The John C. Lasko Foundation Trust supports the construction of Christian worship sanctuaries across the United States. Established as a legacy of John C. Lasko—an industrial entrepreneur and devout Christian from Michigan—the Trust was created to ensure the creation of permanent, unchanging places of worship that remain faithful to God’s mission. Since its founding, the Trust has awarded grants nationwide for the exclusive purpose of building church sanctuaries, explicitly excluding non-sanctuary spaces such as fellowship halls, classrooms, offices, kitchens, and baptisteries.
John C. Lasko founded Republic Tool and Die in 1940, which grew to become the largest privately owned tool and die company in North America. He passed away in 2011, and the Foundation continues his legacy by funding churches that reflect his belief in durable, mission-centered worship spaces. The Trust operates in perpetuity, providing construction-specific support to Christian congregations who meet the foundation’s detailed requirements.
The Lasko Foundation’s application process involves two distinct phases. Phase 1 is an online application that must be submitted by September 30. After review by the Trustees, selected applicants are invited to submit a full proposal in Phase 2, due by November 30. Phase 2 requires a physical hard copy of the application following specific guidelines shared only with invitees. Applicants are notified of final grant decisions by January 31 of the following year.
To be eligible, applicant churches must own the land where construction is planned and be able to fund at least 50% of the total project cost. Grants are limited to the proportion of the budget that applies to sanctuary space and are further capped at 50% of the total project cost. For example, a church with a total project cost of $1 million and 6,000 square feet of sanctuary space (out of 10,000 square feet total) may request up to $500,000. Conversely, if only 3,000 square feet is sanctuary space, the request is limited to $300,000 even if 50% of the full project cost is higher.
Sanctuary construction grants are not guaranteed, and funding is not available for debt repayment or non-sanctuary facilities. Late Phase 1 applications are not considered until the next grant cycle. Bank of America serves as co-trustee of the Foundation alongside Sean Cook, overseeing both the application review and disbursement process. The Trust encourages applicants to read the guidelines carefully and ensure that all submission materials reflect the mission-focused and construction-specific purpose of the program.
