Pittsburgh Presbytery is offering grant opportunities related to the Freedom Rising initiative for people within its bounds who live in Allegheny County. Freedom Rising is an initiative of the 222nd General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) which is seeking to address the worsening plight of the African American male. The grants available through this application process are awarded on behalf of Freedom Rising, Pittsburgh, as one facet of Pittsburgh Presbytery’s preliminary response to address this crisis.
The grants are for ministries or programs serving African American males between the ages of 6-19 (or grades 1-12) in Allegheny County. The two grants offered are Enrichment Grants for an existing ministry or program and Seed Grants for a new ministry or program.
The Freedom Rising initiative was passed unanimously at General Assembly in 2016 to adopt an overture seeking to address the worsening plight of the African American male. Freedom Rising is being piloted in five cities, including Pittsburgh. The grants awarded through this application process are awarded on behalf of Freedom Rising, Pittsburgh, as one facet of Pittsburgh Presbytery’s preliminary response to address this crisis. Click here for more information on GA Overture 10-3, On Taking Specific Action to Address the Worsening Plight of the African American Male. More information on the response of Pittsburgh Presbytery is also available online.
The following are the five cities where the plight of the African American male is especially egregious and are the ones designated for specific action:
- Baltimore, MD
- Charlotte, N.C.
- Cleveland, Ohio
- New York, N.Y.
- Pittsburgh, PA
Here is a breakdown of the grants being offered in Allegheny County for Freedom Rising:
Enrichment grants:
- a one-time grant of up to $5,000
- to enrich an EXISTING ministry or program
- recipients will report back to the Freedom Rising Steering Team (FRST) about how the funds were used to enrich the current ministry or program on an annual basis
Seed grants:
- a renewable grant of up $15,000/year for up to seven (7) years
- must be for a NEW ministry or program
- recipients will report back to the Freedom Rising Steering Team about how the funds were used to enrich the current ministry or program every six months
- as the Freedom Rising Steering Team (FRST) hopes to ensure the sustainability of any new ministry/program being funded, recipients of seed grants must be open to an ongoing partnership with the FRST
Click here to access the ENRICHMENT grant application.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Once you start the online application, you may go back to previous screens but you will NOT be able to save and return at a later date. You must complete the application in one sitting. Click here to access a document to help you prepare your application for submission.
Click here to access the SEED grant application.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Once you start the online application, you may go back to previous screens but you will NOT be able to save and return at a later date. You must complete the application in one sitting. Click here to access a document to help you prepare your application for submission.