Give to ECM
Episcopal Community Ministries (ECM) is a major source of grants for congregational ministries working to help our Ohio neighbors overcome challenges. It is ECM’s mission to inspire and support each other in the living out of our Baptismal Covenant through active, generous, and committed congregations and their outward-looking ministries.
ECM grants are funded by an annual draw from the Blanchard Memorial Endowment Fund established by the trustees of the diocese, and by donations from congregations and individuals. Every dollar donated to ECM goes to local church outreach ministries helping their neighbors in need.
Requests for ECM grants are growing faster than the endowment returns can sustain, so more than ever, your donations help sustain lifelines in country towns, cities and suburbs across the diocese.
ECM Grants
The ECM committee evaluates and provides grant funding in support of parish-based projects that address education, hunger, homelessness, health, and social justice, with a particular emphasis on projects that address systemic issues.
ECM awarded $108,500 to 35 local outreach ministries in 2023. In addition, to respond to escalating food insecurity in Southern Ohio, ECM awarded $25,550 to 20 food ministries in October 2023 through a special ECM Food Insecurity Grant.
In the first granting cycle of 2024, ECM was thrilled to award $63,750 to congregations across the diocese, thanks to more than $20,000 of donations given to the 2023 Advent appeal.
The 2024 mid-year grant cycle will open June 1. The deadline to apply will be June 30, 2024.
The ECM Committee
Chair
Spencer Izor email
Members
Lily Balukjian-Thompson
Judy Battle
Rae Fellows
The Rev. Gene Hallahan
The Rev. Joanna Leiserson
Jane Paraskevopoulos
The Rev. Michael Ralph
Andi Wright
Staff
Andrea Owens, ECM Administrator email
