Friends,
The Episcopal Church is part of a worldwide community of faith: the Anglican Communion. In the name of our God who loves every human being, the Diocese of Southern Ohio has ardently supported humanitarian relief and development overseas for generations. Our own Bishop Hobson spearheaded the Presiding Bishop’s Fund for World Relief during the Second World War. When the United Nations adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015, our diocese joined The Episcopal Church in passing resolutions committing 0.7% of our budgets for grants to support SDG projects.
We are delighted to invite congregations of the Diocese of Southern Ohio to submit grant proposals to advance one or more of the Sustainable Development Goals through partnerships with congregations, dioceses, or nonprofits in developing countries. Descriptions of the SDGs may be found on the United Nations website.
Examples of eligible projects include programs promoting health, education, community economic development, equality, and environmental sustainability. Over the past decade, congregations in our diocese have received grants for programs supporting primary, secondary, and trade education, sustainable agriculture, women’s self-help groups, entrepreneurship, and medical education. The funded projects were in countries including Guatemala, Honduras, Liberia, Madagascar, and Uganda. You can submit an SDG proposal for a project anywhere in the developing world with on-the-ground partners with which your congregation has a direct and ongoing connection.
At a time when government and multinational foreign aid have frayed under immense disruptions including war, climate change, and funding cuts, the relationships we build directly with other caring and practical people on the front lines can continue to equip communities to overcome poverty and illness.
The deadline to submit applications for our 2026 SDG Grants is June 30th. Applications will be reviewed and awarded by the committee in July. The maximum grant amount is $5,000.
The SDG Grant Committee will host a one-hour info session on Monday, June 1st at 7 pm to provide an overview of the grant objectives and answer any questions. The session will be recorded and available for review after the session on the SDG grant page of our website. Applicants are not required to attend the info session, but are encouraged to participate or view the video afterwards.
We are glad to answer any questions you have as you develop your own project or embark on submitting a proposal. Please email me at frdavid.episcopal@gmail.com.
Faithfully,
The Rev. David Kendall-Sperry
Chair, SDG Granting Committee
The Episcopal Diocese of Southern Ohio
Our committee includes:
Lissa Barker – St. Patrick’s, Dublin
The Rev. Michelle Boomgaard – Christ Church, Springfield
Clifton Flemister – St. Matthew’s, Westerville
The Rev. David Kendall-Sperry – St. Peter’s, Delaware
Ariel Miller – Ascension & Holy Trinity, Wyoming
Liz Brauza-Hughes – Staff Liaison
