Overview
A bequest of Cdn.$1,000,000 was received by the Church from the estate of the late Charlotte E. Sills in late 1973, and the congregation of Bridge Street Church decided to establish a charitable foundation to administer those funds.
As directed by the members of the congregation, the Foundation invested the money in bonds and trust certificates, and distributes the income from these investments to various church and charitable organizations, and also to some projects in foreign countries.
A Board of Directors is elected annually for one year by the members of Bridge Street Church congregation. The members of the congregation also determine guidelines for the making of grants by the Foundation.
Currently, the objective is to grant one-third to Bridge Street Church for major restoration projects, one-third for local community organizations for Local Community Outreach, and one-third to national and international projects for World Outreach.
The Congregational Board of Bridge Street Church determines how the one-third for Bridge Street Church is spent. It decides on specific projects and then requests grants for them. It has been the Church Board's policy to use funds for outreach and community assistance and when necessary, to maintain the integrity of our historic Bridge Street Church building.
Each member of Bridge Street Church is also a member of the Bridge Street United Church Foundation, eligible to vote at the Annual Meeting and to stand for election to the Board of the Foundation.
During 1983, the Foundation passed the Cdn.$1,000,000 mark in grants distributed since the inception of the Foundation. In late 1984, an additional U.S.$350,000. was received from the Sills Estate and added to the Foundation's resources. In 1990, the Foundation had passed the Cdn.$2 million mark in capital assets from which interest income is used for grants, and by the end of 2005 the Foundation had granted over Cdn.$4.5 million dollars in approved grants. Its capital of over Cdn.$2 million remains invested.
Purpose of the Foundation
The aim of the Foundation is to conserve the capital funds, which are invested, and distribute the interest earned in accordance with the by-laws of the Foundation, and as required by legislation regarding charitable foundations. Funds are distributed twice yearly, in three categories - approximately one third to each of the following areas:
1. National and International Outreach
2. Local Community Outreach
3. Bridge Street Church Capital Projects (for approved projects which maintain the integrity of the historic building)
Guidelines
The following guidelines should be considered before approaching the Foundation:
• The average grant ranges from $1,000. to $3,000.
• Grants are usually made for one-time projects, special equipment or to provide "seed money" for start-up expenses.
• The Foundation prefers to make grants directly to projects or programs which are of a self-help nature, to small organizations which might not have any other source of funding.
• The Foundation does not make grants to cover core administrative/operational expenses or staffing costs, and will not provide for on-going funding needs. Ideally, the Foundation grants provide direct benefit for the recipients or participants rather than administrative support costs. Only in exceptional circumstances does the Foundation respond to capital campaigns, building funds or general appeals. The Foundation does not grant funds to pay deficits, unless created by a one-time calamity.
• Generally, other foundations are not funded. The Foundation prefers to make direct grants rather than fund other funding bodies.
• With regard to applications from other church organizations, the Foundation usually responds only to requests which result from a catastrophic disaster such as a major fire.
• Applications require evidence that an organization has been property constituted, and unless exempted by law, a Charitable Tax Number must be provided.
• Applications must include the most recent audited financial statement of the organization and requests must be made in Canadian dollars.
• The Foundation will respond to only one application per organization in any given round. It will not re-consider a declined application, unless the organization reapplies; nor will it consider late applications.
How and When to Apply
Grants are made twice during the year: mid-May and mid-November. Applications for Spring grants must be received before May 1st, and for Fall grants, before October 1st. Late applications will not be considered.
The first step in applying is to send a one page letter of enquiry briefly outlining the work of the organization and describing the project for which a grant would be used. This letter is used as an initial screening to determine whether your organization might be considered for a grant. If the organization qualifies, an application folder is sent to be completed.
If you require further information, or if you would like to apply, contact the Administrative Assistant of the Foundation at Bridge Street United Church by calling 1-613-962-9178, or by sending a brief letter of enquiry by fax (1-613-962-5303) or by mail to 60 Bridge Street East, Belleville, Ontario, Canada, K8N 1L7.
Bridge Street Church • 60 Bridge Street E • Belleville ON K8N 1L7 • T 613 962 9178 • F 613 962 5303
Copyright 2007 Bridge Street Church
