Community Engagement Grants

The 2023 Community Engagement Grant application deadline has expired.
Stay tuned for the awards announcement in June.

Important 2023 Dates to Remember

• A mandatory Orientation Session will be held on April 18^th.  All potential awardees must be in attendance to learn the rules.  All applications must be submitted through the electronic portal.  Members of Presbytery will help any group with submitting the application. There will be no exceptions
• Applications are due by Monday, May 8th
• Awards announced on Monday, June 26th
• Orientation for awardees on Wednesday, July 12th

Enduring Witness Fund

View projects previously funded by Community Engagement Grants

Purpose

Community Engagement grant funds are intended for community outreach, more specifically for community organizing and community engagement by congregations in the Presbytery of Baltimore. There is $25,000 total available to be awarded by the Commission on Reconciliation. The grants will be awarded up to $7,500 per applicant.

Faith-based community organizing is the way a congregation partners with its local community to work for change/transformation, together.  t involves deep listening and leadership development to move toward joint action. This is a specific form of community engagement which is built on relational meetings, power analysis, action and evaluation.

Community engagement is a broader term to reflect ways in which a local congregation works collaboratively with and through groups of people affiliated by geographic proximity, common interest, or shared circumstances to address issues affecting the well-being of the community members.

Use of Funds

• Funding may be requested for new initiatives or to strengthen current community organizing and community engagement activities. Funds, therefore, may be used for training or mentoring activities in addition to expenses incurred in direct engagement.
• Grants will be awarded on an annual basis. However, applicants will be allowed to apply for additional funding in subsequent years.

General Guidelines

• Congregations should use the attached application form with the appropriate signatures and date of Session endorsement.
• A point person should be designated who is able to speak about the proposal and answer any follow up questions.
• Questions about the grant application process may be directed to ??
• One application per congregation

Evaluation Criteria

• Is intentional in building relationships between members of the congregation and members of the local community outside the congregation.
• Demonstrates an approach of “working with” the community, not doing something “for” or “to” the community.
• Engages the community that is geographically proximate to the applicant congregation
• Issues or needs identified are for the sake of the community.
• Embraces the work of reconciliation through efforts to dismantle racism, alleviate suffering and/or bear public witness to the reconciling love of Christ. Applicant must clearly demonstrate how proposed engagement furthers at least one of these areas.

Application for member congregations of the Presbytery

All applications require a Grant Cover Sheet, AND completion of the online Grant Application.

A report evaluating the use of funds is required at six months and one year after the award. Congregations may not receive additional Enduring Witness funding until the report is submitted.

ALL UNSPENT GRANT FUNDS MUST BE RETURNED TO THE PRESBYTERY OF BALTIMORE.