Seeds of Hope
Granting Program

Grant Application Form

Please choose one:
   Spring Cycle_________(year)   Fall Cycle_________(year)

The United Church of Canada Foundation/
La Fondation de l’Église Unie du Canada

For assistance please visit the website: www.unitedchurchfoundation.ca/grantinformation
call 866-340-8223, or e-mail grants@united-church.ca

Part One: Organization Details
Contact Information
Name of Organization:		
Primary Contact:		
Title: 		
Mailing Address:		
City / Prov. / Postal Code:		
Daytime Phone:		E-mail:		
Fax:		Website:		
Charitable Registration No.		
Have you received granting monies from The United Church/United Church Foundation before?	   Yes
   No
	Amount $

Year

Source	
Application Approval
This application has been approved by: (check all that apply) Please note: if your project requires Presbytery approval, please include related documentation with your application.	
Session	Board 	Council of Congregation 	Pastoral Charge	
Camp	School	Outreach Ministry	Other Ministry	
Name of Church or Ministry:		
Print Name of Signing Officer:		
Title of Signing Officer:		
Signature of Signing Officer:		
Date:		
Part Two: Project Overview
Funding Cycle:	   Spring
   Fall	Fund Applied to:		

Project Title:		

Is this a new project? (Preference is given to new projects)	      Yes       No	

Targeted Project Implementation Date:		
Targeted Completion Date: 		

Project Team Members
Name	Designated Role(s)	

		

Project Description (100 words maximum)

Project Uniqueness (Preference is given to innovative projects) (250 words maximum)

Project Goals and Objectives (250 words maximum)

Plan for Achieving Stated Goals and Objectives (250 words maximum)
	
Plan for Project Implementation and Delivery (250 words maximum)
	
Project Beneficiaries (100 words maximum)

Examples of Demonstrated Support (e.g. partners, letters of support, details of community involvement, etc.) (250 words maximum)

	

Recognition of Support Received from The United Church of Canada Foundation if your application is successful (100 words maximum)

Volunteer Support
Recruited Volunteers	Estimated Number of Hours	

		

Part Three: Project Revenues and Expenses
Project Revenues
Project Revenues	Amount	Confirmed (Yes/No)	Anticipated Grant
Confirmation Date	
Organization Funds	$	     Y          N		
Other United Church of Canada Support 	$	     Y          N		
Other Grants 	$	     Y          N		
Other Fundraising 	$	     Y          N		
Funding from Partners	$	     Y          N		
Amount Requested from Seeds of Hope (must be no more than 50% of total revenue)	$		
Total Revenues	$		

Project Revenue Sources
Project Revenue Source (from above chart)	Project Revenue Contributor	
e.g. Other Grants	e.g. Community Foundation	

		

Project Expenses
Expense	Amount	
Project Staff	$	
Project Materials and Supplies	$	
Project Publicity	$	
Other	$	
Total Expenses	$	

Major Project Expenses

		

		

		

Focus for Applied Funding (250 words maximum) 

Proposed Plan Revisions if Funding Is Unavailable (250 words maximum)

Part Four: Project Evaluation
Anticipated Measurable Outcomes (250 words maximum)

Plan to Assess Measurable Outcomes (250 words maximum)

Timeframe for Achieving Anticipated Outcomes
Timeframe	Anticipated Outcome	

		

		

Part 5: Declaration of Intent
On behalf of the applicant(s), I declare that if awarded a grant by The United Church of Canada Foundation, the organization named on the Grant Application Form shall use the funds awarded solely and explicitly for the purposes stated and in accordance with the Statement of Expenditure (budget) as submitted and approved. 
Any portion of the grant funds not used for the purposes stated in the Grant Application Form or any portion not required to complete the project or meet the objectives as described, will be returned to The United Church of Canada Foundation, unless prior written permission to vary the stated purposes is obtained from The Foundation.  
It is agreed that if the applicant is awarded funding, the organization will provide to the Foundation staff, within ninety (90) days of project completion, the following documentation:
•	a detailed report on the funded project as outlined on the Seeds of Hope Grant Follow-Up Report Guideline document.
•	one copy of all promotional pieces associated with the project including press releases, printed material and internet advertising
•	any other relevant information that may serve to assist in satisfying the United Church/Foundation requirements
The conditions stated above have been reviewed and agreed upon by signing authorities for the organization named on the Grant Application Form.

