A Great Way to Begin the New Year: Small Grants Available in 2023 for Parishes
Applications are now being accepted for the Diocese of Easton’s Church Initiatives Grant Program. Grants are available exclusively for parishes and mission churches in the Diocese of Easton who undertake innovative programs and projects. The grant program is funded by investment returns from the St. Stephen’s Endowment Fund which was created with proceeds from the sale of St. Stephen’s Church, East New Market. That “thinking outside the box” decision in 2008 has become a valuable resource for funding 14 years of new ministries and continues to benefit parishes across the diocese.
Recent grants have funded the following innovations:
- Startup funding for the first-ever lower shore Choir School in Salisbury. Peter’s engaged students from neighboring communities as well as within their parish.
- Transformation of a section of farmland to a community garden site to benefit local families – a joint project of Shrewsbury Parish and La Sagrada Familia de Jesus. Shrewsbury was awarded a second to support leadership training and strategic planning with the Delmarva Covenant Union as they work together to conduct a needs assessment to address the root causes of hunger, homelessness, and racial inequality.
- Development of a formalized outreach for St. Paul’s, Trappe that blossomed into a lean protein ministry that connects local hunters with hungry families in Dorchester and Talbot Counties.
- Formation of a parish and community network by St. Mary Anne’s – Northeast to support music students (ages 5-18) with instruments and lessons by professional instructors through a church-related platform.
As much as $13,500 is available to support new initiatives in 2023. The Church Initiatives Grants Committee is accepting grant applications now through Monday, February 13, 2023. Grant recipients will be announced at the Diocesan Convention with grants awarded in mid-March 2023.
Churches may download the instructions and application as either a printable version or a fill-able-form, or they may request an application from the Diocesan office