Grants: Sharing Our Financial Gifts

The Plymouth congregation believes strongly that all gifts of time, talent, and money should be shared outside the walls of the church. In 2009, we are introducing a new framework for providing financial support to outside organizations. Through our Change Grants and Inspiration Grants, we hope to use our money to connect the needs in the world with our life as a congregation.

If you’re an agency interested in learning more about our grant opportunities, or a member wanting to discover ways you can connect the groups you’re passionate about to the wider church, read on. If you have additional questions, contact Jennifer Castle, Facilitator of Lay and Community Ministries, at jcastle@plymouthchurchseattle.org.

Change Grants

Change Grants are substantial three-year awards to organizations that work for social justice. Each grant will be for approximately $100,000, spread over the term of the grant. Change Grants are funded from the pledges of Plymouth members and friends.

Purpose

Plymouth’s Change Grants are intended to meaningfully assist organizations that work for social justice. We focus on efforts to give hope, voice, and opportunity to populations living on the margins due to factors such as poverty, disabilities, discrimination, and lack of education; or work that advocates and seeks to bring about change in economic, educational, governmental, legal and other systems on behalf of such populations. Further, we seek organizations that involve the people being served, empowering them within the organization to shape its vision and operations.

These grants are also meant to bring opportunities for Plymouth members and friends to stand with the population being served in mutually beneficial and enriching relationships. We believe that we are called by God to deep partnership and connection with all. To support that, we particularly seek organizations that are eager to bridge the split between “have” and “have not” through shared experiences, work, and service. Recipients do not need to be faith-based organizations.

Grant Details

• $25-35,000 per year for three years;non-renewable
• One award per year
• Grant terms are typically January through December

Eligibility

• The applicant’s mission and work align with the purposes of the grant described above
• The applicant serves the greater Seattle area
• A Change Grant will have a meaningful impact of the organization’s ability to fulfill its mission
• There is reasonable likelihood the organization or funded project will succeed and be sustainable after the grant expires
• The applicant is a non-profit that is recognized as a tax-exempt Section 501(c)(3) organization.

Change Grant recipients will generally not be eligible for any other grant support from Plymouth during the term of the Change Grant.

We will not fund:

• Endowments
• Capital projects
• Organizations that provide only emergency services

To help further the partnership between Plymouth and recipient organizations and encourage individual commitments to the organization, recipients will:

• Work with church members to develop connections between the people served by the organization and Plymouth members and friends, through traditional service opportunities as well as any innovative approaches that the organization wants to explore.
• Visit Plymouth at least twice a year to speak on the work being done and help create energy at Plymouth for support of the organization
• Provide a brief annual update on the impact of the grant on the organization and a summary report at the end of the grant term.

Application Process

2009 application forms will be available after June 10 by e-mail request to jcastle@plymouthchurchseattle.org. Applications for grants are due July 31 and the grant announcement will be made September 30.

If you have specific questions about Change Grants and your organization’s eligibility, contact Jennifer Castle, Facilitator of Lay and Community Ministries, at jcastle@plymouthchurchseattle.org or at (206) 622 4865.

Inspiration Grants

Inspiration grants are one-time $1000 grants to support Seattle-area organizations involved in social service, social justice, and social change. Applications are sponsored and submitted by Plymouth members and funded from the pledges of Plymouth members and friends.

Purpose

The Inspiration Grant is a seed investment toward connecting people and opportunities to Plymouth’s mission of social change.

The Inspiration Grant is intended to be a small one-time grant to external organizations. Grants will be applied for and sponsored by Plymouth members who seek initial funding to kick off a project, program or idea that may emerge into a broader opportunity over time. Plymouth’s Community Social Service & Action (CSSA) Board will review the applications and award the grants.

Grant amount

Up to $1000

Eligibility

• Must be submitted by Plymouth member—the grant “sponsor”
• Opportunities with external groups that will engage, or have the potential to engage, many Plymouth members.
• Grant will go to the non-profit entity (as defined by having a 501(c)(3)) designation) identified by the sponsor
• Non-recurring grant
• Individuals can sponsor one Inspiration Grant per calendar year
• Members who have never sponsored a grant will receive preference, all other factors equal, to previous grant sponsors. This is to encourage grants to be available to be sponsored by a large number of Plymouth members.

We will not fund:

• Ideas, opportunities, or activities already funded by a Plymouth source
• General donations to an organization
• Projects or agencies whose activities are outside the areas of social service, social justice, and social change.

Responsibilities of Grant Sponsors

• Publicize the organization and its Inspiration Grant project to the congregation. CSSA will announce the award. Grant sponsors will do the follow-up on the specific project and its opportunities.
• Work with the recipient organization to plan the project.
• Tell the congregation the story of the project and its meaning through a Herald and website article or other public means.

Application Process

Please note: Applications must be made by Plymouth members involved in the organization. Requests made by agencies will not be considered.

Grants will be made three times a year.

Application Deadlines

• 7/31/2009 (awards announced 9/1)
• 10/31/2009 (awards announced 12/1)
• 2/28/2010 (awards announced 4/1/2010)

Applications for the initial round of Inspiration Grants will be available June 10. Plymouth members can request application forms by contacting Jennifer Castle, Facilitator of Lay and Community Ministries jcastle@plymouthchurchseattle.org.