NEW APPLICANTS 2025 Parish Partner Grant RFP

Parish Partner Grant 2025

Request for Proposal | Summer 2025 | For New Applicants
OVERVIEW

Episcopal Charities announces the fifth year of the Parish Partner Grants Program. This grants program is a resource for Episcopal Churches that wish to begin or enhance outward-facing projects designed to meet the needs of vulnerable populations in their communities. In addition to resourcing individual congregations, this grants program encourages churches to partner with other churches and with non-profit organizations in their communities to increase their impact, build solidarity, create community, and maximize project sustainability.

Episcopal Charities believes in the proven role played by parishes and missions to nurture a more just and merciful world. Many of our 17 Non-Profit Partner agencies began in Episcopal churches and have grown in size, stature, and impact over the last 60+ years and continue to provide needed services and support to the most vulnerable. Given the immense challenges before us, Episcopal Charities’ Parish Partner Grants Program seeks to fertilize and nurture new ideas and projects in churches, incentivize partnerships with other churches and non-profit organizations, and increase our reach and impact across the Diocese of Chicago.

As the social outreach arm of the Diocese of Chicago, the work of Episcopal Charities will be framed by four areas of social concern: Violence Prevention, Creation Care, Equity and Equality, and Hunger. The Bishop’s call to action in these four areas creates an opportunity for all of us to unite around a common vision, strengthen the witness of the Diocese of Chicago, and deepen our impact for all of God's children.

Applicant churches/organizations that qualify for the Parish Partner Grants Program will:
- Be an Episcopal parish/mission in the Diocese of Chicago, or
- Be a Non-Profit in partnership, collaboration, or meaningful relationship with an Episcopal parish/mission in the Diocese of Chicago,
- That wishes to begin or enhance an outward-facing project/initiative designed to meet the individual and/or collective needs of the most vulnerable in their local communities.
In addition to the preceding criteria, the project/initiative of a qualifying parish/organization will directly impact one or more of the above-mentioned areas of social concern.

For Deaneries:

To incentivize collaborative partnerships within Diocesan Deaneries, Episcopal Charities encourages applications submitted by a deanery to support a project that will directly impact one or more of the above-mentioned areas of social concern. The application for funds may represent a partnership among two or more churches within a deanery. If you would like to apply for Parish Partner Grant Funds as a deanery or as churches within a deanery in partnership, please reach out to Matt Berryman, mberryman@episcopalcharities.org

Please complete all fields in this proposal and attend to all requests for additional “uploads”. Should you have any questions about this request, please don’t hesitate to contact us at grants@episcopalcharities.org

Important Dates:
- June 3, 2025 – live link to application for Parish Partner Grant is published
- August 4, 2025 – deadline to submit application
- September 12, 2025 – Episcopal Charities announces 2025 – 26 Parish Partners
Please submit this completed electronic proposal no later than August 4, 2025.

Congregation
Congregational Information

PARISH/MISSION
Name of Congregation*
Parish Address*

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province

Postal / Zip Code
Parish Phone*
Please enter a valid phone number.
Parish Website
Rector / Leader of the Project*

PrefixFirst NameLast NameTitle
Leader's Email Address*
example@example.com
Leader's Mobile Number*
Please enter the best number for reaching the initiative lead.
Additional Leader of the Project

PrefixFirst NameLast Name
Additional Leader's Email Address
example@example.com
Additional Leader's Mobile Number
Please enter a valid phone number.

Staff
Staff
Does your parish or mission have staff? If so, how many and what are their roles/titles?
How many years has the current clergy served your congregation?
Who serves as the lead for this initiative?

Community of Worship
Community of Worship
What is the average weekly Sunday attendance?
How many members belong to your congregation?
What is the racial/ethnic composition of your congregation?
Describe the general demographic composition of your congregation in terms of age, gender, class, and any other relevant information as to the identities present. (50 word limit)

0/50

Financial Information
Financial Information
What is your annual operating budget for 2025?*
Did your congregation experience a net operating loss in fiscal year 2024? If yes, what was the amount?*

Application Questions
Neighborhood, Village, Community
What is the name of your town, village, neighborhood, or city? Is your community best described as urban, suburban, rural, or other? If other, please describe. (50 word limit)

0/50
What is the official population size of your congregation’s community/neighborhood, etc.?
Briefly describe the demographics of your community. Who are the people who live in your community? What do they do for work? What are the age ranges? Young families? Senior adults? Is there a homeless population? What percentage? Please provide percentages describing the racial composition of your community. What percentage of your community is comprised of undocumented/mixed status persons? (50 word limit)

0/50
How many other churches (both Episcopal and otherwise) are present in your community?
Is your congregation currently in relationship or partnership with any other churches, non-profits, or other organizations in your community? If yes, please briefly describe. (30 word limit)

0/30
To the best of your knowledge, please identify and briefly describe the problems/issues that most acutely affect your community. (50 word limit)

0/50
Has your congregation conducted a needs assessment or other study that has shaped your answer to the previous question? If yes, please describe. (75 word limit)

0/75

Project Description/Goals
Project Description/Goals
Please describe your project idea and how it addresses the need/s of vulnerable, oppressed, or marginalized persons in your local community. Is this project in existence already or is this a new initiative in your congregation? (limit 150 words)*

0/150
Why are you undertaking this particular program or project? Who will be served? (limit 150 words).*

0/150
What do you expect to accomplish with one year of funding? What are your goals? What does success look like and how will you measure it? (150 word limit)*

0/150
If your proposal is successful, your funding will be awarded in late September/early October of 2025. Please provide a one-year timeline and basic project plan that shows how you’ll arrive at your project goal/s. Include any benchmarks or metrics indicating incremental progress, if appropriate. UPLOAD .*

.docx or .pdf
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Funding Proposal
Please indicate the total amount requested from Episcopal Charities*

Additional Relevant Information
Is there anything further that you would like to share with Episcopal Charities regarding your proposal? (100 word limit)

0/100
Episcopal Charities Communications
Episcopal Charities Communications

The 2025 - 2026 Cohort of Parish Partner Grantees will be announced on September 12, 2025. In order to tell the unique stories of our grantee congregations, Episcopal Charities may request photos, some written verbiage, and potential video interviews with leaders and the persons served by the grantee initiatives. Please be prepared to host a videographer and staff person from our offices in Chicago to secure footage and/or photographs.
Document Uploads

Please upload the following documents and additional information requests:
- Current available budget vs. actuals, fiscal year-to-date
- Previous fiscal year budget vs. actuals
Upload Financials*

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The staff and trustees of Episcopal Charities are delighted you’ve shared your time and energy with us in this application and proposal for funding. We are grateful for your time and look forward to hearing about your ideas and work in the coming days.

Blessings,

Rebecca Cacayuran, President of the Board of Trustees

Olivia Elliott, Co-Chair, Allocations Committee, Board of Trustees

Arthur Clement, Co-Chair, Allocations Committee, Board of Trustees

Matthew Berryman, Executive Director
Should be Empty:

Parish Partner Grant 2025

Congregational Information

Staff

Community of Worship

Financial Information

Neighborhood, Village, Community

Project Description/Goals

Episcopal Charities Communications

Episcopal Charities Communications