Congregational Federation

Congregational Federation is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (charity number 264839).

The Congregational Federation exists for the advancement of the Christian faith. It came into being after the vote on forming the United Reformed Church, when churches that chose to keep the Congregational Way formed it, and it gives support and guidance to Congregational Churches both financially and otherwise. Its annual giving is £153,569 according to the annual report. Its grants go to areas including Retired Ministers, Welfare, the education of children of Ministers, Training, Children and Youth initiatives, local church ministry and mission projects, and wider Church family projects.

Priority Areas

The Federation's organisational grants are for Congregational Federation churches, with Impact Grants also potentially available to groups of churches working together. It supports churches developing ministry and discipleship, trying new work or significantly improving existing projects, and making church activities more inclusive. Its grants also support community-facing church mission, children and youth initiatives, local church ministry, training, education for ministers' children and local ecumenical projects. For each grant, criteria and application processes are reviewed by the appropriate board or committee; assessment may consider the applicant's means and a project's viability and suitability. The Federation describes grants as enabling financial resources to be spent locally, and requires a church or project to satisfy its safeguarding policy's best possible practice before a grant is awarded.

Themes

• Church ministry
• Community mission
• Children and youth
• Ministerial training
• Ministers' children education
• Retired ministers
• Ecumenical projects

Contact the Federation and share the church's ideas; it will work with the church to identify potential help through Starter Grants, Mini-grants and Impact Grants.

Deadlines: Impact Grant applications have closing dates on 15 January and 15 July.

Application windows:

• Impact Grants: Closes on 15 January and 15 July

Who can apply:

• Impact Grants: Churches looking to develop their ministry and discipleship opportunities; grants may also be available to a group of churches wanting to work together on an initiative.
• Starter Grants
  • Starter Grants are available to Congregational Federation churches.
  • All churches should have an up to date Safeguarding Certificate from the Congregational Federation.

What the charity says:

• Impact applicants should engage with Church Support Workers to clarify and define their needs before submitting an application; without consultation, a grant may not be awarded.
• The project should form an integral part of the church's vision and mission statement.
• Applicants should contact their area for financial or other support.
• Impact applicants should explain how the money will be used, the expected outcomes and benefits beyond the funding period.
• Starter Grant work must be part of the church's overall plan and vision, and should be new or significantly improve an existing project.
• Starter Grant applicants must have an up-to-date Congregational Federation Safeguarding Certificate.
• The Federation considers the applicant's means and the project's viability and suitability where appropriate.
• The Federation is especially keen to hear from churches seeking to make their work more inclusive.