Applications are now being accepted for the 2021 Roanridge Trust Grant Awards. Dioceses, congregations and Episcopal Church-related organizations and institutions are invited to apply.

Offered annually, Roanridge Trust Grants are used for the “training of town and country ministry and rural Christian workers” of The Episcopal Church. They support creative models of leadership development and training for laity and clergy in small towns and rural communities across The Episcopal Church. Recent grant awards have ranged from $5,000 to $20,000.

These awards affirm the rich gifts and unique witness at work in rural communities. Roanridge Trust Grants help to form leaders for the Jesus Movement who sustain hope, health and creativity in often overlooked or under resourced localities. Grant recipients represent the great potential, diversity, and Jesus-rooted resilience in rural communities and small towns.

More information, application and instructions are in English here, Spanish here, and French here.

It is the intent of the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society to make the funds from the Roanridge Trust widely available. Although previous recipients are eligible to apply, and one renewal of a grant is permitted, priority is given to new applicants, preferably from dioceses which have not received recent grants. Only one grant request per diocese will be considered. Applications should not be submitted for a program, or a substantially similar program, for which a grant has been recently given by another grant program of The Episcopal Church.

Applicants should describe their contingency plans to comply with any social distancing requirements that civil or church authorities may impose to due to the COVID-19 pandemic or other health issues in the location where the proposed grant program is to be carried out.

Application deadline is December 18, 2020.

The Roanridge Trust was established by the Cochel family, who originally gave a working farm in Missouri called Roanridge to The Episcopal Church. Income from the Trust generates the grant funds.

Questions about the Roanridge Trust and the application process can be addressed to the Rev. Dr. Molly James, deputy executive officer of General Convention, mjames@episcopalchurch.org, 212.716.6048, or Mr. George Wing, chair of the Roanridge Trust Grant Review Committee, winggeo@winglaw.com.

Please note the following regarding dioceses of The Episcopal Church: Applicant understands that should its local diocese fail to pay its assessment in full or to apply for and receive a waiver, the diocese and the applicant shall be ineligible to receive grants or loans from the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society unless approved by Executive Council. In accordance with Canon I.4.6, (select the applicable response): The diocese pays its full assessment; The diocese has been granted a waiver for years (list); The diocese has made application for a waiver but has not been advised regarding a determination.