Marta Luna
19 Jan, 2026
At AETH we are pleased that your Bible Institute* is committed to theological education and the formation of pastors and leaders that will serve the churches and communities in our country. To build the capacity of the Bible institutes and in collaboration with Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary and the financial support of the Lilly Endowment, AETH is offering grants to eligible Bible institutes / ministry formation programs.
The general purpose of this form is to collect the basic general information about the Bible institute / ministry formation program to help AETH determine if your Bible institute / ministry formation program is eligible and if it meets or not the minimal requirements for grant award. If additional information is needed for further consideration, we may communicate and ask that you expand on your proposal. This is an opportunity to tell us about your organization, the project that you have in mind and the amount of support you will need to accomplish the project successfully. If you believe that your Bible institute / ministry formation program meets the criteria of this grant, we recommend that you continue reading the information included in this application.
We look forward to receiving your program’s application and discovering the ways we will support the life of your institution and the communities served. It is our mission to continue promoting theological education of excellence, facilitating, and improving the health of the institutions that form our pastors and leaders, thus helping them thrive.
In Christ,
AETH-Garrett Grant Advisory Council (GAC)
* We use the term “Bible institute” generically to refer to the variety of programs that have as primary goal the theological formation of congregations’ pastors and leaders, and that use academic requisites of admission different to those established by accredited theological institutions to function as seminaries and theological schools.
Marta Luna
19 Jan, 2026
BRIEF INFORMATION ON SUBGRANT GUIDELINES & PROCEDURES
The following summarized guidelines are presented herein to inform about the procedures and items governing our decision-making process. Read the complete document of Subawarding Guidelines for Capacity Building Awards before completing and submitting your application and proposal. Only the first 50 successfully completed applications will be considered.
Purpose of Grant: To build capacity for the Bible institutes and strengthen their unique role within the ecology of theological education, with the purpose of meeting the standards for certification, or for Bible institutes that need to build capacity even if they are not going to be certified.
Reward: A grant of up to $21,000.00 one-time award per Bible institute, will be awarded to a qualifying Bible institute to be used for capacity building in one or more of the following areas: software, library resources, board development, curricular consultants, leadership and management training for directors, training for instructors, or the certification verification process.
Qualifications: Interested Bible institutes must meet the following criteria to qualify for this award:
Approval Process: All the information received will be handled with the utmost confidentiality and will not be shared beyond the AETH-Garrett Grant Advisory Council (GAC). Once the application is received, the AETH GPU will have up to two months to decide whether the Bible institute is eligible. Once a decision is made, a formal letter will be sent to the institute. Please direct correspondence to: administration@aeth.org
Approval Timeline:
Attendance Policy: All participants must attend all orientations and courses.
Courses - Participant Bible institutes’ representatives must attend ALL synchronous and asynchronous sessions. These courses are a vital component of the subaward to help you launch the project and improve performance.
Subawards Disbursement Timeline:
Benefits: The selected Bible institutes will receive the following benefits:
Limitations: The grant award is for Bible institutes within the United States and Puerto Rico. The funds cannot be used for:
Proposal Submission Guidelines, Rubric and Timeline and Other Important Information: (Click on each one)
Brief Subgrant Application Procedures & Guidelines
Subwarding Guidelines for Capacity Building
Grant Evaluation Rubric
Capacity Building and Community Engagement Calendar
Proposals must be submitted through the AETH webpage. Only the first 50 successfully completed applications will be considered. All applications and proposals must be in English. Click on the following tutorial to complete and submit your application: SUBGRANT APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
The grant covers training for directors/principals and instructors, and can be used for software, library resources, board development, curricular consultants, leadership and management training, and the certification verification process.
Directors or principals will receive training in leadership and management, organization, administration, operations, library research, and the certification process. This will be facilitated through an online course resulting in a certificate in Church and Bible Institute Leadership.
Instructors will receive a $500.00 incentive to cover days off from work to take the course and an additional $500.00 incentive to teach the course to other instructors at their Bible institute.
The partner organizations include The Garrett Collective, Emory-Candler’s La Mesa Academy & Foundry, World Outspoken, and The Justo & Catherine Gonzalez Resource Center. These organizations will collaborate with AETH in teaching and learning activities.
The project will be implemented over five years, starting in 2024 with an organizational year, followed by the official project launch in 2025, continuation phases in 2026 and 2027, the final year in 2028, and a closeout phase in 2029 which includes data summary, evaluations, and the final report.
<p>The purpose of t<strong>he project</strong> is to build the administrative and management capacity of Bible institutes to help them meet certification standards or improve their internal capacity. This includes developing strategic plans, financial policies, revising curricular offerings, and enhancing leadership and organizational proficiency.</p>
The effectiveness of the training sessions will be evaluated through participant feedback, assessments, and follow-up activities. Additionally, the impact on the Bible institutes' operations and progress towards certification will be monitored and reported.
AETH (Association for Hispanic Theological Education) plays a central role in developing and implementing the training programs, coordinating with partner organizations, providing grants, and overseeing the overall execution and evaluation of the project.
The project supports the certification process by providing comprehensive training for leadership and instructors, offering resources such as software and library materials, and funding the certification verification process. This holistic approach ensures that institutes are well-prepared to meet certification standards.
The expected outcome is that participating Bible institutes will have enhanced administrative and management capabilities, improved curricular offerings, and better-prepared leaders and instructors. Ultimately, this will lead to higher chances of achieving certification and improved educational quality.
Support will include continuous guidance and mentorship from AETH and partner organizations, access to training materials and resources, and opportunities for networking and collaboration with other participating institutes.
The project will address specific needs through tailored training sessions and subgrants that can be used for customized resources and support. Institutes can request assistance based on their unique challenges and goals.
Eligibility criteria for the grant typically include being a recognized Bible institute that requires capacity building to meet certification standards or enhance its internal capacity. Specific eligibility requirements will be detailed in the grant application guidelines.
Applications can be submitted through the official grant application portal provided by AETH. Detailed instructions and application forms will be available on their website.
The selection process includes reviewing applications to ensure they meet the eligibility criteria, evaluating the proposed capacity-building plans, and assessing the potential impact of the grant on the Bible institute.
Grant recipients will be announced after the evaluation of applications. Specific dates will be provided in the project timeline and communicated through the project’s official channels.
Grant recipients will be required to submit regular progress reports detailing how the grant funds are being used, the outcomes of training sessions, and the progress towards achieving the project's goals. A final report summarizing the entire project period will also be required.
No, the grant funds must be used strictly for the purposes outlined in the grant guidelines, such as training, software, library resources, and other capacity-building activities. Any deviation from the approved budget must be pre-approved by AETH.
If a grant recipient fails to meet the project objectives, they may be required to return unused funds, provide a detailed explanation, and may be ineligible for future grants. Continuous monitoring and support aim to prevent such outcomes by addressing issues early on.
Grant funds can only be reallocated with prior approval from AETH. Recipients must submit a formal request outlining the reasons for the reallocation and how it aligns with the project's objectives.
Progress reports are typically required quarterly, with a comprehensive final report at the end of the project. Specific reporting schedules will be outlined in the grant agreement.
The training for instructors will cover areas such as andragogy/pedagogy, curricular design, critical thinking, theological reflection, project-based learning, and spiritual formation. The course, Maestro a Maestro, aims to enhance teaching skills and promote knowledge sharing among instructors.