Domestic Hunger Grants: Now accepting letters of inquiry
Hurry! Letters of Inquiry are due July 2, 2025!
ELCA World Hunger gives thanks for the 147 domestic ministries that will be putting $1,533,936 to work through ELCA World Hunger grants domestically in 2024:
46 ministries across this church have been awarded 2024 Domestic Hunger Grants for a total 3- year (2024-2026) investment of $1,279,590 with an average 3-year award of $9,272 per ministry(*).
52 ministries awarded 2023 Domestic Hunger Grants and 37 ministries awarded 2022 Domestic Hunger Grants will receive continued funding in 2024 for a total investment of $1,233,936 in ministry through Domestic Hunger Grants.
Big Dreams don’t happen overnight or in a year, so in a move toward more sustainable funding for our partners we are extending the awards for up to three years, depending on the needs of the ministry, and to match our Domestic Hunger Grant model. The 12 original 2022 Big Dream Grant partners are designated with a (†). Our total three-year investment will be $1,948,144.
Prior to submitting a full grant proposal, grant applicants are asked to fill out a letter of inquiry (LOI) which briefly describes the project proposal. Registering on our granting portal, ELCA GrantMaker, is not required at this step. LOI Link.
Our DHG application Zoom webinar on Thursday, May 1, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. CST will offer more information about the process. We will review granting priorities and the grant application process, how to submit an LOI, and answer questions from grant applicants. To join us for this virtual event, please register here. Participants will be provided with a link once registered. The webinar will be recorded and accessible via the Domestic Hunger Grant FAQ page.
The Domestic Hunger Grant application for 2026 awards opens April 23, and we look forward to your collaboration in promoting the opportunity to ministries! Please refer to the new application cycle below and spread the word.
How to Apply (Ingles y español)
Application Timeline
Informational webinar for prospective applicants: May 1, 2025, at 2:00pm Central time
Letter of inquiry form open: April 23–July 2, 2025
Letter of inquiry review: July 10–September 10, 2025
Response to the letter of inquiry (decline or accept): October 3, 2025
Invited applicants to complete grant application in ELCA GrantMaker: October–December 2025
Review and communication between ELCA World Hunger staff and grant applicants on proposal: October–December 2025
Award notifications shared with applicants: January 2026
2026 Domestic Hunger Grants start date: March 1, 2026
Let us not succumb to the divisiveness of our world but rather join together to fight the great injustice that is having some of us fed and others who are not. Thank you for your creative, courageous work toward a just world where all are fed. If you have any questions, please contact us at hunger@ELCA.org
Dear partners and friends of ELCA World Hunger,
Applications for ELCA World Hunger’s 2026 Domestic Hunger Grants are open! To learn more about submitting a Letter of Inquiry (LOI), grant partnership eligibility, and our granting priorities, please visit our Domestic Hunger Grants website.