A Brighter Future: Women’s Division

The Women’s Division offers grants of up to $4,000 for projects and programs addressing the needs of children and young people between the ages of 5 to 18 in the areas of violence prevention, anti-abuse and relationship abuse.

Priority Criteria
Preference will be given to projects that:
•    Have significant involvement of women and youth at the 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; and
•    Cultivate spiritual lives and values.

General Criteria
•    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, one-time only events, or summer events and activities are not eligible for funding.
•    Projects should demonstrate the ability to raise additional funds from other sources.
•    This is a non-renewable grant.
•    New or existing projects are eligible to apply.
•    About 10 percent of the applicants each year receive funding. The average grant is about $2,500.

Guidelines for Submission of Application
•    Completed applications should be directed to: Marva D. Usher-Kerr, Executive Secretary for Mission Opportunities, Women's Division/General Board of Global Ministries, The United Methodist Church, 475 Riverside Drive, Room 1503, New York, NY 10115, USA. If you are currently related to an additional General Board of Global Ministries office please make sure to CC them on the application.
•    Applications are due on or before July 1, 2009. Applications will be screened by a Women's Division committee, and recipients will be approved by the Women's Division Board of Directors.
•    Provide all information requested. Do not refer to attached material (e.g., do not answer a question with "see page 45 of our Annual Report"). Please do not use acronyms or abbreviations.
•    Type the application. If there is absolutely no typewriter or computer available, then print as clearly as possible. Handwritten applications are often difficult to read and may be misinterpreted. Applications must be of a quality to provide legible photocopies.
•    Funding proposals in Spanish are accepted.

Notification
We will respond in writing to all applicants. Grants will be approved by Women’s Division directors in October 2009. Groups will be notified of acceptance or rejection by December 1, 2009. Funds will be distributed as soon as possible as the appropriate documents are received from the grantees.
Address questions to Marva Usher-Kerr at 212-870-3738, fax: 212-870-3736, or e-mail:musherke@gbgm-umc.org.