CAPTION: A panel of church funding experts answered questions and gave advice about the grants available to churches
Meet the Funders Day ‘the perfect opportunity’ to support and encourage Devon Churches
Almost 100 people from churches across Devon gathered in Exeter recently for a Meet the Funders event.
It was held at St Matt’s church and hosted by the Diocese of Exeter Mission Resources team.
Representatives from funding organisations including The Benefact Trust, The National Churches Trust, The Heritage Lottery Fund, and the Church Grants database team were on hand to give advice about different grants available for church buildings and other church-related projects.
The Diocese of Exeter Giving Advisor, Rev’d Jeremy Putnam, who helped to organise the event, said, “We know that many churches across Devon have great plans to develop their mission, by maintaining their buildings or developing their community presence in new ways.
“We also know that funding for church projects can often feel quite a daunting task for PCCs, and yet from our experience there are many like-minded trusts and charities looking to financially support what we do.
“Bringing the funders and the churches together in one place seemed like the perfect opportunity to support and encourage our churches.”
The Benefact Trust is one of the organisations which fund church projects.
One of the speakers at the event was the Grant Officer for the Benefact Trust, Paul Playford. The trust aims to make a positive difference by “funding, guiding and celebrating” the work of churches and Christian charities.
Members of the trust’s forum contribute more than £60 million pounds a year to Christian projects, through funding streams like the Community Impact Grant programme and the Building Improvement Grants Programme.
Sophie Phillips, Net Zero Carbon Officer at the Diocese of Exeter, was also at the Meet the Funders events and shared key resources and websites to help churches to address their environmental impact.
Sophie said, “Meet the Funders was a great opportunity to chat to people from across the Diocese about their plans and projects for their churches.
“It was really helpful to hear directly from the funders with advice on how to navigate the funding process.”
The team from Church Grants Database shared advice about how to write successful grant applications.
The Church Grants Database is an online search engine, specifically for churches and Christian organisations. Through Church Grants, churches and organisations can access a database of hundreds of UK trusts and foundations.
One church treasurer said the event came at “just the right time with helpful advice.”
Church Grants also shared news about their upcoming webinar which shares details on planning a church fundraising project. This webinar will be held online on Thursday 27 April, from 9:30-11:30. Click here for further information on attending.
The Heritage Lottery Fund and National Churches Trust shared the latest news about their funding programmes, along with their desire to see churches apply.
One attendee from an East Devon church said, “Our church is planning to undertake some significant repairs and we knew there was a lot to do.
“Hearing from the different funders was really encouraging, and I came away with some very helpful advice from the Church Grants team.”
Another North Devon attendee mentioned that there was advice and wisdom for churches at all different stages of fundraising, “It is difficult to pitch it right, when you know that there is a wide variety of projects going on in our churches, and the fundraising experience of the attendees will be varied, but the speakers got it right.”
Latest details regarding funding are regularly updated on our website and weekly Roots and Shoots newsletter. You can also sign up to our new Generosity and Giving Facebook Group, for inspiration about giving, gratitude and generosity.
All presentations from the day are available to view below:
Presentations:
The Benefact Trust
The National Churches Trust
The Heritage Lottery Fund
Church Grants Team
Net Zero Carbon
