Unlock Your Board’s Potential

Board Development Grants

The Governance Initiative is dedicated to advancing board learning and development through board development grants. These grants offer a unique opportunity to support board development by providing a catalyst to move your governing or advisory board forward in its strategic priorities. Designed to fund action-oriented work determined by, and unique to, your board, these grants support initiatives that explore opportunities, address challenges, or tackle critical issues.

We recognize that institutions may find it challenging to budget or allocate resources for board development and growth. This grant opportunity supports board-focused grants of up to $10,000 to fund action-oriented board development projects. These projects will result in tangible outcomes specific to governing and advisory boards, such as creating or revising governance documents or board policies.

Visit the How to Apply Guide for tips on how to access and complete the application.What are the reporting requirementsGrant recipients must complete both a mid-year progress report and a final report of their project. We do not routinely require a school to provide receipts of grant eligible expenses; however, the In Trust Center may request verification for all or a portion of the grant’s eligible expenses. The In Trust Center reserves the right to use content submitted for reporting purposes.

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Application Questions
Governance Initiative

Eligibility

In Trust Center member schools, except those awarded in the last year, can apply for a Board Development Grant. Current membership must be maintained during the application and 12-month grant period.

Application period and funding timeline:

The grant application will open on January 30, 2025, and be due February 27, 2025. Awarded schools will be notified and funded within 60 days of the application due date.

Grant Recipients

What We Fund

  • Action-oriented board work
  • Plans for board processes and protocols
  • Creation or revision of board documents, policies, and procedures
  • Advisory board development or creation
  • Board and school sustainability planning for transitions, financial models, partnership, and engagement plans

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Eligible applicants in 2025 are governing or advisory boards at In Trust Center member schools that did not receive a grant in 2024.
  • Schools may not receive a grant for two consecutive years.
  • Schools who are participants in the Wise Stewards Initiative during the grant application window and grant cycle, are not eligible to apply until after their Wise Stewards Initiative cohort year has ended.

Up to $10,000 (USD)

The grants support action-oriented board work.

  • Board planning – succession plans, partnership plans, strategic plans
  • Document review or creation – bylaws, charters, position descriptions, policies
  • Shared governance – process, protocol, approach
  • Partnerships – cooperation agreements, readiness assessment
  • Mission / vision – positioning or repositioning
  • Development of advisory board
  • Assessment – board, individual board members
  • Board composition – board diversity, recruitment, culture
  • Clarifying roles and responsibilities
  • Engagement plans – congregational/external constituencies
  • Transition planning – executive leader resilience plans, leadership transitions
  • Financial sustainability
  • Board education that leads to action
  • Reoccurring expenses related to board meetings or retreats for board members including meals, meeting space, and travel.
  • Expenses related to compensation of board members or school personnel.
  • Expenses related to technology or equipment for the facilitation of your regularly scheduled board meetings.

Applications can be submitted by visiting here. As part of the application process, we ask that you confirm board chair and executive leader support of the proposed project, and if applicable, provide a copy of your governing or advisory board’s bylaws.

Applications can be submitted by the board chair or executive leader of a member school.

We have a board development opportunity in mind but are unsure where to start in exploring consultants or partners. The In Trust Center can help. Email resources@intrust.org.

The In Trust Center also accepts applications for Resource Grants for schools to try something new and innovative. These are not specific to boards.