ELCA Scholarships

Scholarships are available to U.S. and international students called to elevate the church and the world through the faithful pursuit of educational opportunities.

How to Register

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The Path to Academic and Spiritual Growth

A stepping stone toward your purpose in faith

Providing funding for students to focus on living their dreams of educational purpose and fulfillment is a powerful investment in the future of the church. The ELCA Fund for Leaders and other generous sources provide valuable scholarships that light the way for students to lead in Christ.

Supporting Future Leaders

ELCA Fund for Leaders scholarships serve as a major funding source to make education more affordable for new seminary students, federal chaplaincy programs, synod and congregational scholarships, and other options. Applications for scholarships funded through other sources are also available.

Options for International Students

The ELCA's International Leaders Program provides scholarships for students sponsored by companion churches around the world participating in short- and long-term academic programs. Students gain practical leadership development training that roots their learning in the global Lutheran context.

ELCA Scholarships

GRANT NAME

DESCRIPTION

WHO CAN APPLY

DEADLINE

Torrison Scholarship

The Dr. George and Emma J. Torrison Scholarship Fund provides grants for men and women who intend to pursue careers in medicine.

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Applicants must hold membership in the ELCA and be graduating seniors who have been accepted into a medical school as a first-year student in the fall of the current year of application.

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All year around

‍See Instructions to Register

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Coaching Scholarship

We recognize that the requirements to meet Active Status could prove to bring a financial hardship for some of our coaches. We want to provide every opportunity for any coach that want to invest in this qualification to be able to achieve this status. We also recognize that the financial consequences of obtaining these qualifications could be proportionally unequal for our colleagues that serve in historically marginalized communities.

This scholarship is an intentional investment in our coaching leaders and the work our coaching ministry is committed to doing around dismantling institutional racism.

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Coaching Leaders affiliated to the Coaching Network

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Registration Open: Feb. 26 - Dec. 1

‍See Instructions to Register

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Rossing Physics Scholarship

Thanks to generous gifts from Dr. Thomas D. Rossing, which established The Rossing Fund for Physics Education Endowment , outstanding students of physics may apply for competitive scholarships of up to $10,000.

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Applicants must be enrolled in an ELCA-related college or university, must be currently classified by their college or university as a sophomore or junior, must have declared their intention to graduate with a major in physics, and must have taken at least one course in physics at that college or university.

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TBD

‍See Instructions to Register

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Fund for Leaders Direct Full-Tuition Scholarship

Applicants must be seeking to become rostered ministers in the ELCA and must have begun the candidacy process in their ELCA synod.

These scholarships are awarded to students for the duration of their required seminary coursework.

Applicants should be prepared to provide written essay, video essay, letters of recommendation, synod candidacy verification, and an offer of admission letter from an ELCA seminary.

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The ELCA Fund for Leaders Direct Full-Tuition Scholarship is for new students who will be enrolled in the upcoming fall semester. Current students who will have completed no more than one semester of coursework by the upcoming fall semester are also eligible to apply.

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December 1, 2025 - February 20, 2026

‍See Instructions to Register

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Fund for Leaders Federal Chaplaincy Ministries Scholarship

This scholarship is awarded through ELCA Federal Chaplaincy Ministries. Recipients of FFL full tuition and or Synod/Congregation scholarships are eligible to apply.

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The ELCA Fund for Leaders Federal Chaplaincy Ministries Scholarship is for students who are attending an ELCA seminary and are preparing for ministry as a Military, Veterans Administration or Federal Prison chaplain.

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February 9 - March 13, 2026

‍See Instructions to Register

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Fund for Leaders Mission Developer

Students must be identified and nominated by their seminary in coordination with their synod bishop and Director of Evangelical Mission (DEM).

Do not complete this application unless you have received an invitation to do so.

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The ELCA Fund for Leaders Mission Developer Scholarship is for current students including TEEM (Theological Education for Emerging Ministries) candidates at an ELCA seminary

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December 1, 2025 - February 2, 2026

‍See Instructions to Register

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Fund for Leaders Synod, Congregation

The ELCA Fund for Leaders Synod of Congregation Scholarship is offered to ELCA seminary students by synods and congregations that have established a scholarship fund through Fund for Leaders.

A list of scholarship names is available from a menu provided in the application; choose the specific name of the award for which you were invited to apply.

Do not complete this application unless you have received an invitation to do so.

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By invitation only

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Friday, May 15 - June 5, 2026

‍See Instructions to Register

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Fund for Leaders, TEEM Support

ELCA Fund for Leaders seeks to support all rostered ministry candidates studying through the TEEM (Theological Education for Emerging Ministries) program. All registered TEEM students will receive tuition assistance.

This scholarship, valued between $3,000 to $5,000 per student, will be distributed equitably each fall by all seminaries with a TEEM program. Individual applicants need not directly apply.

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ELCA Seminaries with TEEM programs

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N/A

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Short-Term Scholarship (International)

This application should be used by individuals seeking programs of study that last less than 12 months. Individuals of any gender are eligible to apply for this scholarship.

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ELCA Churches in the USA Nominated individuals from companion churches; education program shorter than one year.

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See Instructions to Register

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Long-Term Scholarship (International)

This application should be used by individuals seeking academic programs of study that last 12 months or longer.

Long-Term Scholarships can apply toward academic programs located either in or near your home country, or in another part of the world (such as the United States). Individuals of any gender are eligible to apply for this scholarship.

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Nominated individuals from companion churches; education program longer than one year.

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See Instructions to Register

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International Women Leaders Scholarship (International)

This application should be used by young women who are interested in pursuing a 4-year bachelor's degree at an ELCA College in the United States.

Only women between the ages of 17-25 are eligible to apply for this scholarship.

Young women who do not wish to study in the United States (even those who meet the other criteria) should use either the Long-Term or Short-Term Scholarship applications.

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Young women nominated from companion churches; bachelor's degree at ELCA-affiliated college in US

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See Instructions to Register

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