Episcopal Church Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Fellowship Giving: Approximately $45,000-$60,000 (3-4 fellowships annually)
• Success Rate: Highly competitive (3-4 awards from national applicant pool)
• Decision Time: 10-12 weeks (March deadline, late May notification)
• Grant Range: $5,000 - $15,000 (first year)
• Geographic Focus: National (Episcopal Church and Anglican Communion members)

Contact Details

Address: 475 Riverside Drive, Suite 750, New York, NY 10115

Phone: 800-697-2858

Email: ecf@episcopalfoundation.org

Website: www.ecf.org

Fellowship Program Inquiries: Contact Jacob Sierra (Senior Program Director, Digital Resources) to discuss proposal fit before deadline

Overview

Founded in 1949 by Presiding Bishop Henry Knox Sherrill, the Episcopal Church Foundation (ECF) is an independent, lay-led organization celebrating over 75 years of service to The Episcopal Church. With total assets exceeding $709 million, ECF strengthens the leadership and financial capabilities of Episcopal congregations, dioceses, and related organizations. The organization's primary grant-making activity is the Fellowship Partners Program, which since 1964 has supported nearly 240 scholars and ministry leaders through fellowships of up to $15,000 annually. ECF's broader mission focuses on endowment management services (serving hundreds of Episcopal organizations), leadership development, planned giving support, and digital resources—positioning it as a comprehensive support organization rather than a traditional grant maker. President and CEO Dail St. Claire, who began her tenure in December 2024, emphasizes investing in leaders "who wish to build a more faithful, just, and resilient Episcopal Church."

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Fellowship Partners Program - Academic Track

• Award Amount: Up to $15,000 (first year), renewable for up to 3 years with decreasing amounts (typically $10,000 second year, $5,000 third year)
• Application Method: Annual application cycle, online and PDF formats available
• Deadline: March 18 (decisions announced late May)
• Description: Supports doctoral research that advances Episcopal scholarship and leadership formation. Applicants must be enrolled in a doctoral program and demonstrate commitment to forming next-generation scholars and ministry leaders.

Fellowship Partners Program - Ministry Track

• Award Amount: Up to $15,000 (first year), renewable for up to 3 years with decreasing amounts
• Application Method: Annual application cycle, online and PDF formats available
• Deadline: March 18 (decisions announced late May)
• Description: Supports innovative ministry projects that develop Episcopal Church leaders and benefit the wider church. Open to both lay and ordained Episcopalians.

Pilot Lay Leader Development Track (launched 2026)

• Award Amount: Up to $5,000
• Application Method: Annual application cycle
• Deadline: March 18 (decisions announced late May)
• Description: New track specifically for lay leaders actively engaged in congregation membership and leadership development.

Priority Areas

• Leadership Development: Programs that develop next-generation Episcopal Church leaders in local congregations, church-wide initiatives, or other ministry settings
• Theological Scholarship: Doctoral research advancing Episcopal and Anglican theological understanding
• Innovation in Ministry: Projects exploring new approaches to ministry challenges facing contemporary Episcopal communities
• Cross-Disciplinary Research: Integration of theology with other fields (bioethics, comparative theology, social work, disability studies, etc.)
• Multicultural and Multilingual Ministry: Projects addressing diverse and changing Episcopal communities
• Rural Congregational Vitality: Support for often-overlooked rural faith communities
• Knowledge Sharing: Projects with clear methodologies for sharing knowledge, experience, or best practices with the wider church

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the Fellowship Partners Program does not fund:

• Non-Episcopal or non-Anglican applicants (must be member of The Episcopal Church or Anglican Communion)
• Projects without clear benefit to Episcopal Church leadership development
• Undergraduate or master's-level study (Academic Track requires doctoral enrollment)
• Projects without a knowledge-sharing component

Governance and Leadership

Executive Leadership

Dail St. Claire - President and CEO (began December 2, 2024)

• "I look forward to building on our rich history of strengthening faith and transforming ministries, working with our dedicated staff and board, lay leadership, clergy, dioceses, and partners navigating this time of change and healing in our faith communities and nation."

