SDOP grant information
Deadlines
Deadlines for National: There is no application deadline at the national level. Applications are accepted year round. Funding decisions are made three times a year (January, May, and September). The application process may take up to six months and sometimes beyond for a decision to be made.
How to apply for national grants
You may send grant applications:
- Or by post office to:
Self-Development of People
100 Witherspoon Street
Louisville, KY 40202
National in English (one copy)
National in Spanish (one copy)
Download national applications
How to apply for SDOP Synod and Presbytery Committee grants
Synods and Presbyteries are geographical regions in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). All projects in the United States will be located within the bounds of both a Presbytery (there are 173 Presbyteries in the United Sates) and a Synod (there are 16 Synods in the United States).
While not all Synods and Presbyteries have SDOP Committees, many do. If a project is in a Presbytery/Synod with a SDOP Committee, applications for funding can be submitted to the Presbytery and/or Synod SDOP Committee as well as to the National SDOP Committee, as long as money from each source will be used to finance different parts of your project.
Grants from Presbytery or Synod SDOP Committees are usually smaller than ones from the National SDOP Committee. Presbytery and Synod SDOP Committees may have a different application form than National SDOP, and (unlike National SDOP) may also have application deadlines. You’ll need to contact the Presbytery or Synod directly to learn about their application process. To find out if your Presbytery and Synod have a SDOP Committee, and to learn how to contact them, call the national SDOP office at 1.800.728.7228, extension 5792.
Criteria for applying
The following standards are used by Self-Development of People Committees to determine whether a project is valid for funding within this ministry. The standards include the following criteria:
Projects considered must:
- Be presented, owned, and controlled by the group of economically poor people who will benefit directly from it.
- Address long-term correction of conditions that keep people bound by poverty and oppression. This will utilize some combination of the SDOP core strategies to promote justice, build solidarity, advance human dignity and advocate for economic equity.
- Be sensitive to the environment while accomplishing its goal(s) and objectives.
- Not advocate violence as a means of accomplishing its goal(s) and objectives.
Projects presented for funding will:
- Describe, in detail, its goal(s) (the point of the project), its objectives (the specific steps the group will take to accomplish the goal(s)), the way the direct beneficiaries will be involved in all stages of the project, and the methods to be used to achieve the goal(s) and objectives. It will also specify how those methods align with the SDOP core strategies.
- Describe fully the resources known to be available for its support, including a description of a) those within the community, b) those available to the community, and c) the in-kind and other financial resources sought or to be sought.
- Contain a balanced income and expenditure budget. A financial plan showing expected income and expenditures over the funding term of the project will be included.
- Specify an evaluation plan that includes how progress towards the stated goal(s) and objectives will be evaluated, and when the evaluation will be made. This plan will also outline how progress toward the goal(s) and objectives align with the SDOP core strategies.
Required documents if funded
Documentos requeridos en Español
All items requested must reflect the same group name (NO INDIVIDUALS) and same address.
1. Please complete the check list form and send it with the required documents.
2. Documentation from your bank (on the bank’s letterhead or affixed with its stamp) that reflects:
- Account in the name of the group (if not, please explain why?)
- Account number
- Two signatories are REQUIRED to draw from the account. If the bank doesn’t provide this statement then the group should provide us with a statement acknowledging this requirement and the names of the signatories. (The signatories cannot be from the same family).
3. W-9 Form: You must complete and return the Taxpayer Identification form in the name of the group. NO INDIVIDUALS
4. Fiscal agent:: In the rare case that you need to channel the funds using another organization all the above items are required from the fiscal agent. (Please explain why you need a fiscal agent?). No administrative fees to be paid with SDOP funds. Call the SDOP office for additional requirements when using a fiscal agent at 1-888-728-7228 ext. 5781..
5. Letter of Agreement :A letter of understanding and agreement to the conditions and purpose of the grant, signed by each member of decision makers (governing board). If there have been changes in the decision makers (governing board), please complete the decision makers (governing board) form.
6. Method of Payment - Choose one:
- CHECK: Our accounting department’s processing time is usually fifteen working days.
- DIRECT DEPOSIT: Please complete the Authorization Agreement for Automatic Deposits form and attach an original voided check. Direct deposits are processed only on Wednesday and funds are credited to the account on Friday. Our accounting department’s processing time is usually fifteen working days.
7.The group has 3 months from the date in the funding letter to submit the requested documentation, if not the grant may be RESCINDED. Half of the final payment will be held until the final progress report is received. If the final progress report isn’t received within 3 months the remainder of the grant will be RESCINDED.
8. If there are changes in your address, decision makers (governing board), contact person, bank information during the course of funding our office must be notified in writing. Changes in the budget need to be approved by the Regional Task Force.
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NOTE: We are not currently accepting applications from individual groups outside the United States. For more information, contact the SDOP staff.
