TEAM Belong Awards

Our annual, national, interfaith TEAM Belong Awards (formerly the Open Hearts Awards) are cash grants up to $1,000 available to:

Organizational structures such as departments, offices and ministries of faith traditions
Houses of faith
Religious schools/faith formation programs

to help fund projects that make it possible for individuals of all abilities to belong as coworkers in their worshiping communities and religious schools/faith formation programs.

See 2019 TEAM Belong Award Winners

Learn more about That Every Ability May Belong here.

Applicant Divisions:

The two divisions of TEAM Belong Awards are:

The JUNIOR TEAM Belong Awards for children and youth ages 5-18.
The TEAM Belong Awards for adult applicants.

Junior TEAM Belong Awards:

Are submitted by children and youth ages 5-18.
Parents and religious leaders may help to facilitate Junior TEAM Belong Award applications or children can submit applications on their own.
The Different Gifts, Same Spirit series of lesson plans are available on our website on the Resources Page or from Loyola Press to prepare children and youth to submit applications.
Junior applicants create and submit a video, an essay with photos or original artwork about how their planned access project will let individuals of all abilities know they belong in their house of faith or religious school/faith formation program.
Junior applications may be for access projects in their house of faith, religious school/faith formation program, or organizational structures such as Departments, Offices and Ministries that serve houses of faith and religious schools.
All projects must promote belonging for individuals of all abilities.
Annual deadline to be determined.

Watch a Junior TEAM Belong Award Winning Video:

TEAM Belong Awards:

Are submitted by adults.
Adult applicants create and submit a video or an essay with photos about how their planned access project will help let individuals of all abilities know they belong in their house of faith or religious school/faith formation program.
Adult applications may be for access projects in houses of faith, religious schools/faith formation programs, or organizational structures such as Departments, Offices and Ministries that serve houses of faith and religious schools.
All projects must promote belonging for individuals of all abilities.
Deadline is to be determined.

View a winning TEAM Belong Award essay here.

Video/Essay Guidelines:

We recommend viewing the That Every Ability May Belong Video Training before submitting an application for a TEAM Belong Award.
To be considered for an award, videos and essays must use “People First Language”. This means words are chosen with care to promote dignity and respect and to focus on the person first rather than their disability. For example, say “a person with epilepsy” NOT “an epileptic.” Say “a man who uses a wheelchair” NOT “a wheelchair bound man.”
Do not use the word “handicapped.” Say “accessible parking,” “accessible seating area,” “accessible washroom,” etc.