PURPOSE:  To request funding to assist with the types of Creation Care/ Justice projects listed below.  

DESCRIPTION:   

Applicant:   TWK United Methodist Churches (including charges, clusters, districts, and Wesley Foundations)  

Funding Amount:   Up to $500  (Requests for funding encourages, but does not require matching funds.)                                                                                     

Types of Projects:  may include, but not be limited to —

• Food security and safety (e.g. installing an in-ground or raised bed garden, distributing food, composting waste, pollinator gardens) 
• Ecosystem improvement projects (e.g. restoring streams, transforming lawns with native plants or clover, planting native trees or pollinator gardens, capturing water run-off/rain gardens ) 
• Energy efficiency projects (e.g. weatherization/caulking, installing LED lighting, upgrading a church appliance)
• Education and community outreach projects (e.g. hosting an event or series including, and not limited to, a community recycling event)
• EarthKeeper projects (e.g.undertaking a local plan) 
• EarthKeeper training (e.g. assisting with tuition and associated expenses for a member to become an EarthKeeper) 
• Creating or strengthening a Green Team (e.g. 2023 TWK Conference Green Team Formation  Resolution included four areas for Green Team action including worship, educational opportunities,  practices, and advocacy. Practice, for example, could include initiating or enhancing recycling at a local church)
• Other (e.g. proposing new and creative ideas)

Instructions: 

1) Please complete either the online application form or the pdf application form, both of which can be accessed below.

2) If using the pdf application form, download, print, and e-mail the scanned copy to creation.care@twkumc.org or mail the completed copy to 

                 TWK Creation Care Ministry     P.O. Box 120081     Nashville, TN  37212

3) E-mail us at creation.care@twkumc.org  if you have any questions about this process.. 

4) Additional Information (optional):

When submitting the application, feel free to attach any supporting documentation.  The online application boxes that prompt a “long answer” do accept pages to be pasted into the space.

If submitting the application by e-mail or postal service and are adding pages of supporting documentation, please label each additional page with the Applicant Name (church/organization) and the Project Name.

5) One crucial requirement of this application process:

List Names and e-mail addresses of key people related to the project who have given approval for the project and are aware of this request for funding:

•  Pastor or authorized representative:                                                            
•  Trustee Chair or other authorized person 
•           (if the project involves buildings and/or grounds): 
•  Finance officer who will be involved in receiving funds 
•            from the Creation Care Ministry via the TWK Conference treasurer’s office:
•  Person submitting the application:    
• Contact Person going forward    (Name, e-mail address and phone number and best time of day/ week to be reached)

6) Application Timing: The application process is designed to be flexible.     

7) Applicants will receive an e-mail notification within 48 hours of your application having been received as well as  information regarding next steps.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Sample Application   

Project Name: Initiate recycling at church 

Applicant:: Any UMC 

Location: Church Street Address, City, and State 

Project Purpose: Redirect recyclable material from the landfill and enhance the feeling that  caring for God’s creation is the church’s responsibility. 

 Project Description: Purchase and place blue recycling containers around the church to recycle  1&2 plastic bottles and aluminum cans., The project also includes purchasing one recycling  container to place by the copy machine to recycle paper and cardboard. The church is  developing a green team and one of their projects will be to ensure materials are properly  recycled. Sponsor has $100 to add to $400 grant funds to complete the project. 

Estimated Total Project Cost: $500.00 

Funds Requested: $400.00 

Applicant Funding Match, if any: $100.00 

Planned Use of the Grant Money: Purchase 4 blue recycling containers with a small hole in  the top suitable for limiting items disposed to plastic bottles and aluminum cans. Applicant has  funding to purchase the recycling container to collect paper and cardboard.  

Projected Start: Desire to purchase recycling containers by March 23, 2024, and to begin  recycling at church as part of an earth day celebration on Sunday, April 21, 2024. 

Projected Completion: Desire kick-off on Sunday April 21, 2024 and ongoing after that.  

Any other information you wish to provide: None 

Names and email addresses of key people related to the project::

Pastor or authorized representative               

Trustee Chair or other authorized person, if project involves  

Finance officer who will be involved in receiving funds from the CCM 

Person submitting the application

Contact person going forward               

(name, email address and phone number and best time of day/week to be reached)                                                                        

Date  (mm/dd/yyyy)

_______________________________________________________________

Application Forms:

Application form (online)

Application form (pdf)

The Contact Person /Applicant will receive an e-mail notification within 48 hours of your application having been received.

• This e-mail message may include 1) initial requests for clarification, and/or 2) initial suggestions for additional resources or contact people related to your project. 
• As the application is reviewed, there may be further helpful information to become available, which we will share with you.
• At this time and going forward, phone conversations or zoom calls will be welcomed, if that simplifies the process or assists in the overall success of the project.

If your project is awarded funding, the e-mail that confirms that funding will be sent to all of the following people:  Contact Person, Pastor/organization director, Trustee (if involved), Finance officer, and person who submitted the application.

• In addition, this e-mail message will be include the e-mail address (cc) of Rev. Paul Slentz, finance officer of the TWK Creation Care Ministry.
• This e-mail will state the amount of the award, instructions for receiving such funds, and an attached document (TWK Conference “Authorization for ACH Transactions” form).

Post Action Reporting: The TWK Creation Care Ministry requests that during or after the  project, the applicant submits by e-mail (creation.care@twkumc.org) any lessons learned or other items that the applicant feels would be helpful to others performing a similar activity.  

Also, if appropriate, please submit any pictures that TWK Creation Care Ministry may use to demonstrate results of creation care project funding.