Craig Bossi - Chief Operating Officer and Vice President of Finance

Kate Adams - Interim Chief of Staff

Board of Directors

Honorary Chair: The Most Rev. Sean W. Rowe (Presiding Bishop)

Officers:

• Annette Buchanan (Chair)
• Charles H. Schilling (Vice Chair)
• Andrea McKellar (Secretary)
• Harry Grand (Treasurer)

Board Members: Charles N. Atkins, Reynolds Cafferata, Linda Davila, Kurt V. Feaster, Karla Fernandez Parker, Julie Gehm, Judy Godfrey, Derrick A. Humphries, G. Frederick Reinhardt, Jo Ann Roberts, Allison Rutledge-Parisi, Amalia Sykes

Key Program Staff

• Jacob Sierra - Senior Program Director, Digital Resources (Fellowship Program contact)
• Josh Anderson - Director, Endowment Management
• Susan McDowell - Managing Director, Endowment Management Client Service & Marketing
• Anne Richardson - Managing Director, Endowment Management Risk Management & Operations
• Yvonne Jones Lembo - Director of Development

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Applications are available in two formats: online application portal and downloadable PDF. The application opens in November for the following year's fellowship cycle.

Academic Track Requirements:

• Synopsis of proposed doctoral course of study
• Demonstration of commitment to forming next-generation scholars and ministry leaders
• Clear articulation of need for this particular study
• Methodology for sharing knowledge, experience, or best practices gained
• Three letters of reference from: academic advisor, diocesan bishop, and congregation leader
• Proof of enrollment in doctoral program

Ministry Track Requirements:

• Outline of proposed ministry project
• Explanation of how project develops Episcopal Church leaders
• Description of benefits to wider church
• Methodology for sharing knowledge, experience, or best practices gained
• Three letters of reference from: congregation/ministry leader, diocesan bishop, and personal reference
• Active membership in Episcopal Church or Anglican Communion

Pilot Lay Leader Development Track Requirements:

• Active congregation membership
• Leadership development focus
• Up to $5,000 funding request

Pre-Application Guidance: Applicants may contact Jacob Sierra before the deadline to discuss whether their proposal fits the Fellowship Partners Program.

Decision Timeline

• Application Opens: November (for following year's fellowship)
• Application Deadline: March 18
• Decision Notification: Late May (approximately 10-12 weeks after deadline)
• Fellowship Begins: Varies based on academic calendar or ministry project timeline

Success Rates

The Fellowship Partners Program is highly competitive. Typically 3-4 new fellowships are awarded annually from a national applicant pool. Since 1964, nearly 240 fellows have been supported, averaging approximately 4 awards per year over 60 years. ECF emphasizes that "the selection process for an ECF Fellowship is highly competitive, and a strong application requires a significant investment of time and effort."

Reapplication Policy

The search did not reveal a specific reapplication policy for unsuccessful Fellowship Partners Program applicants. Fellows who receive awards may renew their fellowships for up to two additional years (three years total), with decreasing award amounts in subsequent years.

Application Success Factors

What ECF Values

Leadership Development Commitment: ECF prioritizes applicants who demonstrate clear commitment to developing the next generation of Episcopal leaders. President Dail St. Claire notes that successful fellows "exemplify this legacy through their bold vision and deep engagement with the realities of today's world."

Knowledge Sharing: Both Academic and Ministry tracks require "a methodology for sharing the knowledge, experience, or best practices gained." This is not optional—applicants must demonstrate how their work will benefit the wider Episcopal Church, not just advance their individual careers.

Strong Recommendations: ECF specifically requests that recommenders "speak to the applicant's preparation, qualifications, and commitment to the work for which they seek funding." Generic letters of support are insufficient.

Innovation and Relevance: Recent fellows have tackled cutting-edge issues including autism and theology, comparative bioethics, bilingual liturgical experiences, rural congregational vitality, and social justice ministry. ECF values projects that address contemporary challenges facing Episcopal communities.

Early Preparation: ECF explicitly encourages applicants to "begin this process early" due to the competitive nature and complexity of the application.

Recent Funded Projects as Examples

2025 Fellows:

• Rev. Brainerd Dharmaraj: PhD research on lived experience of Eucharist in multicultural and multilingual congregations, focusing on English-Spanish bilingual communities
• Rev. Dorothy Goehring: Comparative theology dissertation applying Anglican/Episcopalian and Islamic bioethical thought to prenatal genetic testing ethics
• Rev. Kenji Kuramitsu: Integration of clinical social work, pastoral care teaching, and community life leadership at university chapel

2024 Fellows:

• Ian Lasch: Doctoral research challenging conceptions of imago Dei through autistic experiences and perspectives
• Beckett Leclaire: Rural faith community development and inclusion ministry
• Diana Moreland: Alternative measures of congregational health for vital rural congregations

Common Themes: Cross-disciplinary approaches, engagement with marginalized communities, practical ministry applications, and scholarly rigor.

