Grant Program

GRANT ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

Following please find our Grant Eligibility Information. Grants will only be considered for those that meet the Eligibility Requirements.

General Information

The St. Marys United Methodist Church Foundation, Inc. is a supporting organization to the St. Marys United Methodist Church and was established in January 2001. We are a non-profit, Christian organization, which makes grants to non-profit, tax-exempt, charitable organizations and ministries, which are exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service Code. Our mission is to be a lasting, effective and compassionate charitable resource for agencies in Southeast Georgia, the nation and the world that respond to people in need, for institutions related to United Methodism, and for organizations that promote evangelical Christianity.

Grant Cycles

Grants are made twice each year through a Spring Grant Cycle and a Fall Grant Cycle. The application process is a two-step process. Properly formatted proposals received by December 1st will be reviewed for further consideration for the Spring Cycle. Proposals selected must then complete grant applications. Properly completed grant applications received by February 1st will be considered for the Spring Cycle and reviewed by the Board of Directors in April. Funds for the Spring Cycle will be disbursed in June. Properly formatted proposals received by June 1st will be reviewed for further consideration for the Fall Cycle. Proposals selected must then complete grant applications. Properly completed grant applications received by August 1st will be considered for the Fall Cycle and reviewed by the Board of Directors in October. Funds for the Fall Cycle will be disbursed in December.

Grant Making Priorities

Proposals must be submitted online and will be accepted pertaining to the following guidelines:

• Consideration is limited to organizations working in Southeast Georgia (*) and/or agencies of the South Georgia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church that provide for people in need and/or promote evangelical Christianity.
• Applicants must qualify as IRS recognized 501(c)(3), tax-exempt organizations.
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Georgia Center for Non-Profits

GCN membership requirement only applies to Georgia-based organizations.

The Foundation is most interested in proposals that provide:

• A clear description of expected outcomes (e.g., the change that occurs as the result of an organization’s work and data supporting that the change occurred).
• Evidence the program/project has the potential to improve the sustainability of individuals (Note: The foundation is not currently supporting general benevolence, e.g., food and clothing distribution)
• Evidence of organizational sustainability
• Opportunities for collaboration between organizations
• Opportunities to leverage grant dollars via matching grants, etc.

The SMUMC Foundation is not accepting any new requests at this time for international project and programs.

The St. Marys United Methodist Church Foundation will not typically consider the following for grants:

• Organizations that do not meet the charitable status requirements of IRS Code 501(c)(3)
• Individuals
• Individual Scholarships
• Debt reduction or previously incurred deficits for any reason.
• Business Ventures
• Loans
• Endowments
• Brick and mortar projects for individual churches including new buildings, renovations, repairs, and furnishings.
• Arts / Culture
• Environmental Projects
• Animals
• Social Clubs
• Sports/Recreation/Leisure
• Meetings and Conferences
• The production of videos, films, and other recordings.
• Historic Preservation Projects
• Individual church projects where a collaborative effort with other churches may be more beneficial and effective.
• Vehicles (i.e., automobiles, vans, buses, etc.)
• General benevolence; food & clothing distribution, etc.

Grants will only be considered for those who submit a properly formatted proposal as defined by the guidelines supplied by the St. Marys United Methodist Church Foundation, Inc. For more information, please visit our website at www.smumcfoundation.org or contact the Foundation office at (912) 510-9350.