GRANT TYPES AND FUNDING

Foundations in Faith offers four types of grants to support pastoral care ministries in the Diocese of Bridgeport. To apply, you must represent a Diocesan Catholic Parish, program or organization and meet certain criteria. You will also need to set up an applicant account.

  • Program support grants have a competitive yearly application cycle and are open to all Diocesan programs and ministries provided they meet the criteria for the fund from which they're requesting a grant. These grants are available through the St. John Paul II Fund for Religious Education and Faith Formation (parish support grants and Youth in Action grants), the St. Catherine Center for Special Needs Fund, the St. Therese Fund for Evangelization and the Lourdes Fund for Pastoral Care at Catholic Nursing Homes.
  • General operating support grants are non-competitive grants offered by invitation only to ministries selected by the Curia based on strategic visions or Diocesan priorities. These grants are offered through many of Foundations in Faith's funds.
  • St. Francis Xavier Fund grants provide financial support to urban parishes deemed vital to the Diocese but face continuing socioeconomic stressors. This financial assistance is provided in a number of ways, such as fiscal stability grants, technology and communications grants, emergency need grants, and capacity-building grants.
  • Mini-grants range from $500 to $2,000 and are awarded to ministries that fit our mission of enhancing Pastoral Care in the Diocese of Bridgeport and demonstrate exceptional innovation or exceptional need. They are available on a rolling basis when funding is available and are by invitation only. To inquire about an invitation to apply simply speak with a Foundations in Faith staff or board member to pitch your idea.

St. John Paul II Fund for Faith Formation

Applications Open on February 15th, Due March 31st,

Approved By FIF Board June 21st, Award Letters sent out by July 19th, Funding Transfered by July 31st.

 

Diocese of Bridgeport Pastors, Youth Ministers, Directors / Coordinators of Religious Education

JPII Program Support Application Window Opens Feb 15th! – New Platform for Applicants and Grantees

Sample Application

At Foundations in Faith, we recognize that invigorating faith formation, especially for children, teenagers, and young adults is at the heart of parish life throughout our Diocese.

The St. John Paul II Fund for Religious Education and Faith Formation supports parishes and diocesan organizations with innovative approaches to religious education and youth ministry programs. Since it was founded it has funded diverse formation programs typically running from September to June.

Pastors and ministry leaders in the Diocese of Bridgeport are invited to apply for grants up to $10,000 per Parish/Program in support of faith formation and religious education programs. This is a competitive process and we look to fund strong, new approaches.

Application Window: Wednesday, February 15 to Friday, March 31

New Platform for Applicants and Grantees

In 2023, applicants will be required to create an account and submit applications via Foundations in Faith’s Grant Applicant Dashboard.

Details matter—include specific and measurable goals.

Numbers matter too—a descriptive, itemized budget is required.

Questions? Assistance? Contact Carol Incarnacao-Schirm, Grant Manager at 203-416-1393 or

carol.incarnacao-schirm@foundationsinfaith.org

 

 

Mini Grants are Available

Mini-Grants are provided to parishes or Diocesan initiatives that demonstrate exceptional innovation or need related to faith formation. Applicants can request between $500 and $2,000 in funding. To pitch your idea, please contact Kelly Weldon at kelly.weldon@foundationsinfaith.org or Carol Incarnacao-Schirm at Carol.Incarnacao-Schirm@foundationsinfaith.org.

Foundations in Faith awarded 12 mini-grants in the last fiscal year. Learn more about them below!

  • Diocese of Bridgeport Office of Clergy: Funded a speaker from St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia for the yearly Diocesan priests’ convocation. The speaker focused on mental health and wellness, which was much needed given the continuing reality of the coronavirus pandemic.
  • Diocese of Bridgeport Office of Safe Environment: Provided funding for an abuse survivor to travel to Ukraine to distribute rosaries and provide essential aid to those impacted by the war with Russia.
  • Guild of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Georgetown: Funded the launch of a Saturday art school at Sacred Heart Church, aiming to spark and encourage children's interest in the sacred arts.
  • Our Lady of Aparecida Parish, Danbury: Funded a barbecue and catechetical scavenger hunt for the parish's young adult group.
  • Project Beloved, Stamford: Helped fund a Feminine Genius Brunch, which sought to evangelize women in the Diocese of Bridgeport.
  • St. Aloysius Parish, New Canaan, and St. Matthew Church, Norwalk: Funded a Summer Mission Day for the parish's teen ministries. The teens served at Filling in the Blanks and Malta House, both in Norwalk.
  • St. Catherine Center for Special Needs, Fairfield: Funded a faculty and staff development day for St. Catherine Center personnel.
  • St. Charles Borromeo Parish, Bridgeport: Funded a summer Bible camp focusing on Biblical gardens and culminating in the creation of a garden on the St. Charles campus.
  • St. Joseph-St. Ladislaus Parish, Norwalk: Supplied essential tech for the upcoming religious education registration period.
  • St. Michael the Archangel Parish, Bridgeport: Funded the first-place prize for a raffle fundraiser seeking to repair the parish's steeple. The prize -- a plane ticket to Poland -- was particularly moving for the largely Polish-American parish community.
  • St. Stephen Church, Trumbull: Provided essential funding for new religious education programming.