Through a trust fund established by William Cooper Procter, the Diocese of Southern Ohio has an opportunity to reach out in areas of special ministry, providing “support for innovative activities which go beyond the day to day operations of the church.” The Procter Fund earnings are allocated annually by the bishop and Trustees of the Diocese, subject to program evaluation, in four distinct areas of activity following the four criteria as determined by the terms of the bequest.
Under the terms of the bequest, annual budget and grant decisions as well as oversight of the investment of the Procter Fund are the responsibility of the Bishop and Trustees.
The Four Criteria
- “The giving of relief to those in trouble and need, especially where there would be an opportunity for restoring physical, mental or spiritual well being.”
- “The building up of the quality of the clergy in the Diocese by perpetuation of the plans for grants to supplement salaries in churches where there is real promise for the future.”
- “The development of a more widespread sense of responsibility in the parishes and missions of the Diocese for the support of the missionary work of the Church. Grants should be made on the same such basis as was used in connection with the refinancing fund given by Mr. Procter in 1933: aid is given to certain churches in time of emergency in return for an agreement pledging those churches to adequate support of the Church’s program.”
- “The use of grants to take advantage of unusual opportunities for advance work in the Church’s as distinct from the regular running expenses covered by the budget. The responsibility for the maintenance of the regular work must be borne by the rank and file of its membership, but opportunity should be offered to support any experiments which would afford a chance to take a step forward. The essential unity of the Church’s work requires that there should be no geographical limitations upon these grants so long as the purposes of the fund, as described above, are expressed in the use of this income. Part of the annual income from this fund shall be used for the work of the Church outside of the Diocese of Southern Ohio.”
Apply
Applications are reviewed quarterly and must be submitted by the dates listed below:
- 1st Quarter submittal date – March 1
- 2nd Quarter submittal date – May 30
- 3rd Quarter submittal date – August 30
- 4th Quarter submittal date – December 1
The Bishop seeks to support the best possible projects linking the diocese and its congregations to the community within the guidelines of the four criteria and the Diocese’s priorities. The goal is to help strengthen the work of the church by supporting innovative projects. Site visits are sometimes included in the ongoing evaluation of Procter Fund projects.
A letter of interest describing the proposal may prove helpful to send along with your application. The completed application should be mailed to:
The William Cooper Procter Memorial Fund
Diocese of Southern Ohio
412 Sycamore Street
Cincinnati, OH 45202-4179
For more information, contact Sarah Beegle at sbeegle@diosohio.org.
Mail can be sent to 412 Sycamore Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202. Phone: 513.421.0311.
Application Forms
- William Cooper Procter Memorial Fund Application (fillable)
- William Cooper Procter Memorial Fund Application (print and fill)
- William Cooper Procter Memorial Fund Grant Report Form
- Download the Four Criteria of the William Cooper Procter Memorial Fund
