Glossary of terms found in CBA grant applications 

CBA Member Organization 

CBA can only receive applications from and disburse funds to Christian organizations paying dues to CBA. Membership in the CBA is open to any organization sponsoring or administering church benefit programs. CBA Member Organizations can partner with their denominations or other collaborators to implement grant-funded programming, however the CBA member organization is the fiscal recipient and is responsible for completing all reporting documentation.     

Grant Champion 

The individual within your organization who is most passionate about and committed to advancing clergy well-being through this grant opportunity. The Grant Champion serves as an internal advocate for the proposed work, helps build organizational support, and may coordinate planning and implementation efforts. There may be different Grant Champions for a Full Scale Denominational Grant and a Be Still and Know Sabbatical Grant.   

Grant(s) 

In the budgeting section of each application, the term “grants” refers to financial awards made by the CBA Member Organization to eligible organizations, congregations, and/or clergy through its grant program. Similar terms with the same meaning are sub grants and regranting.   

Senior Leader 

The person with primary executive authority and responsibility for the organization. Depending on the organization, this may be an executive director, president, chief executive officer, or another individual with comparable decision-making authority. This is the leader who signs the grant agreement and is empowered to make a commitment to carrying out the grant activities as prescribed in the approved proposal.   

Financial Officer 

The individual with primary responsibility for the organization's financial oversight, management, and reporting. Depending on the organization, this may be a treasurer, chief financial officer, finance director, comptroller, or another senior finance officer. 

Clergy 

For purposes of this grant program, applicants should use the definition of clergy established in their organizational plan documents. Grant funds are prioritized for initiatives that support clergy serving congregations in the United States. Matching funds contributed to or raised by the CBA member organization can be used to support clergy serving outside of congregations and outside the United States.   

The language used in our grant proposal is: “Who can participate in a program funded by a grant through CBA?  Participants in the programs for which grants are submitted must meet the definition of clergy as noted in each CBA member organization’s plan document. With 51 primary denominations and over 100 participating denominations, the term clergy is widely defined. The intent is that program participants have some form of recognized education for ministry (certificate program, bachelor, master, doctorate), and relationship with the benefit board / denomination as expressed through retirement plan membership, denominational credentialing criteria (commissioned, licensed, installed, ordained, settled, Elder, Deacon, etc.) or other form of denominational recognition. Participants in programs would be eligible to participate or are active participants in the benefit provider’s retirement programs.” 

*This last sentence is significant as it correlates to our funder’s curiosity if CBA can provide programming to clergy outside of active participants in member programs.