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As I write this, the world has just lost a generous philanthropist.
Dolly Parton was loved and respected by many of us for her singing, songwriting, acting, and more — including her philanthropy.
She funded many causes through her Dollywood Foundation, from medical research and literacy to scholarships and disaster relief.
When she was awarded the Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy in 2022, she said this: “I just give from my heart. I never know what I’m going to do or why I’m gonna do it. I just see a need and if I can fill it, then I will.”
While congregations cannot necessarily propose grant projects to the Dollywood Foundation for funding, Dolly Parton’s philanthropy is an important reminder that many wealthy individuals and families want to fill the needs they see in the world.
One way they do so is by establishing foundations that direct their wealth toward targeted needs.
Congregations meet the world’s needs.
They are just as worthy of receiving and investing philanthropists’ wealth as anyone else. At their essence, foundation grants represent a relationship between someone with the passion and generosity to support an idea, and someone else with the ingenuity and capacity to see that idea through.
As with most money matters, seeking to raise funds by writing grant proposals has its pros and cons.
Grant money is not a great source of funding for meeting an immediate need like fixing a leaky roof. It is better for launching a sustainable project like a scholarship fund or a revitalized ministry.
Grant money best supports ministries with solid track records that congregations want to expand in some way, not brand-new ideas that the congregation has little experience with.
And since grants do not automatically renew, the projects they support do not last forever unless the congregation’s budget eventually covers the costs.
Nevertheless, grant writing is a viable path for congregations if they have the patience and skill to seek out the right supporting partners who share their mission.
You might be surprised to discover foundations that harbor the same dreams you have for your corner of the world.
As Dolly Parton once said, “I always thought that if I made it big or got successful at what I had started out to do, that I wanted to come back to my part of the country and do something great.”
Have a ministry project in need of funding? Register for Grants for Ministry: Where Generosity and Capacity Meet September 23 through October 14!
Barbara Blodgett is an educator, minister, and ethicist with several decades of experience in theological education, helping students, practitioners, and other leaders achieve excellence and effectiveness. She believes that when the head brings purpose, structure, and integrity, the heart can love and serve others well.
