Large Grants

Large Vitality Grants: $501 - $10,000

General Information and Process for Large Vitality Grants: 

• Large Vitality Grants ($501 - $10,000) are intended to assist in the implementation of larger projects that come out of discernment from the results of  engaging a congregational vitality process.
• Applications are accepted on a rolling basis from Feb 1st until Nov 15th of each year. 
• Applicants must use this form to apply.

• Application Form or you can Preview Application Form Questions
•  Large Vitality Grants for Finding God in Daily Life must take place outside of Sunday morning and not at the church building. 
• Large Vitality Grants for Building Relationships in our Neighborhoods and Communities must actively engage the community around the congregation for the purpose of building relationships or partnerships. 
• Grants proposals are reviewed by the Ministry Partners Team with a final decision regarding the awarding of grant by the Bishop, Canon to the Ordinary, Canon for Congregational Vitality, and Canon for Finance and Administration. 
• The Grant consideration process may take up to six weeks so please ensure your grant is submitted at least six weeks before the planned start date. 
  There may be a request for additional information or ask questions to the grant proposers during grant consideration. 
• Congregations receiving a grant must begin the grant project within 90 days of receiving the grant funds. 
• Any unused grant funds, whether remaining after project completion or from a non-executed grant project, must be returned to the diocese by the end of the grant timeline. Any deviation of the timeline should receive prior approval for the diocese. 
• Congregations are expected to financially contribute to the project in addition to grant funds. 
• Recipient congregations may only receive one Vitality Grant at a time (Experimental or Large) but may apply for multiple  grants within a year. Once a grant has been awarded the same project is no longer eligible for a future grant, unless you are expanding on the project with something new based on your learning. If you are applying for multiple grants simultaneously, please specify which grant takes priority or in which order you would like for them to be considered. 
• Grant recipients must provide feedback on learning and grant progress to the Diocese every six months the grant is active and upon completion of the grant using this form. 

• Large Vitality Grant Learning Report you may also Preview Large Grant Learning Report Questions
•  Failure to provide feedback or return of funds will result in exclusion from future grant opportunities. 
• Grant recipients will be recognized in name at Diocesan Convention and may be asked to present their grant projects to the wider Diocese of Oklahoma either at Diocesan Convention or at a selected event (e.g. Vestry Academy

What Qualifies for a Large Vitality Grant?: 

• Large Vitality Grants are new programs to build relationships in your neighborhood or community or to help members find God in their daily life that either build on a previous Experimental Vitality Grant or other learnings arising out of your Congregational Vitality process. 
• Preference will be given to congregations that have tested this idea through an Experimental Vitality Grant

• Large Vitality Grants should reflect the values of the Vitality Granting Program. 
  
  
• The desire and willingness to try new things 
• A posture towards creativity,  inventiveness, and inquisitiveness
• Ideas that are relational, participatory, and cooperative
• Reach into our neighborhoods and communities to form new partnerships
• Helping members of congregations find God in their daily lives

• Plans should be well-developed with specific proposals, project timeline, budget, documentation of congregational vitality goals, and other relevant information. 
• Grant funds are not to be used for individual projects (including sabbaticals), existing programs, internal programs, outreach-only initiatives, discretionary spending, operating budget, or personnel. Funds may be used for capital improvements so long as those improvements are required for the execution of the Large Vitality Grant.   
• While we value outreach and service, the Large Vitality Grant is not for outreach/service-only initiatives. If you have questions about how outreach or service may be incorporated as part of the Large Vitality Grant please reach out to Canon Steve (canonsteve@epiok.org) or Kate Bond (KBond@epiok.org) prior to grant submission. 
• Grant funds are not to be used for individual projects (including sabbaticals), existing programs, internal programs, outreach or service-only initiatives, advertising, discretionary spending, operating budget, personnel, or capital projects. 
  

Helpful Hints from the Ministry Partners: 

• Start with a question! Starting with a question or wondering about something your congregation is curious about, rather than a problem your congregation wants to solve, sets your congregation up to learn. Ask yourselves the how, why, what, where, and who questions about things in your neighborhood and how God might be already working there. 
• Reach out! We have a list of over 30 Experiments and the Ministry Partners Team is always ready to talk about ideas and help you formulate a proposal.