A Brighter Future for Children and Youth 2005-2008
Seeking Peace and Justice
Women’s Division
General Board of Global Ministries, The United Methodist Church
The Women’s Division offers grants up to $6,000 for projects and programs that address the needs of children and young people between the ages of 5 and 18 years of age in the areas of peacemaking, anti-abuse and nonviolence.
Types of projects funded by the Brighter Future grant should:
- have significant involvement of women and youth at grassroots level
- demonstrate the ability to raise additional funds from other sources
- provide direct and comprehensive services to young people
- promote respect for and appreciation of racial and ethnic diversity
- cultivate spiritual life and values
Funding limitations
The Women’s Division funds small-scale, community and church-based programs and projects. For this reason, groups affiliated with national organizations, hospitals, and organizations with budgets totaling more than $3,000,000 are not normally within the realm of funding. Building improvements, computer hardware or one-off events or activities are not eligible for funding. Projects should demonstrate the ability to raise additional funds from other sources.
This is a one-time grant. New or existing projects are eligible to apply. About 10 percent of the applicants each year receive funding. The average grant is about $4,000.
Submitting grant applications
The due date for applications is July 1, 2008. Proposals by fax to 212-870-3736 and email to Musherke@gbgm-umc.org are accepted. We accept funding proposals in Spanish. Applications must be received in our office by July 1, 2008. All others will be considered late and may not be reviewed.
Please mail to:
Office of Mission Opportunities
Women’s Division
475 Riverside Drive, Room 1503
New York, NY 10115
Click following links to download the application in:
MS Word format (DOC, 56k) 
PDF format (PDF, 55k)
Notification
We will respond in writing to all applicants. Grant requests will be voted by Women’s Division directors in October 2008. Groups will be notified of acceptance or rejection by December 1, 2008. Funds will be distributed as soon as possible as the appropriate documents are received from the grantees.
Address questions to the Office of Mission Opportunities at the above address, or phone Marva D. Usher-Kerr at 212-870-3738, fax 212-870-3736, or e-mail Musherke@gbgm-umc.org
In past years, funded projects have included one or more of the following strategies:
- promote tolerance and diversity
- enable youth to recognize and deal constructively with violent or abusive situations
- empower youth to develop alternatives to gang violence
- teach conflict resolution and celebrate differences
- deliver programs for school-age children on bulllying
- create safe zones in neighborhoods
- forge partnerships between schools and churches to educate young people about the dangers of drugs and guns
- advocate and work for elimination of causes and conditions that victimize, such as sexual exploitation, forced prostitution and sex tourism
- provide support groups and counseling for victims of abuse, violence, hate crimes
- include parents or significant adults in children's development
- provide multicultural education and promote interfaith understanding
- model alternatives to teen incarceration
- support battered women’s projects and shelters
- mobilize communities against rape and abuse
- raise awareness on gender inequality and sexual violence
Date posted : Jan. 15, 2008