Print Name of Signing Officer:		
Title of Signing Officer:		
Signature of Signing Officer:		
Signed at:		Date:		

Seeds of Hope Granting Program
Applicant Guidebook

*For information please do not submit with your application

Introduction
The Seeds of Hope granting program is run jointly by The United Church of Canada and The United Church of Canada Foundation.  Funds granted through this program are derived from the trusts and endowments held by the United Church and its Foundation.  These trusts and endowments were created by individuals whose goal was to provide for the future of the church.   We remain grateful for their enduring generosity.

Governance
The granting program is overseen by the Joint Grants Committee of the United Church and the Foundation.  Volunteers from the Executive of the General Council and the Foundation’s Board of Directors comprise the Committee.  The Committee’s role is to review applications, recommend awards and ensure that the funds granted are in keeping with the wishes of the donors who established the trusts and endowments.

This Guidebook is intended to answer frequently asked questions about the program and to assist interested groups in submitting strong and complete applications.  The Guidebook should be used in conjunction with the most up-to-date application form and the list of funds that will be providing grants in the relevant cycle.

Process
Each calendar year, there are two granting cycles: one in the spring and one in the fall.  Applications are accepted only during these times.  Typically, the spring cycle opens mid-January and closes in April; the fall cycle opens in June and closes in October.

The first step in the application process is to make sure you are using the current application form.  You may download a copy from the Foundation’s website in the Grant Information section at www.unitedchurchfoundation.ca   When there is no application form on the website applications are not being accepted.

The application form is reviewed and updated every granting cycle.  Please use the most current form and fill it out completely.   After reading the information below, should you have questions please contact the Foundation at grants@united-church.ca or 1-866-340-8223 (toll-free).
Part One:  Details about Your Organization

Contact Details
Part one provides the contact information for the group applying for funding so that we may seek answers to any questions about your application and notify applicants of decisions. It also provides the Joint Grants Committee with information about the organization or group’s previous involvement with the program.

Application Approval
This part of the form indicates the project has support from the appropriate governing bodies.  If your project requires approval from presbytery (e.g. in the case of capital renovations), please include appropriate documentation of the approval.

Part Two:  Details about your Project
Part two provides a detailed description of your project.  This section helps the Committee make an informed decision and group applications according to theme. It also provides insight as to where you see your project or program fitting into the overall work of the church.  Please be clear and concise. 

Funding Cycle
The spring cycle is usually January to April.  The fall cycle is usually June to October.

Fund You are Applying To
It is important that you choose the fund that best fits with your project.  The list of funds providing grants in a given cycle is available from the Foundation’s website.

Project Title
Please use a title you would like to see in print should your project or program be awarded funds.  Try to make it succinct and descriptive.

Is this a New project?
The Seeds of Hope granting program is intended to provide seed money for new, innovative and unique projects.  It is not intended to fund annual operational costs.  Money may be used to start a program or project that, once underway, will be self-sustaining.  You will have a stronger application if the project or program for which you are applying is a new initiative.  

Targeted Project Implementation and Completion Dates
Please be specific.  If your project will continue beyond the funding you are applying for, use the date by which the activities the grant would support will be completed.  Your project will not be excluded from receiving funds if it begins or finishes before you would receive a grant should your application be successful.  However, applying to cover a shortfall of funds for a completed project is not recommended.  

Project Team Members
This section provides the Committee with assurance that the project or program will be well supported by a team with expertise and passion for the work.

Project Description
Please be concise and as descriptive as possible.  This portion of the application is the executive summary or brief overview of the project.  Specifics about how you will carry out the program or project will be provided later in the application.  This should give the Committee an idea of what you wish to accomplish and an overview of how you will do it.  

