Interfaith Starter Grant

In a time of political and cultural division, our nation is in need of interfaith leaders who can build bridges across difference.  Interfaith Starter Grants are designed to support recent graduates in bringing the interfaith leadership skills they developed during undergrad into the world beyond their campuses.

Eligible Projects:

• Organize an online video-conference event with your faith/intentionally secular community to connect with neighboring communities. 
• Coordinate an interfaith workshop at your graduate school to explore the connection between your area of study and the importance of interfaith cooperation.  
• Host a "virtual" dinner with friends to discuss shared values.
• Partner with a local organization to host a presentation their needs and their impact on the community and raise funds to support them.
• Increase your interfaith knowledge by organizing virtual site visits or interviewing your interfaith role models from a variety of traditions.
• And more . . . If you have an idea for an interfaith project beyond the categories listed above, we invite you to be creative!  At IFYC, we love innovative approaches to promoting pluralism!

 Grantees are eligible for: 

• One-on-one coaching with IFYC Staff
• Webinars to help you make the most impact with your grant 
  • Topics include:
    • Budgeting
    • Project Planning
    • Building Partnerships
• Mentoring from experienced Interfaith Leaders in a variety of fields who are a part of the IFYC network

• Spend funds in accordance to the budget described in your application during the grant period (October 2019- December 2020).
  • Eligible Expenses can, but are not limited to the following:
    • Stipends for guest speakers or performers for a virtual gathering.  Speakers are welcome to donate the stipend to a charity or use it for general operating expenses for a charity where they work.
    • Purchasing items to contribute to a virtual interfaith service drive that you are hosting such as a book or canned food drive.
    • Purchasing e-gift cards for attendees of an event to use for a virtual dinner meeting.
    • Purchasing technology such as a website, online platform, or equipment that enable you or partners to engage the community in an interfaith effort.
    • Attending a virtual training or workshop that will help you to further develop as an interfaith leader.
    • Providing virtual snacks such as a $10 donation that you will make to guests’ preferred charity to incentives guests to attend an event much like how free food encourages people to attend an in-person event.
       
• Complete an end of year report that provides information about the outcomes of the project as well as the grantee's leadership development through the project.

• Contact Information
• Project Description 
• Budget Breakdown