Apply for a Science Engagement for Congregational Flourishing (SECF) Grant

Applications are CLOSED for the second cohort of the Science Engagement for Congregational Flourishing (SECF) project.

The AAAS DoSER program is excited to open applications for the second cohort of our Science Engagement for Congregational Flourishing grant initiative, funded through a grant from Lilly Endowment, Inc. This initiative supports the development of educational programs for pastors and congregational leaders with an emphasis on bringing science literacy and communication about science and society topics into the skillset of congregational ministers. Projects should serve Christian congregational leaders in the United States as a primary audience, although they may also engage broader audiences.

DoSER will provide grants of $10,000 to $25,000 to continuing education or life-long learning providers for projects that develop programming with a major focus on Christian engagement with topics in forefront science and technology. Proposed project activities should be carried out between January 2026 and December 2027. Grant consideration will be given on the basis of a single application accompanied by supporting documents. Applications will be evaluated by an external review committee with final decisions made by AAAS.

Dates to Remember

Grant Requirements 

Projects must include the incorporation of science engagement into one or more continuing education offerings. Grantees may select which scientific topic(s) they wish to engage and how they approach incorporating this content into their offering(s), but projects must focus on preparing congregational leaders to engage with science in their ministry context. Program formats may vary. As some examples, they may include workshops, courses, field trips, events, online learning tools, etc. See the application instructions or visit Cohort 1 webpages for more examples of engagement activities.

Awardees will be required to attend a virtual kickoff meeting on December 4 and an in-person workshop January 27-29, 2026. Expenses for this meeting will be covered by AAAS and need not be included in the grant budget.

Selection Criteria

Applications will be selected based on the demonstration of the following:

• Clarity and completeness of all components of the application;
• Commitment to substantive new engagement with science and/or technology topics;
• The positive, substantial impact this project would make on equipping congregational leaders to engage science in their ministry context;
• Strategic fit of proposed science engagement with the needs and context of your educational constituency and their communities;
• Potential reach of proposed continuing education or life-long learning elements including impacts and sustainability beyond the grant period;
• Institutional and personnel capacity to carry out the project as proposed.

We encourage inclusion of activities that directly engage with scientists and/or scientific institutions – rather than solely scientific content – in the development and implementation of the project. Applicants are encouraged to provide programming that is fee-free (at least during the life of the grant) and accessible to participants and to develop programs that encourage and provide communities among congregational leaders, including in-person programming or opportunities where possible

Instructions

Applications should be completed and submitted with all required documents by the application close date, September 15, 2025, 11:59 PM PDT. CLICK HERE for full application instructions.  

The application should include:   

• Project title
• Project leadership CV/resumes
• Brief description of your organization and its constituency
• Letter of support from associated seminary, judicatory, or denominational body
• Executive summary
• Description of project activities
• Project goals, objectives, and impacts
• Timeline
• Budget
• Budget Narrative

For an example of how to outline your proposed budget, CLICK HERE. 

Frequently Asked Questions

SECF Frequently Asked Questions 2025

We will host two FAQ sessions during the open application window on June 23 and August 14, 2025, at 2pm EDT. If you would like a copy of the slides shared during the FAQ, please email LCastren@aaas.org or DoSER@aaas.org. 

Watch the FAQ Presentation from June 23, 2025

Watch the Q&A from the June 23 FAQ

What is the Science Engagement for Congregational Flourishing project? 

The “Science Engagement for Congregational Flourishing” (SECF) project will resource and equip congregational leaders, both clergy and lay, to engage with critical issues at the intersection of science and society within their congregations and communities. The projects initiated through SECF will deepen congregants’ faith through theological reflection on critical questions, enhance their connections with one another through shared conversation and action on topics that shape their daily lives, and enable them to more meaningfully contribute to the flourishing of their communities through informed and impactful engagement with the issues that matter most. Topics can include anything and everything related to science and society, including food security, mental and physical health, racial justice, the ethical use of new technology, awe and wonder in the world around us, and more.

The SECF project will provide grants to continuing education providers to develop offerings that equip and resource congregational leaders to meaningfully engage with science in their ministry contexts. DoSER will provide connections with scientists and science resources to enhance continuing education offerings and will support grantees through workshops, cohort meetings, and networking opportunities. In addition, DoSER will directly support congregational leaders through a series of in-person and virtual workshops that provide tools and resources for leaders to engage forefront science issues within their ministerial contexts. Participants in these workshops, as well as participants in the continuing education programs developed, will also receive ongoing support from DoSER including science resources and networking opportunities with one another through both periodic virtual meet-ups and an ongoing online network for sharing questions, resources, and promising practices. Finally, DoSER will provide mini-grants to congregational leaders to help kickstart science engagement programs within their ministry contexts.

For congregations to thrive, they must be relevant to their communities by meaningfully engaging with the issues that are facing them while still remaining faithful to their theological traditions and practices. By providing resources and practical guidance in science engagement for congregational leaders, SECF will equip these leaders to shepherd their congregations through the challenges and opportunities raised by scientific and technological advancements that are shaping the world today.