Grants Committee of the Diocesan Council
The Episcopal Diocese of Maine makes funds available annually to support international and domestic efforts and ministries that help to alleviate poverty.
Any Maine congregation or program group may offer a proposal to Diocesan Council for consideration to fund an international or domestic outreach or effort.
Several months ago, the Grants Committee of Diocesan Council was restructured in order to better shepherd the various grant funds available in the diocese. Since then, the committee continues to look at each grant and assess its relevance in a world where congregational and community needs have evolved. Wherever possible, the committee hopes to make the process of grantmaking lively, easy, accessible, and transparent. In addition to the annual grants listed here, the committee reviews on a rolling basis applications to the Wolf Fund and Loring Fund continuing education and formation of the laity and clergy respectively.
Stay tuned for details about how to apply and when!
New Initiatives Grants
Dreaming about a new ministry in your community? New Initiative Fund grants are a way you can support your call to mission! Each congregation, diocesan committee, or program group in the Diocese of Maine is eligible to apply for funding to support new ministries, expand existing ministries in new directions, or to discern ministry possibilities in their community.
Past New Initiative Grant Recipients:
- St. Paul’s, Brunswick in their support of new Mainers
- Trinity, Lewiston to support “Gifts in Common,” a ministry exploring church-neighborhood interaction, to include a documentary and community art workshop
International and Domestic Poverty Grants
Past International Poverty Grant Recipients:
- Christ Church, Gardiner to be put toward salaries of teachers in Morne Rosette, Haiti
- Cathedral of St. Luke, Portland for the Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza to provide psychiatrics support for traumatized children and caregivers
- Al Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza
- Midwife education support in Haiti
- Teachers’ salaries in the Diocese of Liberia
- Ministry of St. George’s Anglican Church in Baghdad
- School projects in Kenya and South Sudan
- Mother Empowerment Program at Jerusalem’s Princess Basma Center
- Episcopal Peace Fellowship to support the “Food for Families” program in Beirut
- Christ Church, Gardiner for support of the Rosette School and community of Morne Rosette, Haiti.
- Restoration Laos for the work of disarming and clearing unexploded remnants of war and restoring land and safety in rural Laos
Past Domestic Poverty Grant Recipients:
- Trinity Jubilee Center in Lewiston to prepare for safe winter operations during the pandemic
- St. Luke’s Food Pantry in Portland to meet increased need for food
- Trinity, Lewiston to provide emergency shelter, hotel rooms and transportation, to those on the streets on nights below zero degrees
- Church at 209 in Augusta to support the settlement Iraqi refugees
- “Dinner is Served” community meal program out of St. Brendan’s, Deer Isle
- Yarmouth Compassionate Housing Initiative to provide emergency housing for refugee families
- Loaves and Fishes at St. Peter’s in Rockland, a collaborative, community, weekend lunch program
- Food Pantry at Paris Elementary School
- St. Barnabas, Rumford Essentials Pantry
- Trinity, Portland in support of their “Laundry Love” ministry, which provides relief to individuals without homes as well as those who are struggling financially
- Bridging the Gap, Augusta to support Addie’s Attic Clothing Bank and the purchase of essential and winter clothing for families in need.
Grants Committee 2023
Rev. Thom Rock, Chair
Rev. Suzanne Roberts
Rev. Lynn Rutledge
Rev. Tracy Shaffer
Rev. Lael Sorensen
Cn. Barbara Martin, Staff Liaison