GRANTS FOR MEMBERS OF
THE PRESBYTERY OF CHARLOTTE
The work of the Presbytery of Charlotte is to cultivate healthy and vibrant congregations of transformed disciples of Jesus Christ whose mission is to make other disciples and transform their communities through the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. (Charlotte Presbytery’s New Structure adopted May 2017), Christ’s Great Commission compels the Church to be faithful stewards in sharing the message of God’s love to the world. To that end, the Ministry Resource Committee (MRC) provides grants to strengthen and enrich the ministries of churches in the Presbytery of Charlotte.
List of Grants Available from MRC
Shared Mission Grants
Through its program of Shared Mission Grants, the Presbytery of Charlotte seeks to encourage the congregations within its bounds to join hands in shared mission, ministry and discipleship projects. Just as Christ says that wherever two or three are gathered in his name he is there among them (Matthew 18:20), so it is our hope that whenever two or three churches come together for ministry in his name that the power and presence of Christ will shine even brighter in those places.
ELIGIBILITY: To receive a Shared Mission Grant, two or three congregations must come together to formulate a plan for shared mission in the area around their churches, and at least one of these participating churches must have a membership of less than 175 persons. Each congregation participating in the shared project shall have an active role in the work and contribute some time, talent and financial resources to the project. The shared mission work should serve people beyond the walls of those congregations, reaching out into the community in “compassion, witness and service, sharing in the redeeming love of Jesus Christ for the poor, the hungry, the sick, the lost, the friendless, the oppressed, those burdened by unjust policies or structures, or anyone in distress” (Book of Order, G-2.0201).
APPLICATION: Shared Mission Grants are coordinated by the Presbytery’s Ministry Resource Committee (MRC). The grant application (which shall include, among other things, the endorsement of all participating sessions; a detailed expense budget of project and mission expenses and other sources of funds; and a detailed description of how the mission work will be shared by the participating congregations) must be complete when submitted. An incomplete application may result in the application being denied.
DOWNLOAD THE APPLICATION
The annual deadline for completing an application for a Shared Mission Grant is September 30th.
GRANT SPECIFICS: A Shared Mission Grant may offer up to five thousand dollars ($5,000.00) toward the shared mission project, as determined in the discretion of the MRC. Awarded grants are not renewable and shall terminate upon the expiration of the grant period approved by the MRC.
ENDORSEMENT: A Shared Mission Grant application is not complete unless and until it has been endorsed by the session of each congregation involved in the shared mission plan.
REPORTING: Congregations receiving a Shared Mission Grant will be required to share their mission experience with the presbytery. In the discretion of the MRC, reporting may include presentations, articles and/or consultations with other congregations considering similar projects.
EVALUATION: Evaluation will be conducted by the MRC at the conclusion of the grant period. This evaluation will be an opportunity for grant recipients to share their experience with both the grant process and the project itself. Congregations are expected to complete their evaluations within three months of the conclusion of their grant period.
OTHER GRANTS FROM
THE MINISTRY RESOURCE COMMITTEE
All other grants from the Ministry Resource Committee of the Presbytery use the MRC Grant Common Application Form. The Ministry Resource Committee usually meets on the first Thursday of the month.
Hamilton Fund – In 1980, Mrs. George Hamilton gave her home to Mecklenburg Presbytery that it might be sold and the interest from the investment used for the small churches of the presbytery. Mrs. Hamilton died in 1986, and memorial contributions were added to the principal of the fund. We are grateful for the life of Mrs. Hamilton and for her generosity. Hamilton Fund Grants assist congregations of 200 members or less with new projects or programs that could not be included in the annual budget of their congregation. These funds are not to be used for programs and/or projects, which the Hamilton Fund would be expected to continually, underwrite each year. Grants up to $250-1000 per congregation per year. Deadline for application is June 3, 2020. Applications will be considered as they are received.
New Initiatives Grant –To assist a new worshiping community or to help an already established congregation who is taking on a completely new initiative which responds to a changing ministry context and develops innovative programs or projects that lead to increased outreach and vitality for the congregation. Grants up to $2500 per congregation per year. Rolling deadline.