Application Tips

1. Contact Jacob Sierra early to discuss proposal fit—this is explicitly encouraged by ECF
2. Demonstrate Episcopal Church impact: Generic academic or ministry proposals won't succeed; show specific benefits to Episcopal communities
3. Cross-disciplinary approaches welcomed: Recent fellows integrate theology with disability studies, bioethics, social work, linguistics, and rural development
4. Be specific about knowledge sharing: Vague promises to "share results" are insufficient; detail specific plans for publications, workshops, training materials, or other dissemination methods
5. International applicants welcome: Must show potential impact on Episcopal Church leadership, regardless of geographic location
6. Invest significant time: ECF explicitly warns that strong applications require "significant investment of time and effort"

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Not a traditional funder: ECF's primary mission is endowment management and leadership development services; the Fellowship Partners Program is a relatively small but prestigious component focused on individual leadership development rather than organizational grants
• Highly selective: With only 3-4 awards annually from a national pool, success requires exceptional proposals with clear Episcopal Church impact
• Early engagement encouraged: Unlike many funders, ECF welcomes pre-application consultation with Jacob Sierra to discuss proposal fit
• Renewable support possible: First-year fellows can apply for up to two additional years of decreasing support, making the potential total funding $25,000-$30,000 over three years
• Leadership development is central: Every component of the application must demonstrate commitment to developing next-generation Episcopal leaders and benefiting the wider church
• Recent leadership transition: President Dail St. Claire began in December 2024, bringing fresh perspective to the organization's 75+ year history
• References matter significantly: Three specific references required, with clear expectations that recommenders address preparation, qualifications, and commitment

References

1. Episcopal Church Foundation Official Website - Programs Overview. https://www.ecf.org/programs (Accessed January 2026)
2. Episcopal Church Foundation - Fellowship Partners Program. https://www.ecf.org/programs/fellowship-partners-program (Accessed January 2026)
3. Episcopal Church Foundation - Fellows FAQs. https://www.ecf.org/programs/fellowship-partners-program/fellows-faqs (Accessed January 2026)
4. Episcopal Church Foundation - Purpose, Mission & Vision. https://www.ecf.org/about/purpose (Accessed January 2026)
5. Episcopal Church Foundation - History. https://www.ecf.org/about/history (Accessed January 2026)
6. Episcopal Church Foundation - Board of Directors. https://www.ecf.org/about/board (Accessed January 2026)
7. Episcopal Church Foundation - Staff Directory. https://www.ecf.org/about/staff/ (Accessed January 2026)
8. "2026 ECF Fellowship applications now open." Episcopal News Service, November 2025. https://episcopalnewsservice.org/pressreleases/2026-ecf-fellowship-applications-now-open/ (Accessed January 2026)
9. "Episcopal Church Foundation announces 4 2025 ECF Fellows." Episcopal News Service, June 2025. https://episcopalnewsservice.org/pressreleases/episcopal-church-foundation-announces-4-2025-ecf-fellows/ (Accessed January 2026)
10. "Episcopal Church Foundation Announces Four 2025 ECF Fellows." ECF News & Stories, 2025. https://www.ecf.org/about/news/398/episcopal-church-foundation-announces-four-2025-ecf-fellows (Accessed January 2026)
11. "ECF announces the 2024 Fellows." ECF News & Stories, 2024. https://www.ecf.org/about/news/382/ecf-announces-the-2024-fellows (Accessed January 2026)
12. "The Episcopal Church Foundation Announces Dail St. Claire as New President and Chief Executive Officer." ECF News & Stories, November 2024. https://www.ecf.org/about/news/389/the-episcopal-church-foundation-announces-dail-st-claire-as-new-president-and-chief-executive-officer (Accessed January 2026)
13. Episcopal Church Foundation - GuideStar/Candid Profile (EIN: 13-1776448). https://www.guidestar.org/profile/13-1776448 (Accessed January 2026)
14. Episcopal Church Foundation - Contact Information. https://www.ecf.org/about/contact (Accessed January 2026)