Grants Available in 2019 for Parishes
Applications are now being accepted for the Diocese of Easton’s Church Initiatives Grant Program. Money is available exclusively to parishes and mission churches in the Diocese of Easton to undertake innovative programs and projects. The Grant Program is funded by investment returns from the Diocese’s St. Stephens Endowment Fund, a fund created with proceeds from the sale of St. Stephen’s Church, East New Market, a few years ago.
This is the seventh year of the program’s existence. Last year two grants were awarded to Trinity Elkton for two computers to be available for Youth Sunday School, Adult Christian Education, Food Pantry clients for job searching, parishioners who do not have access to a computer, and parish presentations and to St. Paul’s Centreville to provide weekend meals to needy elementary school students. In previous years grants were made to Christ Church Kent Island to fund a summer backpacks for kids program; Emmanuel Parish in Chestertown to help start an on-site afterschool program; to Shrewsbury Parish to create a Kent County Coalition; and to St. Andrew’s Mission in Hurlock to incorporate the Moveable Feast as part of its food bank program. St. Mary the Virgin Church, Pocomoke City, Wye Parish in Wye Mills, Trinity Cathedral in Easton, Christ Church, Cambridge, St. Andrew’s Mission, Hurlock, St. Paul’s, Kent, St. Andrew’s, Princess Anne, and St. Paul’s by the Sea, Ocean City have also received grants since the formation of the Endowment.
As much as $10,000 will be available to support community initiatives in 2019. The Church Initiatives Grants Committee is accepting grant applications now through January 18, 2019. Grant recipients will be announced at the Diocesan Convention with grants awarded in March 2019.
Churches may download instructions and an application or they may request an application from the Diocesan office.