Dear Friend,
We are grateful to have had the opportunity to walk alongside you through The Shepherd’s Fund, and we continue to thank God for your faithful service to Christ and the Church. As The Shepherd’s Fund has grown, we have taken time to review and update our grantmaking guidelines and processes. These updates are centered on faithful stewardship and are intended to help The Shepherd’s Fund continue blessing retired pastors, missionaries, and their families for years to come. We wanted to share these updates with you directly.
A Few Key Updates to Know
The Shepherd’s Fund continues to support retired ordained pastors, retired ordained missionaries, and the spouses and widows or widowers of retired clergy or missionaries.
Assistance may be requested for documented medical and hardship‑related expenses, including medical bills, prescriptions, medical equipment, counseling, long‑term care, and other unplanned costs that can arise during the retirement years. All requests require invoices or receipts.
Each eligible individual may qualify for up to $25,000 in lifetime assistance, intended to be used over time as needs arise. There is no longer a limit on the number of years someone may apply. If you have not reached your lifetime assistance limit and have a current need, we encourage you to apply.
Eligibility is reviewed at least once every twelve months, after which additional qualifying expenses may be submitted throughout the year.
We’ve included a Frequently Asked Questions document with additional details to help clarify our current guidelines.
Help Us Share the Blessing
If you have already reached your lifetime assistance limit, we invite you to share The Shepherd’s Fund with other retired pastors, ordained missionaries, spouses, or widows who may not yet know this support is available. Your sharing helps extend this blessing to others who have faithfully served the Church.
How to Apply or Get Help
Applications and requests for help can be directed to The Shepherd’s Fund office. Applying online is the fastest option.
Website: www.theshepherdsfund.org
Email: support@theshepherdsfund.org
Phone: (844) 253‑9870
Mailing Address:
1859 Northgate Blvd.
Sarasota, FL 34234
Please don’t hesitate to reach out with questions. It remains a privilege to serve those who have shepherded God’s people with faithfulness and care.
With gratitude,
Paul Cooper
The Shepherd’s Fund