Financial Support

Bridging Loan Fund

Terms of Reference

Available Funds

Bridging Loans to a maximum of $30,000.  A maximum of $100,000 to be loaned in one calendar year.

Granting Body and Oversight

HFRC Executive

The Executive to report annually to the Regional Council on how the funds have supported communities of faith with bridging loans.

Criteria

1. Bridge financing loans, to a max of $30,000 at 4% interest to be paid back on a 3-year term starting 6 months after the loan is received by the Community of Faith. Those first 6 months being at 0% interest.
2. There is no penalty if a community of faith wishes to pay the loan faster.
3. If a community of faith has more than $100,000 in unrestricted reserves, they are ineligible to apply for this loan.

Terms of Reference

Available Funds

Available funds per year: maximum of $100,000 in total with a maximum of $50,000 per application. After 4 years (2030) the Executive will assess if funds need to be added to The Capital Projects Fund.

There will be 2 granting cycles, with application deadlines of May 1^st and November 1^st.  All accompanying application documentation must be received by those dates at 4pm.

Half of the yearly maximum will be available to be granted in May, the other half along with any carry over will be available to be granted in November.

Granting Body and Oversight

HFRC Executive

The Executive to report annually to the Regional Council on how the funds have supported CoF.

Criteria

For capital projects for communities of faith:

• Grants may be given up to the amount requested.
• Applications need to show viability of the ministry and how this grant will help support that viability.
• A preference will be given to applications that have been able to find supplemental sources of funding. (Not looking for this grant to fund the entire project)
• The maximum request is $50,000.
• If the grant given is over $25,000 half of the money will be given as a 3 year pay it forward loan at 0% interest, with a six-month opening grace period. Allowing for more opportunities for other CoF to access the fund.  Example:  $40,000 is given out, $20,000 of that is a grant, $20,000 is asked to be paid back at $555.55 each month for 3 years (starting 6 months after the grant is given).
• If a CoF has over $250,000 in unrestricted reserves they are ineligible for this grant.

Procedure

Applications to be completed by a Community of Faith and submitted to the HFRC Executive.

Terms of Reference

Available Funds

Available funds per year: maximum of $20,000 in total with a maximum of $5,000 per application/program. When new money comes into the Property Fund the Executive will assess if funds need to be added to The Collaborative Ministry Fund.

There will be 2 granting cycles, with application deadlines of May 1^st and November 1^st.  All accompanying application documentation must be received by those dates at 4pm.

Half of the yearly maximum will be available to be granted in May, the other half along with any carry over will be available to be granted in November.

Granting Body and Oversight

HFRC Executive

The Executive to report annually to the Regional Council on how the funds have supported CoF collaborative initiatives

Criteria

To be given to communities of faith who are working together.  There must be a minimum of 2 CoF working together, having both CoF names on the granting application.

1. The grants are to be used for operations of the collaboration, not capital projects.
2. A maximum of $5,000 can be granted per grant application/program each year.
3. A CoF may only put in one application per year.
4. Future grants for the same program or CoF are not guaranteed to be at the same level as past grants.
5. Priority will be given to projects that can articulate how this grant can help to create a future impact on their ministry.
6. Depending on demand not all grants may receive all requested funding.

Procedure

Applications to be completed by a Community of Faith and submitted to the HFRC Executive.

Terms of Reference

Available Funds

Available funds per year: maximum of $40,000 in total with a maximum of $10,000 per application/program. When new money comes into the Property Fund the Executive in consultation with the Discipleship and Justice Commission will assess if funds need to be added to The First Thirds Ministry Fund.

Granting Body and Oversight

HFRC Discipleship and Justice Commission

The Discipleship and Justice Commission to report annually to the Regional Council on how the funds have supported CoF First Thirds initiatives

Criteria

For ministry or programs with Children, Youth or Young adults (up to 30ish years of age)

• Grants will normally be one-time grants to a maximum of $10,000;
• Grants in excess of this amount or for a multi-year project will require the applicant to meet with the Discipleship and Justice Commission.
• Future grants for the same program/application are not guaranteed to be at the same level as past grants.
• Some examples are, but not limited to: Money to help run a vacation bible school, assistance for funding of a new position for a church or collection of churches who is working in first thirds ministry, a grant to help with food costs for a year for a first thirds program, funding to help put on a one time event for children, youth or young adults, funding to put on a training event for first thirds ministry leadership for multiple communities of faith, funding to help send first thirds participants to experience wider UCC events.

Procedure

Applications to be completed by a Community of Faith and submitted to the HFRC Discipleship and Justice Commission.

Click here for more information and application:

Learning Fund

Grant Searching/Writing Assistance Fund

Terms of Reference

Available Funds

50% of the cost of hiring someone to assist a community of faith in searching for and or applying for grants.  This fund will support 50% of the cost up to $2,000 (50% of a $4,000 fee).  100% of the cost of training for a member of a community of faith to take a grant writing course up to $2,000.

Granting Body and Oversight

HFRC Executive

The Executive to report annually to the Regional Council on how the funds have supported communities of faith with bridging loans.

Criteria

2000. A grant of 50% of the cost of hiring someone to assist a community of faith in searching for or writing of grant applications up to $2000.
2001. If a community of faith has more than $100,000 in unrestricted reserves, they are ineligible to apply for this grant.

If a member of the community of faith enrolls in a grant writing course, this fund will cover 100% of the cost of tuition up to $2,000.