Does your congregation support a ministry in the wider world? Do you contribute to Episcopal Relief & Development? Does a group in your congregation do a fundraiser to support a mission project — such as a school, a hospital, a building project — in a developing country? If so, you are contributing towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)!
The Episcopal Diocese of Spokane wants to encourage and support your congregation in its MDGs ministry. The diocese’s Social Justice and Outreach Ministries Commission (SJOM) has reserved $4144, the major part of the budgeted 2010 diocesan MDG funds, for matching grants to congregations. The goal of the MDG grant program is to foster new or expanded MDG initiatives by local congregations, and to encourage diocesan-wide involvement in the essential, Gospel-based work to eliminate extreme poverty in the developing world.
Grant Guidelines:
- A congregation may apply for up to $500. Funds will be awarded as a matching grant, with one dollar awarded for each two dollars pledged by the local congregation.
- Beginning after the initial application deadline — April 10, 2010 — MDG Congregational Grant funds will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis to qualifying applications until the funds designated for this purpose are expended.
- Initial grant awards will be made at the next SJOM Commission Meeting on April 17, 2010 in Pullman, WA.
- Any funds not expended by September 30, 2010, will be designated by the SJOM Commission at its meeting at Diocesan Convention in October.
- Project may be newly begun or a continuing effort by the local congregation.
- Project must clearly impact at least one of the eight MDG goals.
- Project must have a designated coordinator for purposes of grant.
- A one-page grant application must be completed, signed by project coordinator and the congregation’s person-in-charge, and submitted between no later than August 31, 2010.
- Funds granted must be expended in 2010.
- A one-page report on use of funds and impact on congregational engagement with the MDGs is required by January 31, 2011.
Grant applications will be reviewed by the Chair of SJOM and by the MDG Subcommittee. Recommendations will be submitted to the SJOM Commission for final approval, and a report will be presented to Diocesan Council for information.
Questions? Contact Char Mills at cam737@wildblue.net, 509-276-6929