Episcopal Charities provides funding and support to a broad range of community-based human service programs throughout the Diocese of New York. These programs, sponsored by Episcopal congregations, serve disadvantaged individuals, youth and families on a non-sectarian basis.

Episcopal Charities was established as an independent non-profit organization in 1995. Its work carries on the centuries-old tradition of the Episcopal Diocese of New York to support and provide encouragement to the neediest among us. Episcopal Charities is recognized as a not-for-profit organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Episcopal Charities operates much like a foundation, sending requests for proposals to Episcopal congregations providing basic human needs and youth programs throughout the Diocese and evaluating the proposals to determine whether it can provide financial support for these services. Proposals are accepted during two grant cycles each year. Proposals are reviewed by an Advisory Committee consisting of persons elected by Diocesan Council and appointed by the Bishop and serving on rotating terms of three years.

Episcopal Charities is the parish outreach arm of the Diocese. Its sole function is to serve the parishes of the Diocese in developing and supporting effective parish-based human services programs within their local communities. While Episcopal Charities is separately incorporated it works in tandem with the Diocese to ensure that the needs of communities are met through parish programs.

The Board of Directors provides strategic policy and fiscal governance for the operation of Episcopal Charities. Through a full committee structure, all areas of Episcopal Charities' management and operation are regularly reviewed and monitored. Present committees include Audit, Communications and Public Relations, Development, Finance, Grants Policy, and Nominations. The Board meets five times each year.

Episcopal Charities provides support for a wide range of human service programs including feeding programs (soup kitchens and food pantries), housing and homelessness, immigrant assistance, aging and eldercare, domestic violence, job training, prison release and community re-entry, after-school, summer camp, day care, teen parenting and others. An important requirement for support is that a program addresses a clear and observed human need of a group of persons in a particular community. Episcopal Charities believes that a local congregation can best determine the need in its community and address that need with support from Episcopal Charities.

Episcopal Charities supports programs with a connection to an Episcopal congregation in the Diocese of New York. Those services must be non-sectarian and available to all persons in need regardless of religious affiliation.

Episcopal Charities has not imposed a limit on the number of years an outreach program can receive support. Some programs use Episcopal Charities' funds to develop a new program and within several years find other funding. Other programs, many providing critical services in communities of great need with few alternate resources, are supported continuously from year to year.

Proposals are funded on program merit alone. Funding does not depend on location or on the nature of the service provided, as long as it meets general eligibility guidelines.

Using the information and instructions available on this site, in the Grant Applications section, proposals can be submitted in February of each year for youth programs and in October of each year for all other programs addressing human need. We suggest that you contact Donna Dambrot, the Associate Director for Programs, (212-316-7426, ddambrot@dioceseny.org) to indicate your intent or ask any questions.

An important eligibility requirement is that programs have a clear and strong congregational connection, meaning that the program is integrally woven into the life of the congregation. That can mean that the parish provides financial support, volunteers, and space. Location alone does not constitute the required congregational connection.

A program that meets the eligibility requirements and that presents a proposal with a clear mission, a reasonable plan of operation, and a budget that will sustain the program has a strong chance of receiving support. If you have any questions about the proposal you may contact Episcopal Charities staff to discuss your proposal. Episcopal Charities also offers workshops on proposal development. In the interest of encouraging effective parish outreach, Episcopal Charities seeks to support as many programs as it can given its resources.

The average grant recommended by Episcopal Charities was $6,964 in 2007. The grants ranged from 1,000 to $17,000.

No. Funds are available only for programs affiliated with Episcopal congregations in this Diocese.

You will be contacted shortly after the proposal is received with any questions the Advisory Committee may have about the proposal. You will also be notified of the expected date when grant recommendations will be approved and grant applicants notified.

Episcopal Charities is the official outreach arm of the Episcopal Diocese of New York and provides funding and support only to programs that deliver social services in partnership with parishes throughout the diocese. Our network of 83 programs is much broader in scope and geographic area than Episcopal Social Services. We do not operate any programs ourselves and the majority of our funding comes from private donors, parishes, foundations, and corporate donations.

ESS is a much larger organization providing assistance in the five boroughs of New York City exclusively. It provides services directly and receives the majority of its funding from federal, state and local government grants and contracts.

ERD is a part of The Episcopal Church USA and provides domestic and international relief services for persons affected by disaster and development services abroad.

Because all administrative costs are covered by contributions from the Diocese of New York and by members of the Board of Directors, every dollar raised from public sources goes directly to program activity.

Episcopal Charities receives support from several sources including an allocation from the Diocese of New York, foundations, corporations, individual and congregational gifts. Episcopal Charities' Annual Tribute Dinner held at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine each fall is the organization's main fundraiser. Investment and endowment income account for about 15% of income as well. A financial report can be found in the pages of the Annual Report.

Donations can be made at any time in the Donate section of this website. If you prefer to donate by mail you can give by check or credit card, printing out the gift form on the Donate page. Episcopal Charities can increase the impact of your gift if your employer offers a matching gift program. Information is available from our office about including Episcopal Charities in your estate planning.

Episcopal Charities can not accept in-kind donations. Occasionally we can identify a program which can use a particular contribution and will do so when we can.