The Grants Committee of the Diocese of Maine is rolling out a new process in 2025 with the goal of making grant making easy and accessible to everyone. View the recording and slides from the town hall held on Jan. 14 where the new process was discussed.
Goals of the Grants Committee
Awareness: Broaden awareness of grant opportunities
Servanthood: Ensure the Grants Committee is serving all churches in the diocese
Understanding: Create a clear understanding of the pathway to accessing grant funds
Defining: More clearly define the types of grant monies available to churches
Partnerships: Partner with those seeking grant funding to reduce bureaucracy
Relationships: Look for grants that seek to develop relationships between churches and ecumenical partners
Beyond the Church Doors: Encourage projects that seek to address diocesan priorities. This might include things like:
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- Establishing a winter footwear bank in your community
- Finding ways to help address challenges faced by housing shortages or unhoused peoples
- Supporting New Mainers as they seek to settle in your community
- Food insecurity – consider a summer lunch program for kids in partnership with the local food pantry.
- Check with local law enforcement – are there needs in the greater community related to the challenge of human trafficking, runaways, or other needs that you might meet?
- Being the hands on Church in the world we live – following Christ in helping those in need
Dare to dream, seek partners, be present, and care for all of God’s beloved children
Letter of Intent (LOI)
The Diocesan Grants Committee would like for you to see us as facilitators. We are looking for ways to facilitate your access to grant resources that will enable you to address needs in your community and take risks in your ministry. A Letter of Intent is designed to enable us, members of the Grants Committee, to be in dialog with you early in the process of proposal development, so we can provide support as consultants and guides rather than serving as gatekeepers to resources.
WHAT IS AN LOI?
It’s a one-page letter informing the committee about your project and outlines the primary activities that the applicant would like funded
WHY AN LOI?
- Lets us know how we can be of assistance
- Enables us to project funding for the grant cycle
- Gives us an idea about the types of projects parishes are considering
- Saves churches from developing a full proposal that may not be fundable
WHAT SHOULD MY LOI INCLUDE?
- A Project Summary
- A Needs Statement: The “why” of the project
- Project Activity: The “what” and “how” of the project
- Outcome: What you hope to accomplish
- Proposed Budget Projection
WHAT RESPONSES MIGHT I RECEIVE?
- An invitation to submit a more detailed proposal
- Guidance on possible project changes before submitting a full proposal
- A request for a meeting/consult to assist you with further project development
- A statement indicating that a proposal, as outlined in the LOI, is unlikely to receive funding and/or does not reflect current diocesan priorities
These detailed LOI guidelines and instructions can provide further help to you in writing your letter.
Send your LOI to [email protected].
Types of Grants
International and Domestic Poverty Grants
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 for consideration to fund an international or domestic outreach or effort. The total funding available for these grants is allocated each year during the diocesan budget cycle. In the 2025, the total amount available to award for domestic poverty grants is $20,000 and $10,000 for international poverty grants. Please send your LOI (details above) to [email protected].
Some Past International Poverty Grant Recipients:
- Christ Church, Gardiner to be put toward the school 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
- St. Nicholas’, Scarborough toward the purchase of a case of medical supplies through Konbit Sante for Haiti
- Episcopal Peace Fellowship to support the “Food for Families” program in Beirut
Past Domestic Poverty Grant Recipients:
- St. George’s, Sanford for their Baby Blessings ministry
- St. Luke’s Food Pantry in Portland to meet increased need for food
- “Dinner is Served” community meal program out of St. Brendan’s, Deer Isle
- Loaves and Fishes at St. Peter’s in Rockland, a collaborative, community, weekend lunch program
- Food Pantry partnership 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
New Initiative Fund 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. The total funding available for these grants is allocated each year during the diocesan budget cycle.The 2025 budget allows for a total of $18,000 to be awarded for new initiatives by the diocesan grants program. Please send your LOI (details above) to [email protected].
A Few 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
Loring Fund Grants
The Loring Fund is designed to benefit congregations by supporting canonically-resident clergy or licensed non-canonically-resident active in a congregation in the Diocese of Maine. This support is made possible by providing funds for continuing education and sabbatical programs which enhance a clergy person’s preaching, pastoral care, counseling, and leadership roles. Applications are accepted at any time!
Loring Fund Grant Application & Guidelines
Wolf Fund Grants
The Frederick S. Wolf Fund for Enablement and Education for Lay Ministry was established by unanimous approval at the 166th Diocesan Convention as a means of acknowledging the emphasis placed by Bishop Wolf on active and informed laity. Grants from the Fund are made to lay persons, either as individuals or groups, to develop specific knowledge and/or skills to further their ministry in the Diocese of Maine. Applications are accepted at any time!
Wolf Fund Grant Application & Guidelines
Lovett Fund Grants (and Low-interest Diocesan Loans)
The diocese does offer grants (for ‘mission’ churches) and loans for maintenance and building projects of churches, but these are administered by the Finance Committee, not the Grants Committee.
Lovett Fund Grant Guidelines and Application
Grants Committee 2025
Please send your letter of interest, application, or questions to [email protected].
Rev. Ted J. Gaiser, Chair
Rev. Douglas Beck
Lucia Elder
Rev. Rebecca Grant
Rev. Lynn Rutledge