For example: “The ABC project will provide teenagers with leadership, mentoring and life saving skills through coaching on how to plan and lead safe, fun and educational afterschool programs.  Each participate will receive first aid and leadership training.  They will be matched with one or two children between the ages of five and 11 and will provide a program that runs twice weekly from 3:30 to 6 p.m. focussing on physical activity, homework assistance and socialization.”

Project Uniqueness
This tells the Committee how your initiative is different from other programs in your area and/or larger geographic region.  This is important because the Committee values innovation.

Project Goals and Objectives 
List goals and objectives that are concrete, well defined, achievable, actionable, and realistic.  Make sure they relate to the outcomes of your program and reflect how your project will be carried out.

Plan for Achieving Stated Goals and Objectives
For each of your goals and objectives outline the steps you will take to attain them.

Plan for Project Implementation and Delivery
Outline the timelines for each step or phase of your project or program and provide details on how you will ensure the steps or phases are completed.

Project Beneficiaries
Please list the groups of people that will benefit from your program or project.

Examples of Demonstrated Support
Please provide detail about how people have indicated their support for your project or program.  Examples could include financial pledges or promises to volunteer, feedback from surveys, testimonials from people involved, letters of support from other community groups or officials, etc.

Recognition of Support from The United Church of Canada Foundation
Explain how you will publicize a grant from the United Church and/or the Foundation e.g. in a newsletter, signage at an event, annual report, etc.
Volunteer Support
Provide details about the people who will volunteer and what their roles will be.

Part Three: Project Revenues and Expenses

Project Revenues
The first column of part three titled “Amount” should have a specific amount for each potential revenue stream, even if that amount is $0.

The second column titled “Confirmed” indicates whether you are sure you will receive funding from each particular stream.  Answer “yes” or “no” for each revenue source.

The third column titled “Anticipated Grant Confirmation Date” tells us when you expect to know whether a revenue source will provide funding.  For example, if another funder is to notify you sometime in May about an application you have submitted, put “31-May-11” in this column.

Organizational Funds are the monies your organization has committed to the project or program.

Other United Church of Canada Support refers to any funds you are receiving from other areas of the United Church for the project.  Capital loans, for example, would be accounted for in this line.

Other Grants refers to the total of funds you have or will receive from other granting bodies.  For example, a community, private or family foundation should be noted in this line

Other Fundraising refers to the total other funds or in kind support you have or will be soliciting and should be added in this line.

Funding from Partners If you are working with another organization(s), this line will account for the amount of funds they have committed to your project or program.

Amount Requested from Seeds of Hope   Enter the total amount of money your application is for.  You must specify an amount.  Please note the Committee does not typically fund more than 50% of a project or program.

Total Revenues Total funds from all revenue sources as described above are calculated in this line.

Project Revenue Sources Table
Please provide details for the Project Revenues chart above.

Project Revenue Source will be other United Church of Canada support, other grants, other fundraising, or funding from partners

Project Revenue Contributor will be the name of the department or loan you are receiving from another United Church source, the name of other funders providing grants, specific events, etc. that will bring in additional revenues, and the names of any project partners that are contributing funds.

Project Expenses Table
Please be specific about the amount of expenses each category will incur.

Major Project Expenses 
Please list the costliest items in your budget.

Focus for Applied Funding  
Be specific as to how you will use a grant from the United Church and the Foundation.  What part of your program or project would the funding offset?

Proposed Plan Revisions if Funding is Unavailable   
How will your program or project change if you do not receive a grant in response to this application?

Part Four: Project Evaluation

Anticipated Measurable Outcomes
Part four links back to your stated goals and objectives.  Be precise about what will happen because result of your project or program has taken place.

Plan to Assess Measurable Outcomes
How will you evaluate the success of your project or program based on the above objectives?

Timeframe for Achieving Anticipated Outcomes Table
Please be specific about when each measurable outcome will be achieved.

Timeframe This could be an exact date or relative, for example, three weeks after receiving funding.

Anticipated Outcome This is a measureable outcome you named above.

Thank you for your interest in the Seeds of Hope Granting Program.