prior to applying to the seminary.  Please remember, you must be a member of a Lutheran congregation in the state of Wisconsin prior to applying to the seminary to be eligible for funding.  The Seminary will apply for funding on your behalf.

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Please note:  Application forms and letters must be submitted to the seminaries and District Offices by July 1st.

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What happens after I apply?

The financial aid offices and the district offices will accumulate the application forms from students and letters from churches.  They will calculate the financial need of each student and submit one grant request on behalf of their Wisconsin students enrolled in qualifying programs to the Foundation.

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The Foundation will then review these grant requests and award grant money.  Notification of grant awards will be made to the seminaries and district offices by October 10th of the application year.  The seminaries and district offices will notify students of the grant amount each student is to receive.  Grant funds will be issued directly from the Foundation to the seminaries in late October. 

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In 2020, the Siebert Lutheran Foundation transitioned to an electronic Accounts Payable platform – Bill.com. The person listed as the contact for your organization will receive an email from Bill.com requesting account information so the grant funds can be directly deposited. If he/she is not the appropriate person, please email Lenee Montgomery and she will send the invite to the person specified.

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Student withdrawals

If a student elects to withdraw from their studies at the seminary prior to the issuance of payments, we ask that the Foundation be notified immediately. If a student withdraws at any time during the school year, the seminary must contact the Foundation as soon as possible regarding any unused grant funds. 

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