Church Grants
Australia
Closed roundIndependently reviewed

Church Growth Grants

Gospel Future Fund

Established churches in Australia or New Zealand seeking a new ministry initiative or a new staff worker for at least three days a week. Church plants within their first three years, planting apprentices and MTS workers, and building purchase, construction or refurbishment are excluded. The FAQs require DGR Item 1 status or Income Tax Exempt Charity and Tax Concessional Charity status. Projects need a clear Christian mission, sound governance, measurable outcomes and a plan to become self-funding; Gospel Future Fund cannot be the sole funder. Other exclusions include generic public appeals, capital or endowment corpus funds, emergency or disaster appeals, travel or accommodation alone, and organisations with internal funding or capacity for significant corporate or community support. No named denomination or network requirement is stated. New Zealand applicants should confirm the tax-status requirements with the funder.

Verified source record

Check the official source before making a decision.

An independent reviewer reopened the official source and checked the material fields. This remains guidance, not a legal eligibility decision, and the funder’s current rules control.

Church-specific reading

What appears relevant

Established churches in Australia or New Zealand seeking a new ministry initiative or a new staff worker for at least three days a week. Church plants within their first three years, planting apprentices and MTS workers, and building purchase, construction or refurbishment are excluded. The FAQs require DGR Item 1 status or Income Tax Exempt Charity and Tax Concessional Charity status. Projects need a clear Christian mission, sound governance, measurable outcomes and a plan to become self-funding; Gospel Future Fund cannot be the sole funder. Other exclusions include generic public appeals, capital or endowment corpus funds, emergency or disaster appeals, travel or accommodation alone, and organisations with internal funding or capacity for significant corporate or community support. No named denomination or network requirement is stated. New Zealand applicants should confirm the tax-status requirements with the funder.

Mission & ministryStaffing

Unclear or confirm with the funder

Questions still needing an authoritative answer

  • Which exact legal entity must apply, and whether incorporation or an ABN is mandatory.
  • Whether DGR status, an auspice or a particular denominational affiliation is required.
  • Which worship, religious, property or existing-cost exclusions apply to this project.
  • Whether co-contribution, owner consent or internal church approvals must be evidenced.

Your next step

Turn these questions into a practical checklist.

Use the private readiness check to identify the entity, approvals, documents and funding conditions to resolve before you approach the funder.

Start the readiness check

Explore related project guidance

Next editorial action

What we will verify next

The round is closed. Check official dates before applying; one application per organisation per year is a limit, not a promised annual round. If applications reopen, prepare a governing-body-approved growth plan for at least three years, project budget, other income sources and measurable outcomes. A preliminary enquiry comes first; a full submission is by invitation. The linked submission template requests current accounts, recent audited statements, endorsement evidence and an annual report. Follow current invitation instructions and confirm requirements before submitting.