Outreach Ministries of the Mission Committee

Our Mission Committee is called to represent the love of Christ to those in human need through the allocation of funds to support individual and communal health and growth.

General Outreach Grants-- Grants are made to nonprofit groups which are not funded through the regular diocesan budget process. The deadline for general outreach grant requests is August 15 of each year. Grants are typically in the range of $500-$2500, but exceptions are considered on a case by case basis.

      Criteria for Grant Requests: 

• Continuing and emerging ministry needs may be funded by grants.
• Applications may be submitted concurrent years, but preference is given for the first time applications and new aspects of continuing ministries.
• The committee will be mindful of the allocation of funds amongst its' five convocations.  
• Grants that are approved will be asked to submit a final report on the ministry funded.
• Grant requests must include:
  
  • ministry/organization name and contact information for the ministry AND the individual submitting the request
  • the convocation where the ministry serves or is located
  • governing board contact information
  • summary operating budget
  • description of the ministry
  • ministry request being funded
  • history of grant application to this committee
  • A name/contact information for someone available to answer additional questions

In 2009, Outreach grants were given to:

• Chaplain Services of Virginia              $2,000
• Community Share of Buena Vista       $2,000
• Conflict Resolution Center of Roanoke $2,000
• Helping Hands of Franklin County        $500
• Hostel of the Good Shepherd at Galax $3,000
• Interfaith Counseling Services of Roanoke  $1,400
• Recovery Outreach Center of Tazewell    $2,000
• Roanoke City of Peace Coalition            $600
• Salem/Roanoke County Food Pantry    $800
• Soul Feed of First Christian Church of Galax    $1,200
• Temporary Relief of St. John's Church of Roanoke   $2,000
• Valley Mission of Staunton                     $2,500
• Westminster-Canterbury retirement Center of Lynchburg $2,000

The Annual St. Nicholas Day Appeal -- St Nicholas grants are awarded in alternate years for projects within the diocese and projects outside the diocese.  The deadline for applying for a grant funded by the annual St. Nicholas Day Appeal is August 15 of each year.  One grant is awarded each year typically in the range of $15,000-$20,000.

This year's grant will be awarded to a project inside our diocese.

       Criteria for Grant Requests:

• Continuing and emerging ministry needs may be funded by a grant.
• Applications may be submitted multiple years, but preference is given for first time applications and new aspects of continuing ministry.

• Grant requests must include:
  
  • ministry/organization name and contact information for the ministry AND the individual submitting the request
  • the convocation where the ministry serves or is located
  • governing board contact information
  • summary operating budget
  • description of the ministry
  • ministry request being funded
  • history of grant application to this committee
  • A name/contact information for someone available to answer additional questions

The 2005 grant provided electricity to the Marc Nikkel School in the Sudanese Diocese of Bor. The 2006 grant supported funding for a shelter for battered women in Altavista. The 2007 grant supported the renovation of a guest house in Juba, Sudan and the 2008 grant helped to build a warehouse in Lynchburg for Stop Hunger Now.  The 2009 grant went to Sophia House.

Applications for either general outreach grants or St. Nicholas grants should be sent to:

Mission Committee Chair

The Diocese of Southwestern Virginia

PO Box 2279

Roanoke, VA 24009

Contact Evans House if you have any questions: 540-342-6797

Outreach Coordinated with Other Dioceses

• Episcopal Appalachian Ministries (EAM)

Outreach Coordinated Through the Wider Church

• United Thank Offering (UTO) Our diocesan coordinator is Jackallen Arthur. She is available to visit any church in the diocese to tell the story of United Thank Offering and the incredible work it does, including grants received in Southwestern Virginia. Contact her at jackallena(at)aol.com.

• Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD) Our diocesan coordinator is Nick Moga. Read his ERD blog for Southwestern Virginia.

• The ONE Episcopalian Campaign a grassroots partnership between The Episcopal Church and the ONE Campaign to rally Episcopalians to the cause of ending extreme poverty in our world and achieving the Millennium Development Goals.