innovation grant

2023 Innovation Grant deadline closed as of October 1, 2023.

Description

The Synod of Mid-America (SoMA) 2023 Innovation Grant program fostered creative projects that addressed the PCUSA’s Matthew 25 focus areas in:

  • Dismantling structural racism,

  • Eradicating systemic poverty, and

  • Revitalizing congregations.

Grant funding was allocated across each of the Synod of Mid-America’s six presbyteries for awards to support congregations that engage in innovative mission projects that can be easily replicated across the Synod for maximum impact and effectiveness.

Parameters

SoMA seeks to encourage promising and replicable mission projects from among its congregations that carry the potential to advance Matthew 25 goals effectively. SoMA is undertook this program to assess whether funded projects can be expanded across the Synod to achieve maximum missional impact.

Proposals took the following into account when submitting funding requests:

  • Provided examples of how the project engages the Church in achieving Matthew 25’s goals, including any intersectional objectives that address climate change, militarism, gender justice, and heteropatriarchy.

  • Provided examples of how the project might encourage financial sustainability by seeking “matching” dollars and alternate sources of revenue, whenever possible.

  • Described how the proposed project was ground-breaking and innovative, encouraging opportunity for experimentation and development without fear of failure.

  • If the proposed project involved partnership with other congregations or non-profit organizations, partners were listed and described.

Innovation Grant recipients may be asked to participate in the creation of a “project story” that can be shared on the SoMA website for promotional purposes. Our hope is that by sharing the story, others can benefit by example.

SoMA seriously and prayerfully considered all applications submitted but did not guarantee final awarding of grant funding.

Process for awarding Innovation Grants

  1. The Innovation Grants Work Team selected recipients based on consideration of the following:

    a. Scope of the proposed project falling within the published parameters of the Innovation Grants program.

    b. Use of funds requested toward projected outcomes.

    c. Replicability of the project throughout the Synod and potential benefit to larger church.

    d. Clear, specific, and complete planning including means of evaluation.

  2. Innovation Grants are one-time awards and are not renewable.

  3. The total amount of grant funds available for disbursement in 2023 was $30,000 and initially allocated at $5,000 per presbytery.  

  4. Submission of an application was not a guarantee of an award.

Please feel free to contact the Synod office with any questions not adequately addressed on this website.

The grant application is in PDF format. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader in order to view the file. If your computer does not already have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed, you can download a copy for free from the Adobe Website.