Overview

The coronavirus pandemic has required parishes to lean into their adaptability and quickly implement online community building.

Incorporating online experiences into the way we gather often requires some kind of investment, whether for software, hardware, or training. In an effort to provide an opportunity for some financial assistance to our congregations, all parishes are invited to apply for a digital ministry grant for immediate and long-term investment in online ministry.

Digital Ministry grants are intended to help congregations make online offerings more engaging, more accessible, easier to manage, and better connected to onsite ministry.

There is a total of $20,000 available — $10,000 per diocese — thanks to generous gifts and designations from Eastern Michigan’s Congregational Development and Redevelopment Fund and Western Michigan’s Bishop Whittemore Foundation.

 

GUIDELINES

The maximum grant award is $700 per congregation or cooperating ministry.

Digital Ministry Grants are a one-time disbursement.

Grants may fund the following areas:

• Hardware purchases (cameras, computers, etc.)
• Software purchases (programs, applications, etc.)
• Upgrades to existing technology
• Internet and Wifi access and upgrades
• Solutions to bridge the access gap between internet-users and non-internet users
  Training for digital ministry from outside of existing diocesan resources

Grants may not fund gifts to individuals or families.

Applications should demonstrate appropriate financial or other investment from the congregation.

 

APPLY NOW

Applications will be considered by a committee including members of the diocesan staffs and the bi-diocesan Evangelism Taskforce.

Recommendations from the committee will be brought to each respective diocesan council for final approval.

Applications were due September 20th. Contact Katie Forsyth with any questions.

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Contact Katie Forsyth, our Canon for Evangelism and Networking for both dioceses, with any questions about the granting process or for ongoing support for digital ministry, communications, and evangelism. She can be reached at kforsyth@edwm.org.

Additionally, all communicators (clergy and lay, paid and volunteer) are invited to connect with others throughout our two dioceses in our resource group – the Episcopal Communicators Network of Eastern & Western Michigan.