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The Presbyterian Foundation - Guidelines for Applicants

Purpose of the Foundation

Established by the 1996 General Assembly, The Presbyterian Foundation is a trust fund, to which bequests and donations may be added, and from which interest is distributed for purposes as defined by the 1998 General Assembly.

  • To provide monies for the ongoing regional and other mission of the Church.
  • To facilitate the development of innovative mission opportunity that is conceived at a local and regional level.

Eligibility for Grants

This is an internal grants system, and applicant groups must belong directly to the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa Zealand. Individuals, overseas or non-Presbyterian parishes are not eligible. Stand-alone trusts associated with parishes may not apply directly.

Congregations and presbyteries may apply, as may Co-operating Ventures and United District Councils. They may do so as individual bodies, but joint applications which benefit a wider community will be given higher priority.

Joint applications may take any one of these combined forms:

  • Congregations and presbyteries/UCCs/UDCs
  • Two or more congregations together
  • Presbyteries/UCCs/UDCs may join with other presbyteries/UCCs/UDCs
  • Congregations or Presbyteries/UCCs/UDCs may develop a community facing mission project with other organisations in the community.
  • A recognised national church project may apply.

Available funding

There is approximately $2.5 million capital invested in the Fund. Around $140,000 - $170,000 interest is currently available for distribution each year.

There is no minimum or maximum limit for applications, but grants are typically in the $3,000 - $6,000 range. The total sum of requests for funding each year is invariably much greater than the level of funding available, and it is inevitable that some worthy applications will be unsuccessful.

Grants are normally made on a one-off basis. Applicants may apply in successive years for further funding to complete a project, but repeat applications may not be given the same priority.

Funding Criteria

Projects must be:

  • within the geographical boundaries of the applicant(s) territory.
  • consistent with the goals, priorities and policies of the Presbyterian Church as stated by the Council of Assembly.
  • consistent with the goals and priorities established by the relevant presbytery/UCC/UDC.

The following are unlikely to receive funding:

  • routine salaries and overheads
  • vehicles
  • technical equipment
  • building renovations
  • furniture or fittings

Priority will be given to:

  • Ministry of people to people
  • New creative ventures of mission, outside usual patterns and beyond current church membership.
  • Collaborative ventures [e.g. a congregation working with another congregation and presbyteries/UCCs/UDCs working together].

Note: If an applicant parish is not up to date with its financial obligations to the national church (Assembly Assessment or equivalent contributions to Uniting Congregations of Aotearoa NZ), it is unlikely to receive high priority.

Application Process

  • The Foundation operates on a calendar year basis.
  • Applications will open on 1 June of each year.
  • The Fund will be advertised through the June, July and August editions of Bush Telegraph.
  • Application forms, Guidelines for Applicants, Guidelines for Presbyteries, and Evaluation forms, are available through this website.
  • Parish applicants must have approval from their Session/Parish Council to apply.
  • Application forms from parishes are sent to Presbytery for endorsement.
  • Applications for national church projects should be endorsed by the National Mission Enabler, or the Assembly Executive Secretary, rather than a presbytery.
  • Presbyteries must complete the last page of the form, and forward the application to The Presbyterian Foundation.
  • Applications will close on 15 September of each year. Applications received by the Foundation after this date will not be accepted.
  • Applicants, and their presbyteries, will be advised of the funding decisions by 30 November.
  • Grants will normally be paid out in mid December.

How to make an application

  • Download the application form.
  • Check with your presbytery for its prior closing date for applications – this is likely to be a date in August.*
  • Have your session/parish council authorise the application.
  • If possible, fill in the form on computer, rather than handwrite entries. (Handwriting is often difficult to read, and not as much information can be inserted.)
  • Make sure the completed form is no longer than the four pages of the original. Text boxes should not be split between pages. Using a smaller type size or different font e.g. Arial Narrow will allow more information to be printed within the limited space.
  • Attach a summary budget, a copy of the parish’s latest annual accounts, and a bank deposit slip to the completed form.
  • Do not enclose any other material . It will not be considered.
  • Applications from parishes must be sent to the local Presbytery Clerk.
  • Photocopied applications will not be accepted: the signed original must be forwarded.
  • Retain a copy of the application for your files.
  • Applications for national church projects should be endorsed by the National Mission Enabler or the Assembly Executive Secretary.

*In order to meet the Foundation’s 15 September deadline, presbyteries will need to endorse parish applications at either their August or early September meetings at the latest. Applicants are advised to ascertain their presbytery’s deadline for assessing applications, and obtain their session/parish council’s approval well before this date.

Grants decisions

  • The Grants Committee of The Presbyterian Foundation makes the funding decisions.
  • The committee is convened by the National Mission Enabler.
  • Members include one representative each from the Church Property Trustees, the Council of Assembly Leadership subcommittee, and the Council of Assembly Resource sub committee, plus one other appointed with a view to balance on the committee.
  • Appointments are made for one year at a time.
  • The decisions of the Grants Committee are final, and no correspondence will be entered into.
  • Assessment of applications is made according to the stated criteria and identified priorities.
  • The committee aims for an equitable distribution of funds across the country.
  • Suitable acknowledgement of The Presbyterian Foundation will be expected in any church media or publicity arising from the project.

For enquiries about the application process, contact the administrator, Heather McKenzie, at heather(at)presbyterian.org.nz, or phone 0800 42 48 72.

Application forms can be downloaded here.

For further information on making an application see the Guidelines for Presbyteries

The Presbyterian Foundation’s postal address is:
PO Box 9049,
Wellington.

Evaluation of Projects

Successful applicants are expected to complete an evaluation of their project.

You may download the Evaluation Form and complete it at any time, but it must be submitted to the Foundation by 15 September in the year following your receiving the grant. As the same time, you must also send a copy to your presbytery/UCC/UDC.

When your application was lodged, your presbytery / UCC / UDC agreed to act as guarantor, to ensure any unspent funds were returned to The Presbyterian Foundation. If there is uncertainty over your project proceeding, you should advise your presbytery as early as possible.

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