Toward the end of the training, some participating churches will be invited to apply for a grant based on the following criteria:Project viability: Is it possible to install an efficient system at the designated site?Human capacity: Are the people able to effectively manage the installation, operation and maintenance of the system?Support: Are church decision makers on board with the proposed plan?Need: Considerations will include programmatic impact, disaster and outage risk, social and economic vulnerability, and access to other funding opportunities.Impact: What difference will this project make when it comes to increasing the resilience of underserved people?Total funds available are $1,000,000, with each grant awarded no more than $100,000.

UMC Solar and Battery Pilot Program

Keeping the Doors Open: A Resilience Initiative for Churches Serving Their Communities

Q: Training cohort participant responsibilities

Leaders from selected churches must commit to:Pre-training homework of 5 hours before January 20276 training sessions between January 11 and March 12, 2027Weekly coaching sessions with an assigned mentorWeekly assignments related to project planning and implementation

Q: Participating churches responsibilities

During the program, selected churches will:Determine critical energy loads required to support community servicesWrite a solar & storage RFP and evaluate proposals from three vendorsLearn to manage energy usage during grid brownouts and blackoutsMake a plan to fund the project that may include grants and financingIf appropriate, request authorization from church leaders to move forward

Photo: Sunpath Solar

United Methodist churches are more than just places of worship. Many also provide critical services to vulnerable populations in their community. When natural disasters strike or power grids fail, these ministries can be interrupted. Doors are forced to close, and people are turned away.

But it doesn’t have to be that way.

Solar & Batteries Empower Resilient Ministries

Through a new pilot program led by Global Ministries Environmental Sustainability and UMCOR U.S. Disaster Response, churches who offer community-based services can now learn how to implement solar and/or battery storage so they can stay open when a disaster or power outage disrupts their normal operations.

Churches accepted for this new pilot program will receive comprehensive guidance in using these technologies, and some may be eligible for grants to purchase solar and battery systems.

How the Program Works

Part 1: Up to 20 U.S. United Methodist churches with ministries serving underserved communities will be selected from the applicants.

Those selected will participate in a cohort-based training to receive start-to-finish guidance on how to purchase and install solar and/or battery systems
Participating churches will complete a number of tasks to prepare for successful procurement of new technology (see below)

Part 2: Select participating churches that demonstrate readiness will be invited to apply for an UMCOR grant of no more than $100,000 to support their projects. Participation in the cohort does not guarantee grant funding.

Training cohort participant responsibilities

Leaders from selected churches must commit to:

Pre-training homework of 5 hours before January 2027
6 training sessions between January 11 and March 12, 2027
Weekly coaching sessions with an assigned mentor
Weekly assignments related to project planning and implementation

Participating churches responsibilities

During the program, selected churches will:

Determine critical energy loads required to support community services
Write a solar & storage RFP and evaluate proposals from three vendors
Learn to manage energy usage during grid brownouts and blackouts
Make a plan to fund the project that may include grants and financing
If appropriate, request authorization from church leaders to move forward

UMCOR grant details

Toward the end of the training, some participating churches will be invited to apply for a grant based on the following criteria:

Project viability: Is it possible to install an efficient system at the designated site?
Human capacity: Are the people able to effectively manage the installation, operation and maintenance of the system?
Support: Are church decision makers on board with the proposed plan?
Need: Considerations will include programmatic impact, disaster and outage risk, social and economic vulnerability, and access to other funding opportunities.
Impact: What difference will this project make when it comes to increasing the resilience of underserved people?
Total funds available are $1,000,000, with each grant awarded no more than $100,000.

Who is Eligible to Apply?

U.S.-based United Methodist churches with an existing ministry providing vital services in underserved communities are welcome to apply. The program is not designed for churches seeking to establish new ministries.

Basic eligibility requirements

Churches must meet the following requirements to apply for the program:

The church or another non-profit organization must provide community services on church property that require electricity
Church leadership must support engagement in this program
Church must have between one and three leaders who can commit an average of five hours per week between January 11, 2027-March 12, 2027

Additional considerations

Applicants will also be evaluated based on:

Supportive community relationships
Presence of a disaster preparedness plan and/or Continuity of Operations Plan
Roof age and location viability for solar. (Note: a church may apply even if it only wants or needs battery storage but not solar)
Location Risk Index and Social Vulnerability ratings as measured by the National Risk Index and the CDC Social Vulnerability Index
Energy needs

How to Apply

If your church meets the eligibility requirements, follow the steps below to apply:

Use the Resilience through Solar and Battery Storage Discernment Tool to determine whether your church is a good fit for the program.
After completing the Discernment Tool, if you’re confident in moving forward, complete the program application.

If you have any questions about the program, please email us, including your church name, city, state, and conference in your message.

Do More Together

Special Sunday Offerings

UMC Solar and Battery Pilot Program

Keeping the Doors Open: A Resilience Initiative for Churches Serving Their Communities

Solar & Batteries Empower Resilient Ministries

How the Program Works

Who is Eligible to Apply?

How to Apply

Program Timeline

August 17, 2026: Applications open

November 2, 2026: Applications close

By December 6, 2026: Accepted churches notified

Before January 2027: Pre-training homework due

January 11, 2027: Training sessions begin

March 12, 2027: Training sessions end

Application Deadline:

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