Overview & Eligibility 

FPWA invites leaders of houses of worship and faith-based community organizations to apply for the Community Education and Awareness Grants. Funding will be allotted to support community-level outreach and engagement. Grants will be dispersed to houses of worship and faith-based community organizations who demonstrate a sincere interest in increasing engagement in education equity, access to higher education and dual enrollment participation.

Funding can be utilized to hold events and engagements that support families and youth within congregations and adjacent communities to navigate challenges, questions and build broader awareness of and understanding of navigating education equity issues, pathways to dual enrollment and advancement programs and making sense of tapping into resources/supports for financing college.

Goals & Scope of Work 

The primary goal of the Community Education and Awareness Grants is to empower faith leaders and faith-based community organizations to increase engagement and promote education equity, access to higher education, and dual enrollment participation within their congregations and surrounding communities.

Key Goals

• Foster community outreach and engagement focused on educational opportunities and challenges.
• Raise awareness about education equity issues and pathways to higher education.
• Guide families and youth in navigating the complexities of accessing dual enrollment programs and advanced academic opportunities.
• Gather information and insights as to the level of awareness, challenges and concerns families and their students face as it relates to dual enrollment programs, postsecondary education, and accessing college and related supports (financial and otherwise).

Grantee partners will be responsible for implementing the following activities: 

1) Organize Community Events

Conduct workshops, seminars, or information sessions to address education equity, access to higher education, dual enrollment programs, and financing college education.

2) Conducting direct outreach via phone banking, text banking, or canvassing 

Grantees will organize one-on-one contact with constituents to discuss education equity, access to higher education, dual enrollment programs, and financing college education. Grantees will have the option of directly engaging their own organization’s network and contact lists via phone, text message, and in-person methods. Grantees will also be encouraged to canvass local markets, religious services, festivals, and block parties to connect with community members directly. 

3) Attending and speaking at ongoing virtual and in-person community events 

Grantees will attend and present at community events, organization meetings, religious services, classes, and any other activities that attract members of your community, whether online or in-person, to convey key facts about education equity, access to higher education, dual enrollment programs, and financing college education. Grantees will be responsible for strategically activating volunteers, members, or community leaders to make these announcements within their institutions and throughout the community.  

4) Engaging local media, social media, networks, or contact lists to disseminate messaging 

This strategy focuses on getting the message out far and wide within networks and media that exist within your unique community. Grantees will identify and work with local media, social media, and online networks to publish stories reinforcing key messaging themes and leveraging community leaders as trusted messengers. 

 5) Distributing educational and outreach materials 

Grantees will have access to Faith in Education materials in both print and web/digital forms. 

Project Timeline 

This grant is to build organizing capacity within community, inclusive of faith and secular institutions, and will primarily be focused over the upcoming summer.

• June 1 – Grant announced and online applications launched
• July 1 – Grant applications deadline
• July 15 – Announcement of Grant Recipients (6 faith communities receiving $7500 each)
• August 31 – Community Education & Awareness Projects completed

Selection Criteria  

FPWA reserves the right to select community groups, organizations, and faith-based organizations based directly on the proposal submitted. Consideration will be given to applicants who have been active participants in the Faith in Education events.

Evaluation of the proposals will include but not be limited to the following criteria: 

• Prior educational (college bound and postsecondary education) outreach and engagement activities; 
• Relevant experience and success in organizing community leaders, neighborhood members, faith leaders, and community groups; 
• Existing relationships within your neighborhood or network; and, 
• Ability to meet deadlines and operate within budget.  

Geographic Focus 

The target neighborhoods include:

Applications must be submitted via this online form by July 8, 2024. Applicants will be notified about acceptance on July 15, 2024.