Category Archives: Grants

The Smock Foundation has a new website, and new online applications for grants!

THE SMOCK FOUNDATION HAS A NEW WEBSITE! smockfoundation.com

The Smock Foundation is pleased to announce that it now has its own website! This will make it much easier for churches and individuals to apply. You can learn more about the Foundation, requirements for different kinds of grants and apply directly without needing to establish an account or log in.

As in the past, the Foundation will meet monthly to review grant applications. Applications should be submitted by the end of the second week each month.

If you have sent a grant application to the old webpage at the Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne, it will indicate “abandoned.” Please just resubmit to our new website: smockfoundation.com

The Smock Foundation continues to fulfill Laura Smock’s vision when she established the Foundation in 1954: to provide benevolent assistance to promote the health, welfare and happiness of Indiana Presbyterians in need of support, focusing on senior Presbyterians.
During the past three years, the Smock Foundation has provided more than $2,340,000 to assist Indiana Presbyterians.

$475,766 in grants that helped individual Presbyterians living in Indiana with monthly home health care, assisted living, and other essential living and medical expenses.
$1,000,000 in grants given to Presbyterian Church (USA) churches for facility improvements so that all members, including those who are older or who need assistance, can attend worship and other church activities.
$362,500 in grants given to Presbyterian Church (USA) churches in Indiana for their Smock Deacon Funds to allow individual churches to help their members.
$400,000 in grants to assist Presbyterian Church (USA) churches to support senior ministry programs for older members through several churches coming together to provide services and programs.

Please try out the new website at smockfoundation.com
The Foundation looks forward to serving your churches and members!

New Solar Grant Awarded to Four Indiana Churches

Hoosier Interfaith Power & Light has been awarded another Community Conservation Challenge Grant from the Indiana Office of Energy Development to help four Indiana congregations obtain solar panels. This competitive $100,000 grant will benefit St. Peter’s United Church of Christ in Carmel, and All Souls Unitarian Church, Eastgate Christian Church, and Neighborhood Fellowship Church in Indianapolis. The churches collectively pledged more than $100,000 of matching funds to invest in panels and energy conservation measures. They will also host educational events, including Using Energy Prudently workshops, to benefit other congregations. Along with previous grant recipients, the ranks of H-IPL solar grant congregations now number 25 across Indiana, of all denominations, faiths, and sizes.

For the Office of Energy Development’s press release, go here.

Is your congregation interested in solar?
Take steps to prepare:

Have the conversation: Secure approval from congregational leadership to install solar if funds become available. We can help you interpret the benefits of renewable energy for your congregation.
Talk to an installer: They offer free estimates, and will help you consider the size, positioning, and cost of your array.
Begin (or continue) energy conservation measures: Have an energy audit. Consult H-IPL’s Using Energy Prudently Resources to guide action steps. Watch for an upcoming Using Energy Prudently workshop in your area, or request one.

Youth Ministry Grant Initiative

The Youth Ministry Grant Initiative (YMGI) is a program of the Center for Congregations. YMGI is for congregations wanting to develop new and sustainable youth programming opportunities for 6th through 12th graders in their own congregations that:

reflect the congregation’s highest claims and commitments;
and provide significant formational experiences for youth.

This program includes financial support, as well as a thorough educational component. Congregations throughout Indiana may apply.

Information sessions are being offered in March in Indianapolis, South Bend and Bedford.

Click here for details and on-line registration for the information sessions. Or you can go to the Center website at http://centerforcongregations.org/workshop/youth-ministry-grant-initiative-2015.

For more information:
Kara Faris
Education Director
Indianapolis Center for Congregations, Inc.
303 N. Alabama Street, Suite 100
Indianapolis, IN 46204
317-237-7799 ext. 1109
317-237-7795 (fax)
www.centerforcongregations.org

Presbyterian Hunger Program Grants

New Small Grants Program for PC(USA) Congregations Doing Faith-Based Initiatives to Transform the Food System

The Presbyterian Hunger Program is encouraged by the emergence of the many faith-based initiatives sprouting up around the country to bring resilience to our food system, and health to people and God’s Creation. These efforts often engage people of all ages, result in greater food security, give people decision-making power over their food, increase healthy eating, create jobs and local economic growth, support local family farmers, use land ecologically, raise awareness about local and global hunger and poverty, and encourage a view of food as sacred and as a right for all people. When done well, such initiatives are wonderful ways to build relationships, community and power. We are eager to support this work as one small way we can help build God’s vision of a New Heaven and New Earth.

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. Grants are for $100-$1,000 with a total of $20,000 available for the year. Turn-around for approved grants will be less than four weeks.

For more information and an application click here.

Is Your Congregation Doing Innovative Ministry?

From 1980 until 1990, under the leadership of the Rev. Aubrey Brown, the second editor of the Presbyterian Outlook, four annual awards were presented to Richmond?area Presbyterian congregations for excellence in Christian education and outreach. In 1991 the Presbyterian School of Christian Education began to administer these awards, which became open to all congregations in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Since then 93 churches in 28 states have received awards. The number of awards was expanded to five in 2006 with the addition of an award for ministries with the developmentally disabled and in 2010 three older adult education ministry awards were added. Each of the awards carries a $1,000 prize to support the congregation in its ministry.

For information and/or to apply for one of the Union Presbyterian Seminary Congregational Leadership Awards, you may download the brochure and application or request an application by sending an e-mail to April Swofford or call 1-800-229-2990, ext 231. The application and instructions are only available electronically.

The deadline for the 2013 Awards is FEBRUARY 15, 2013.

Union Presbyterian Seminary Congregation Awards

Is your congregation or a congregation in your presbytery doing innovative ministry?

Each year UPSem awards congregations for innovative ministry. Since 1991, 94 churches in 28 states have received these awards. Each of the eight awards carries a $1,000 prize to support the congregation in its ministry.

For more information and to apply for one of the UPSem Congregation Awards, you may download the brochure and application or request an application by sending an e-mail to April Swofford at aswofford@upsem.edu or call 1-800-229-2990, ext 231.

The application and instructions are only available electronically. The deadline for the 2012 Awards is FEBRUARY 15, 2012.

2012 Clergy Renewal Program

Lilly Endowment
2012 Clergy Renewal Program for Indiana Congregations

Information Meeting

Tuesday, September 27, 2011, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 pm

North United Methodist Church
3808 North Meridian Street
Indianapolis, Indiana

In 2012, Lilly Endowment’s Clergy Renewal Program for Indiana Congregations will again provide as many as 40 grants of up to $50,000 to congregations in Indiana for the support of renewal programs for their pastors.

Pastors, spouses and lay leaders from congregations located in the state of Indiana that are interested in applying for a grant next year are invited to attend an information meeting regarding this opportunity.

Include: (1) the name of your congregation as well as its street
address, city, ZIP code and telephone number; and

(2) the names of those who will attend (we can accommodate up to three persons per congregation).

Detailed information about the Indiana Clergy Renewal Program, including the application material, is available on the Lilly Endowment website: www.indianaclergy.org. We recommend that you download and read the 2012 application material and bring a copy with you to the meeting.