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Guidelines for Missions Grants in 2008
Important Note for 2008: This will be the last year for Church and Community Grants as the North Carolina Conference UMC Missions Team is transitioning to a “Seed Funds” model to assist in beginning new ministries. Thus, no multi-year grants will be offered in 2008.
Church and Community Grants (CCG) are designed to encourage and promote missions ministry in or connected to the North Carolina Conference, and to empower and support local congregations and United Methodist connected para-church ministries in this endeavor. The program seeks to provide funding for those ministries that work to meet the needs of people who are alienated and dispossessed, the poor and the invisible, those with whom Jesus says he can be found, those whom he calls “the least of these.” The ministry endeavors to encourage and facilitate local congregations in moving “beyond their walls” to engage in direct ministries of human need and issues of justice.
Applicants for grants should consider one or more of the following outcomes:
The missional needs of the Church are diverse and varied, thus, the Church and Community Grants ministry will work to support mission throughout the North Carolina Conference, or through Conference supported ministries working beyond the geographical boundaries of the Conference. The CCG ministry seeks to enable, encourage, or support the continuance or development of ministry with an emphasis on benevolent care, education, and justice oriented projects.
The CCG ministry seeks to focus on ministries that speak to human issues from sound biblical and theological foundations as historically demonstrated in United Methodist traditions. The CCG ministry endeavors to encourage ministries which are instructive and persuasive in the best of the prophetic spirit.
1. ON-GOING: Provide on-going financial support for ministries located within the North Carolina Conference.
Important Note for 2008 – This will only be a one year grant.
The Church and Community Grants ministry will dedicate a significant portion of available funding to provide long-term financial support to ministries that reach out to the community in very significant ways. Churches, programs, or United Methodist related agencies that are funded through the component of the CCG can expect to receive funding for a number of years, as they work toward developing stable and consistent funding sources.
Maximum Grant Awarded: $30,000 Length of Grant: One yearRenewable annually but not less than three years of continued support (may be graduated.) Thereafter, continuation is negotiable in one year increments. A new grant application is required for each year.
Only a limited number of long-term mission ministries can be funded. Therefore, recipients are strongly encouraged to develop other funding sources. This allows resources to be used for other worthy ministries.
2. SPECIAL EMPHASIS: Provide financial support for “special emphasis” ministries supported through the North Carolina Conference which are beyond the geographical confines of the Conference.
Important Note for 2008 – This will only be a one year grant.
CCG ministry provides the opportunity for continued support for Conference related ministries designated as “special emphasis” through the Rainbow Covenant of the North Carolina Conference, or as designated through Bishop or Cabinet action. As in item 1 above, long-term funding is possible.
Maximum Grant Awarded: $15,000 Length of Grant: One year, renewable annually but not less than two years of continued support (may be graduated.) Thereafter, continuation is negotiable in one year increments. A new grant application is required for each year.
Only a limited number of long-term “special emphasis” grants can be funded. Therefore, recipients are strongly encouraged to develop other funding sources. This allows resources to be used for other worthy ministries in this arena.
3. NEW DEVELOPMENT: Encourage the development of new, creative and innovative approaches to mission and ministry in the community, with special emphasis on ministries addressing children and poverty, particularly those that are not duplicated elsewhere in their community.
Important Note for 2008 – This will only be a one year grant.
Short-term grants are available to encourage local congregations, agencies, and partnerships to develop and implement creative, innovative approaches to ministry. Grants are intended to provide initial start-up funding, and may be renewable for up to three years.
Maximum Grant Awarded: $5,000 Length of Grant One year. Grant recipients may apply for further funding with a new application each year.
Recipients of this type of grant will be expected to share, in some way, what they have learned about doing ministry in the community through the development and implementation of the project. Projects that show potential for being replicated in other places and in other contexts will receive special attention.
4. CHILDREN & POVERTY: Support efforts to address Annual Conference mission priorities by encouraging and supporting the actions of local United Methodist congregations, or agencies in partnership with United Methodist congregations, who are actively engaged in ministry in support of the Bishops Initiative on Children and Poverty.
Important Note for 2008 – This will only be a one year grant.
A limited amount of funding is made available to local church who are working to apply the Bishop’s Initiative on Children and Poverty in the life of the congregation. These funds may be used in start-up activities or to fund on-going efforts. Grants may be used to fund staffing, programming, and planning. Close attention should be given to assure that outcomes closely match those highlighted on page
Maximum Grant Awarded: $5,000 Length of Grant: One year. Grant recipients may apply for further funding with a new application each year.
The following criteria will be considered when applications for funding are reviewed.
Other criteria of interest in the reviewing process:
There is one grant cycle each year. Grant applications must be received no later than September 30, 2007 to be considered Year 2008. Fax copies are acceptable if followed with a hard copy. If grants are approved, funds will normally be distributed by the end March 2008. Those who are not approved during a particular grant cycle are welcome to reapply for the following cycle.
Important Note for 2008: This will be the last year for Church and Community Grants as the North Carolina Conference UMC Missions Team is transitioning to a “Seed Funds” model to assist in beginning new ministries. Thus, no multi-year grants will be offered in 2008.
All 2007 CCG grant recipients are required to submit an evaluation report by December 31, 2007.
For ON-GOING and SPECIAL EMPHASIS grant recipients, failure to provide a report will curtail grant funding for the remainder of the grant allocation period and will preclude the ministry from being eligible for consideration in the Seed Funding program beginning in 2009. For all other grant recipients, failure to provide a report will preclude any future funding.
C&C Grants (3 downloads): 2008 Guidelines, 2008 Application, Project Evaluation |
