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370 Main Street
Suite 650
Worcester, MA 01608
(508) 755-0980

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Community Ministries Fund
Guidelines

Application | Progress Report | Recent Grants

 

ABOUT THE FUND

The Community Ministries Fund is a permanent endowment created by the Worcester Area Mission Society, United Church of Christ and Worcester Area United Methodists through gifts to the Greater Worcester Community Foundation.  Its purpose is to support congregation-based social ministries in Worcester neighborhoods.

In addition to gifts to the endowment, donors are encouraged to use the Fund to coordinate and direct their annual giving to social ministry programs.

An advisory committee appointed by institutional donors has been established to review proposals and recommend grants from the Fund.

 

AREAS OF INTEREST

Include but are not limited to:

• Tutoring and mentoring
• English as a Second Language classes (ESL)
• Music and art enrichment
• After-school programs designed to enhance academic and social skills
• Job training
• Gang intervention
• Urban gardening
• Community organizing and public advocacy   

ELIGIBILITY

The Community Ministries Fund welcomes applications from Worcester-based congregations or organizations—of any faith tradition—that sponsor or plan to sponsor social ministries to improve the lives of neighborhood residents.  Committed to values and aspirations that are shared by the world’s religions, the Fund does not support programs that advance a sectarian agenda.  Nor does it support congregations, organizations or programs that discriminate or perpetuate demeaning stereotypes based on gender, race, ethnic background, sexual orientation, religion, economic condition, or physical disability.

 

SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS

Many individuals and families in Worcester’s neighborhoods, especially newcomers, turn to local congregations for help in addressing social challenges.  The Community Ministries Fund is intended to provide supplementary financial support for existing social ministries sponsored by congregations or other grassroots religious organizations, and to provide seed funding for congregations planning new programs.

Grant requests are limited to a maximum of $2,000 per program.

DEADLINE

March 15th

Note: If a deadline falls on a weekend or public holiday, proposals are due the following business day at 5:00 p.m.

WHERE TO SEND APPLICATION

Ann T. Lisi
Greater Worcester Community Foundation
370 Main Street, Suite 650
Worcester, MA 01608-1738

Telephone: (508) 755-0980

Contact: Lois Smith