NEW Parish Partner Grant RFP 2026

Parish Partner Grant 2026

Request for Proposal - NEW
OVERVIEW

Episcopal Charities announces the sixth 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,
- 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 10, 2026 - live link to application for Parish Partner Grant is published
- Aug. 10, 2026 - deadline to submit application
- Sept. 11, 2026 - Episcopal Charities announces 2026/27 Parish Partners
Congregations applying for second-year renewal funding will receive separate renewal application instructions from Matt Berryman in the coming days.

Please submit this completed electronic proposal no later than August 10, 2026.
- Name of Congregation
- Parish Address
  
  Street Address
  
  Street Address Line 2
  
  CityState / Province
  
  Postal / Zip Code
- Parish Phone
  Please enter a valid phone number.Format: (000) 000-0000.
- Parish Website
- Rector / Leader of the Project
  
  PrefixFirst NameLast Name
- Rector / Leader's Email Address
  example@example.com
- Rector / Leader's Phone Number
  Please enter a valid phone number.Format: (000) 000-0000.
- Additional Leader of the Project
  
  PrefixFirst NameLast Name
- Additional Leader's Email Address
  example@example.com
- Additional Leader's Phone Number
  Please enter a valid phone number.Format: (000) 000-0000.
- 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 will serve as the lead for this initiative?
- 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
- What is your annual operating budget for 2026?
- Did your congregation experience a net operating loss in fiscal year 2025? If yes, what was the amount?
- 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
- 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)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 September 10th, 2026. 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.
  
  .docx or .pdf
  Cancelof
- Please indicate the total amount being requested from Episcopal Charities
- Is there anything further that you would like to share with Episcopal Charities regarding your proposal? (150 word limit)
  
  0/100
- Episcopal Charities Communications
  
  The 2026 - 2027 Cohort of Parish Partner Grantees will be announced on September 11, 2026. 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.
- 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
  
  .docx, .xlsx, or .pdf
  Cancelof
- 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, Co-Chair, Allocations Task Force, Board of Trustees
  
  Cheryl Rogers, Co-Chair, Allocations Task Force, Board of Trustees
  
  Matthew Berryman, Executive Director
- Should be Empty:

Parish Partner Grant 2026

Episcopal Charities Communications