Training, Workshops, and Coaching – To provide coaching or mentoring resources that will help the Pastor, Session, Musician, and/or a designated committee within a congregation to be supported in the process of transformation with outside expertise. Grants up to $2400 per congregation. Rolling deadline.
Level 1-4 New Worshiping Community Grants – To assist a new worshiping community fund the core mission of their community for a discrete season of the community’s life (1-7 years). Grants are scaled in successive amounts or ‘levels’ with benchmark and narrative accountability with the MRC and PCUSA.
In general, funds available from the Presbytery and PCUSA total as follows:
Level 1: $7,500 “seed grant” from the PCUSA
Level 2: $25,000 “investment grant” from PCUSA; matched by MRC
Level 3: $25,000 “growth grant” from PCUSA; matched by MRC
Level 4: Amounts determined in conversation with the MRC
Level 1-4 Transformation Grants – modeled after the PCUSA 1001 NWC grants, the MRC will work with congregations undergoing significant transformation to offer grants scaled in successive amounts, with benchmark and narrative accountability with the MRC.
(For matching Synod or PCUSA grants,
simply forward those grant applications to the MRC)
SYNOD OF THE MID-ATLANTIC GRANTS
New and Small Church Grant Fund
Grant Range: up to $2,500
Purpose: The purpose of these grants is to further the mission of the church in partnership with the presbytery and session.
Criteria: The Synod of the Mid-Atlantic provides one-time grants to new and existing congregations of fewer than 250 members.
Deadlines: February 1st for Spring; August 1st for Fall
For guidelines and application see:
http://www.synatlantic.org/funding/grants-loans/
Speer Fund
Grants Range: from $2,000 – $5,000
Purpose: This fund supports projects which address the root causes of poverty. It funds projects which support ministries of development. Such ministries rely on the collective strength of people, encouraging them to own and to be a part of the decision-making process. The projects will focus on the strengths and assets of low-income communities and people. They will foster the development of both human and financial resources for neighborhood revitalization. Examples of Ministries of Development may include: community development; training or job placement associated with transitional housing; cooperative enterprises such as worker-owned businesses; voter registration and education; self-help programs e.g. tutorial programs, life skills training and/or job training; advocacy efforts. Projects must raise substantial resources (dollars-in-kind) from other, especially, local resources. For guidelines and application see
http://www.synatlantic.org/funding/speer-fund/
Jubilee Trust Fund
The Jubilee Fund is a Synod designated fund. It was created in 1982 from the proceeds of the sale of the Jubilee Health Center in Henderson, North Carolina. The income from the principal is to be used for mission projects in the areas of (1) African-American clergy recruitment; (2) African-American Christian Education; (3) African-American congregational leadership and development; and (4) African-American youth ministry. The programmatic use of this fund must benefit African-American congregations of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), and its constituent communities within the geographic bounds of the Synod of the Mid-Atlantic. The Jubilee Fund Committee receives, reviews, and processes applications for Jubilee Funds and forwards recommendations for awards through the Grants/Awards Committee of Synod Assembly. For guidelines and application see http://www.synatlantic.org/funding/jubilee-trust-fund/
GRANTS FROM THE PRESBYTERIAN MISSION AGENCY:
2020 Application deadlines: February 3, March 16, May 4, June 8, July 20, August 31
For Mission Program Grant guidelines click here
Walton Award for Thriving New Congregations
Grant Range: $50,000
Purpose: The Sam & Helen R. Walton Award is a $50,000 grant to help excellent new congregations with their capital expenses.
Deadline: January 31st each year
For guidelines and application, click here
1001 New Worshiping Community Grants
Grant Range: up to $50,000 over two years
Purpose: To help establish new worshiping Communities. The New Worshiping Communities Seed Grant provides $7,500 to help start a 1001 community, for the first year of ministry. After the first year, the ministry can apply for an additional $25,000 Investment Grant for the next 18 months, followed by the possibility of a $25,000 Growth Grant.
Criteria: These grants are limited to new worshiping communities that are related to the Presbyterian Church (USA), located within the United States and Puerto Rico and were established no earlier than July, 2010.
Visit the website to find out more about 1001 New Worshiping Communities.
Download Seed Grant Application