Beneficial Changes to the Grants Process
Over the past weeks, the Anglican Foundation of Canada (AFC) has provided a series of webinars to help familiarize Canadian Anglicans with AFC’s grants process in general and the changes that have been announced in recent months. These changes align with AFC’s primary strategic priority of streamlining and facilitating the grants process for applicants and expanding the categories and types of funding available.
You may view a recording of the Grants Program Webinar here if you did not have a chance to attend. This is well worth viewing and can be a great program piece for Parish or Regional Council meetings and/or Clericus.
As AFC’s Representative in this diocese, I want to be sure that this information is communicated as widely as possible. Please read through the following bullet points that cover the changes. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to reach out to me [email protected]
- New quarterly application windows, with deadlines on Jan 1, Apr 1, Jul 1, and Oct 1 each year. This will provide more flexibility for applicants and allow for more timely decisions by the AFC Board. Certain application types, e.g., theological education bursaries, will still be pooled together for the Apr 1 and Oct 1 cycles, for processing efficiencies.
- New categories of grants: Category A (up to $5,000 no matching funds needed), Category B (up to $15,000 and no more than 50%), and Category C (up to $50,000, with match discretionary). If you are interested in a Category C grant, this would be the only application you may submit, at the diocesan level, in the calendar year. Please reach out to me if there is an application of this nature in the works.
- New funding impact zones: applicant organizations will now select between the following funding impact zones, and the submission requirements vary based on the zone: Diverse Infrastructure, Community Ministries, Leadership & Education, Indigenous Ministries, and Sacred Music & Liturgical Arts.
- Increased diocesan grants quota: Each diocese is eligible to submit a total of 4 Category A or Category B applications per calendar year, with a maximum of 3 applications for Diverse Infrastructure. Category C applications replaces the eligibility for Category A & B grants.
- New centralized & streamlined process: There is a new Grants Application Portal https://www.anglicanfoundation.org/apply/ for submitting all application types to AFC. For applications to Trusts that used to have alternate application forms, these now may be processed using the same form. All applications from organizations now must pass through the diocesan approval process and form part of the increased diocesan quota.
Diocesan Approval Process for an Anglican Foundation Grant
In the Diocese of NS & PEI, grant applications have to be approved by Diocesan Council. Before being submitted to Diocesan Council the application has to be reviewed by a small committee. This means that the application has to be submitted at least two weeks before Diocesan Council meets, preferably more than two weeks before that date. AFC Grant applications are submitted to the Executive Secretary of Synod ([email protected]). Diocesan Council usually meets the first Friday (& Saturday, if needed) of the following months: February, April, June, October, and December. There is often an adjusted date in April because of the moveable date of Easter. Do not hesitate to reach out to me [email protected] about a possible AFC grant application.
The Anglican Foundation of Canada exists to support ministries of the Anglican Church throughout Canada, by enabling connection, fostering innovation, stewarding resources, and connecting generous donors to their philanthropic goals. There are so many uplifting stories to enjoy – spending some time on the AFC website will bring a smile to your face. https://www.anglicanfoundation.org/
