ADO Future Fund Grant Program

1. Grants are available to parishes in the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa to support contextual mission and/or the creation of new worshipping communities.
2. Projects and/or initiatives which are local to the church’s neighbourhoods, engage with new people, and demonstrate an innovative approach to the creation of new mission and ministry will be given priority.
3. Completed projects are not eligible for funding.
4. If an application does not meet the requirements (e.g., incomplete), the applicant may reapply during the next cycle. Each parish may submit one successful application per year.

1. There are two grant cycles per year. Application deadlines are 11:59 PM ET on March 15 and November 1.
2. Parishes can download the application form from the Diocesan website here.
3. Only fully completed applications submitted by the deadline will be considered.

Application must be prepared and submitted electronically using the Future Fund application form on the Diocesan website.

Confirmation of Receipt: Upon submitting your grant application, you will receive a confirmation email to acknowledge that your application has been successfully received. If you do not receive the email within 24 hours, please contact us by using the form at the bottom of this webpage.

Late Submissions: Applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered. Please ensure your application is submitted by the stated deadline to be eligible for review.

If you have any questions or experience issues during the application process, please contact us by using the form at the bottom of this webpage.

Your application must include the following:

1. A covering letter of introduction which includes the endorsement of the parish incumbent and/or parish corporation.
2. A summary description of your contextual mission project. This must include a statement of objectives and how success will be measured. This must also include the process the parish followed to identify needs and the rationale behind choosing this approach.
3. A statement of why you are passionate about the project and why it is important to your parish and its local communities.
4. Your action plan and project timeline should include SMART goals:
   Specific: Clearly defined
   Measurable: Trackable with criteria
   Achievable: Realistic and attainable
   Relevant: Aligned with contextual mission, new worshipping communities; ADO strategic priorities
   Time-bound: Include a clear deadline
5. A detailed budget outlining all expenses related to the development, launch, and implementation of your initiative; all sources of income should be included for projects relying on funding beyond the Future Fund grant.
6. Identify staff and volunteers needed to implement the initiative.
7. The project must begin within three months of grant approval by the Future Fund Panel and be completed within 12 months. If more time is needed, please contact the diocesan Director of Finance for an extension approval.
8. Successful applicants must complete the Contextual Mission Self-Evaluation Tool within six months of receiving the grant.

Each grant application will be reviewed and assessed according to the following:

1. Alignment with Strategic Priorities supporting Contextual Mission and New Worshipping Communities
2. Community Impact (participation from those beyond parish congregation is encouraged)
3. Process the parish followed to identify needs
4. Feasibility and Sustainability
5. Innovation and Creativity (includes project launch of new ministry/mission, addresses new need or challenge within parish’s neighbourhoods)
6. Financial Need and Budget Clarity
7. Leadership and Team Capacity
8. Measurable Outcomes and Accountability

We aim to notify all applicants of the funding decision within four weeks of the application deadline. Successful applicants will receive further instructions regarding the grant agreement and next steps.

Successful applicants will be required to sign a Grant Agreement outlining the terms and conditions of the funding. This agreement must be signed and returned before any funds are disbursed. The agreement will include project timelines, reporting requirements, and expectations for the use of funds.

Grant funds will be disbursed upon receipt of the signed Grant Agreement.

Payment details, including the schedule and method of the disbursement, will be outlined in the agreement. Disbursements may occur in full or in installments, depending on the size and scope of the project.

Future Fund Grant recipients are required to provide regular updates on the progress of their project. This includes submitting interim and final reports as outlined in the Grant Agreement. Reports should cover project milestones, financial updates, and the overall impact of the project. The frequency and format of reporting will be specified in the agreement to ensure accountability and transparency.

Future Fund Grant recipients are encouraged to publicly acknowledge diocesan support in their project materials and communications. Upon project completion, recipients may be invited to share success stories, testimonials, and photos or videos for diocesan publications, social media, and the website. Follow-up meetings may be scheduled to review project outcomes and discuss any further support needed for future initiatives.