✨ 2026 PARISH PARTNER GRANTS PROGRAM

Parish Partner Grants

Episcopal Charities of Chicago believes that congregations are uniquely positioned to see and respond to the needs of their neighbors. Parish Partner Grants exist to resource that work — supporting the hands-on outreach ministries that parishes across the Diocese of Chicago are already doing, and helping them do more.

What We Fund

Parish Partner Grants support congregation-based outreach that addresses our community's most pressing needs. Funded projects align with Episcopal Charities' four strategic focus areas: preventing violence, advancing equity and equality, caring for creation, and addressing hunger and food insecurity. From food pantries and after-school programs to immigrant support and community health initiatives, we partner with parishes whose outreach is rooted in their local context and driven by their community relationships.

Who Is Eligible

Any Episcopal congregation within the Diocese of Chicago is welcome to apply. Grants are available on an annual basis, with parishes eligible for up to two consecutive years of funding before taking a one-year break — a cycle designed to encourage growth, sustainability, and broad participation across the Diocese.

How to Apply

Each year, Episcopal Charities opens the Parish Partner Grant cycle with the publication of a Request for Proposals. The 2026 application process opens June 10, 2026, giving interested parishes approximately one month to submit their proposal for consideration. Awards are announced in September.

We encourage any parish with an active outreach ministry — or a vision for one — to consider applying. For questions, contact Matt Berryman, Executive Director, at mberryman@episcopalcharities.org.

Episcopal Charities is the social outreach arm of the Diocese of Chicago. Together, we fund partner organizations and projects throughout the region and support the development of leaders.

NON-PROFIT PARTNERS

We provide 3-year unrestricted grants to 17 organizations across Northern Illinois

PARISH PARTNERS

One-year grants to Episcopal churches that wish to begin or enhance an outward-facing project for the most vulnerable in their communities

CATALYST PROJECT FUND

A new pool of resources that is dedicated to smaller, high-impact endeavors

INNER CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAM

We provide opportunities for leaders in our partner organizations to develop their spiritual and emotional capacity as leaders for the benefit of the organizations they serve

Curious About What we do?

Since our founding in 1960, thousands of lives have been transformed through the work of Episcopal Charities across northern Illinois. As the social outreach arm of the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago, Episcopal Charities accomplishes its mission through the support of an outstanding network of partner agencies. In addition to annual operating grants, Episcopal Charities walks alongside our partners by providing regular training opportunities for organizational leaders through the capacity building program. Following the completion of a new strategic plan in June of 2020, Episcopal Charities will launch two new grant-making initiatives to accompany our ongoing support of current partner organizations. The new grant-making initiatives represent forward movement into areas of unknown territory and uncertain terrain where we join all those who risk hope in the midst of the deep challenges before us.

Strategic Plan

We are pleased to unveil our new strategic plan which is outlined at the link provided below. This plan provides funding for new projects and endeavors while faithfully stewarding the gifts with which we have been entrusted.