CYM grants and funding currently available

Education and Outreach Grant Guidelines 

The purpose of these grants is to provide the resources and vision that build connection and community amongst Canadian Quakers. Grants will be prioritized for individuals and Monthly Meetings that wish to develop resources to understand Quakerism around the world but especially within the Canadian context. The amounts, guidelines and criteria vary from year to year.

Small grants are being offered to support in-person and online attendance at the Annual Gathering (CYM In-Session), educational opportunities (for CYM or other Quaker courses, Quaker events, and conferences), and travelling in the ministry. There is only a small amount of funds set aside, and the guidelines and criteria are different for each grant. To ensure equity and fairness for all, applicants are asked to follow the application guidelines and deadlines.

In reviewing and approving grants, the Education and Outreach Committee will ensure that due diligence procedures are followed. Please note: Applications submitted after the deadlines outlined will not be considered.

1. EDUCATIONAL GRANTS

Total Funds available $1,000.

Application Deadlines: Jan-April (deadline Dec 1); May-Aug (deadline April 1); Sep-Dec (deadline Aug 1)

Who can apply:

  • Quakers and regular attenders of Canadian Monthly Meetings.
  • Young Friends should apply to their funding programme.
  • Priority will be given to those who have not received a CYM grant in the past three years.
  • Tuition at a Quaker college or university for personal gain is not eligible.

General Requirements:

  • Canadian Yearly Meeting course or course with another Quaker organization.
  • Quaker events and conferences.
  • Brief outline of why you wish to attend and what they hope to gain for this (max. 100 words).
  • Approved grants cannot be disbursed unless all receipts for registration to the Quaker course, event or conference have been paid and submitted within 60 days.

2. GRANTS FOR CYM ANNUAL GATHERING

A. Total Funds Available: $10,000

Grant Limit per person:

If attending on Zoom only, $150 per person

If traveling in person, a maximum of $500 per person

Application Deadline: May 1st 2024

Who can apply:

  • CYM members and regular attenders of Canadian Monthly Meetings, and isolated Canadian F/friends, whether attending on Zoom or in person.
  • Preference is given to families and individuals unable to attend without financial assistance.
  • Priority will be given to applicants who have not received a CYM grant in the past three years.

B. Young Friends, Ages 18-35: Total Funds available $7,500

Grant Limit per person:

If attending on Zoom only, $200 per person

If travelling in person, maximum of $500 per person

Application Deadline: May 1st 2024

Who can apply:

  • Young Quaker Canadian Yearly Meeting Friends, members and regular attenders of Canadian Monthly Meetings, whether attending on Zoom or in person.
  • Preference is given to individuals unable to attend without financial assistance.
  • Priority may be given to applicants who have not received a Canadian Yearly Meeting grant in the past three years.
  • Application can only be done through the registration for the Gathering, which will be available on this website: https://quaker.ca/yearlymeetinginsession/

General Requirements for both grants:

  • A person may only apply for one of the two types of grants; General and Young Friends Grants cannot be combined.
  • Demonstrate a partial financial contribution towards the costs (either personally and/or through the Monthly Meeting).
  • The amounts requested can only be used towards registration, travel, accommodation, and meals and not any for another purpose.
  • Approved grants can only be disbursed after costs have been paid (e.g., your registration, etc.).
  • In-person applicants claiming funding towards travel costs are expected to submit all travel receipts (including boarding passes for planes, trains, etc.), within 60 days.

3. GRANTS FOR TRAVELING IN THE MINISTRY

Total funds available: $5,000

Grant Limit per person: discretion of CYM’s Education and Outreach Committee

Deadlines: Jan-June (Dec 1); July – Dec (June 1)

Who can apply:

  • Quakers and regular attenders of Canadian Monthly Meetings.
  • Priority may be given to those who have not received a CYM grant in the past three years.

General Requirements:

  • Brief outline of what is being proposed, the purpose of travel and how the CYM Quaker community will benefit (max. 500 words).
  • Amount applied for the purpose for which money will be used (travel, accommodation, event costs, other).
  • Demonstrate partial financial contribution towards the costs (either personally and/or through the Monthly Meeting).
  • Minute of support from Monthly Meeting or other (e.g., CYM’s Continuing Meeting for Ministry and Counsel).
  • The purpose must be aligned with CYM’s mandate.
  • At the conclusion of the travel, a brief report is required. This could be a written report of 250 words about the impact of the travel, or alternatively, if appropriate, the report could be created in other formats such as video or podcast.
  • Applicant agrees to share their report on the CYM website and social media to promote awareness of the travel grant.
  • Approved grants cannot be disbursed unless all receipts are submitted within 60 days.

This fund, originally intended to “aid aged ministers,” is now interpreted as providing assistance to members of the Society of Friends who have rendered long and useful service to the Religious Society of Friends. Applications for the Joseph P. Rogers Fund should include the following documents:

  • A letter from the applicant describing the reason for the application, the amount of money requested, and a full financial statement indicating any other funds applied for or received.
  • A minute from the applicant’s Monthly Meeting indicating that a Clearness Committee or a Committee of Care has met with the applicant and that the Meeting supports the application to the CYM Trustees. In some emergency cases, the Trustees may not require this minute.

Inquires and applications are submitted to the Clerk of CYM Trustees,

Monthly Meetings that want CYM ‘s financial assistance for capital improvements to Meetinghouses are expected to plan far enough ahead that they can be incorporated into CYM’s next year’s budget. Monthly meetings are expected to budget internally for anticipated maintenance costs. In 2022, CYM’s Finance Committee anticipated that $40,000 would be a sustainable amount to allocate from the CYM General Fund for such improvements for the whole of CYM over a five-year period. Ontario Monthly Meetings are eligible to apply to Samuel Rogers Memorial Trust for such expenses.

Applications for meeting house renovations can be submitted to the General Secretary-Treasurer, who will review and then forward the request to Finance Committee for consideration. Requests for substantial amounts should be submitted in advance of the annual budget preparation in September for payment during the following year. The deadline for applications is September 30th.

Inquires and applications are submitted to the CYM General Secretary-Treasurer,