The Duke Endowment accepts applications semi-annually for North Carolina Rural Church Grants. This program offers funding to United Methodist Churches in rural areas for health and human service-related outreach programs, church development, and leadership programs. Priority funding focuses include cultivating and supporting pastoral leaders, reimagining church real estate, building congregational capacity, and identifying and testing selected programs. Rural United Methodist churches in North Carolina, as defined by Rural-Urban Commuting Area codes, are eligible. Deadlines for applications are May 10 and October 3, with the pre-application portal opening about six weeks prior.