Grants
Peace Fund–Fondos por la Paz
APPLICATION GUIDELINES
(Updated November 2020)
Applications closed.
BPFNA-Bautistas por la Paz has funding available for small grants to support both local and world peace projects. In order to receive funding, applicants must meet the criteria expressed in these guidelines. Christ came not only to bring spiritual reconciliation but also to initiate a redeemed and healed social order. As we seek to follow Jesus, we take up this message of liberation and reconciliation, and act on it by equipping, mobilizing, and gathering to build a culture of peace rooted in justice. Peace Fund applications will need to be linked to achieving the goals stated in one of these categories.
Equipping:
We equip individuals, regional groups, and congregations with tools for spoken witness and the hands-on work of peace rooted in justice. Trainings should bring new skills to the community and build capacity for peacemaking.
Examples: Conflict Transformation Training or Anti-Racism Training
Mobilizing:
We mobilize individuals, groups, and churches, in response to pressing concerns – guided by the wisdom of those whose realities are local to the concern at hand. Proposals under this category should be designated to assist indigenous or local people in the affected area to facilitate a compassionate and just response. A responsible project is one that will build capacity for a culture of peace.
Examples: Examples of mobilizing that we have supported include supporting a community group working against a cement plant that would harm the local environment and economy, helping people attend protests against the disappearance of the 43 Mexican students from Ayotzinapa, and supporting participation in the People’s Climate March.
Gathering:
We gather together regionally and internationally to mutually strengthen and support one another’s witness through community prayer, education, fellowship, and song. Gatherings are an essential part of peacemaking and of building community. Gatherings funded by the Gavel Fund need to have a clear objective to build friendships and understanding across cultures and/or to build relationships for working together on a particular issue for peace. Funding for gatherings may cover the cost of hosting a dialogue group, scholarship aid for participants on a tour, the cost of advertising a tour, and similar expenses.
Examples: Friendship Tours or Interfaith Gatherings
Requirements
We will only consider applications that meet the criteria for one of the three categories outlined above.
We will prioritize:
Applications from groups operating within our four member countries (Canada, the US, Mexico, and Puerto Rico)
Projects that fit within our annual theme. The current annual theme is “Beyond Barriers, People Move”
On-going relationships between our organization and grant recipients
Projects that are tailored for their local context
Projects that develop and strengthen local, indigenous leadership
Projects for which our limited funding can make a significant impact
The strongest applications will meet several of these priorities.
Please note that applicants have up to three years to repeat applications to this fund. Applicants for funds for a consecutive year are expected to provide a report on their projects for the approval of further support, since it is not automatically guaranteed. Those who receive support for three consecutive years are not eligible for a fourth year and must wait for two years before reapplying to the same program. This measure allows BPFNA-Bautistas por la Paz to extend support to as many applicants as possible.
REPORTS
Applicants are expected to fulfill the terms of the proposal, including a full report back to us, independently of the category in which they are classified. The report should ideally include how the money was spent, how well you accomplished your goals, what challenges you faced and how the project will affect the long-term situation that it was intended to mitigate, defuse, or otherwise change for the better. Reports and their content may be used for dissemination in BPFNA-Bautistas por la Paz communication outlets, hence applicants should make sure consent and/or copyright requirements allow for the use of photographs, images and documents generated during the project.
Reports should be submitted within 60 days of the project’s completion.
Failure to fulfill the terms of the proposal, including a full report back to us, will make the recipient ineligible to apply for future funding.
MAXIMUM AMOUNT AVAILABLE
Because our funding is limited, we will typically only be able to provide partial funding. The maximum grant currently available through this fund is $1,500 USD. Grant requests over $1,500 USD will not be considered.
Only one group or individual is eligible to apply for one grant per calendar year.
Timeline for Spring 2022
Applications are due on March 31st for funding in 2022.
Starting April 10th the Grant Review Committee will review all applications and will contact applicants with follow-up questions, if necessary.
Applicants will be notified on the outcome of their application by end of April 2022
Applications closed
Williamson Peace Action Fund
This Fund was set up during our 25th Anniversary year in 2009 to honor the first BPFNA President, George Williamson. It is available to support individuals, congregations or small grassroots groups working on the local level within North America on projects that are in keeping with our mission statement. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and reviewed and approved or declined by the Grant Review Committee.
Any BPFNA-Bautistas por la Paz member can submit an application for use of these funds. Funding is meant to support individuals, congregations or small grassroots groups working on the local level within North America. Work must be in keeping with our mission statement: Witnessing to God’s peace rooted in justice, working together until it comes.
We describe the work of BPFNA-Bautistas por la Paz in these ways:
Gathering: We gather together regionally and internationally to mutually strengthen and support one another’s witness through community prayer, education, fellowship, and song.
Equipping: We equip individuals, regional groups, and congregations with tools for spoken witness and the hands-on work of peace rooted in justice.
Mobilizing: We mobilize individuals, groups, and churches, in response to pressing concerns – guided by the wisdom of those whose realities are local to the concern at hand.
Your application will need to convince us that you are working toward achieving the goals stated in one or more of these categories. It will also need to provide us with a timeline, a budget, and plans to report back on how the money was spent, how well you accomplished your goals, what challenges you faced and how the project will affect the long-term situation that it was intended to mitigate, defuse, or otherwise change for the better. We will consider only applications that fulfill the work of equipping, mobilizing, or gathering as defined above.
Please present as many details in the application as possible, as failing to do so can result in the rejection of your request. Because our funding is limited, we will typically only be able to provide partial funding, seed money, or limited assistance.
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis as long as funds are available. Ideally, you would apply at least 90 days before the funding is needed. Please contact us before applying to see if funds are currently available. Typical grants are $250-$500.
Gavel Memorial World Peace Fund
(currently inactive)
Originally named the Gavel Memorial Peace Fund, the initial money for this Fund came from the estate of Victor and Eileen Gavel. This was a board-designated Fund established in September 1997 with the mission of providing “technical training, logistical, pastoral and limited financial support for strategic peacemaking ventures around the world involving indigenous Baptist leadership.” It was used to help fund this work and the salary for a quarter-time staff person. In 2003, when the assets of the fund were very reduced, the board decided to end this Fund. In 2008, the BPFNA received a bequest specifying that half be put toward the work of the Gavel Memorial Peace Fund. It had been spent down to the point that the board decided to cease making grants in 2019, however, the organization is working to rebuild this Fund.
