Grant Guidelines
The Smock Foundation provides grants to Indiana Presbyterian Church (USA) members and churches. Grants are given to individuals in need, to churches for improvement facilities, to churches for Deacon funds and for programs that will improve the lives of elderly Indiana Presbyterians, including senior adult ministry programs.
Grant applications are reviewed monthly. Applications should be submitted by the second week of each month.
For Churches
Smock Deacon Fund Guidelines
These grants are established to assist Indiana Presbyterian church members who require emergency assistance like medical bills, utilities, rent and home maintenance through church Smock Deacon funds. Following session approval, churches can request a Deacon fund grant. Requests should include a breakdown of the church’s membership, including church demographics and church budget. There is no time limit on requests for Smock Deacon funds. Ordinarily, they are granted up to $10,000. When a church depletes its fund, it needs only to apply again, accompanied with a report of how the previous funds were used. A disbursement of funds form will be supplied with these grants.
For Churches
Church Facility Improvements Guidelines
These grants are specific to Indiana Presbyterian Church (USA) churches for facility improvements to make the building and grounds more accessible to all members of the church and community, especially seniors. The application must include two-to-three contractor bids for the scope of the project, if possible.
The application must include information about how the church and congregation are able to make a financial commitment to the project. Facility grants are generally capped at $25,000 per request.
The church's current financial statement and budget also need to be included with the application.
For Individuals
Individual Church Members
These grants are specific to Indiana Presbyterian church members who need financial assistance for approved independent-living home care or for assisted-living and nursing-care facilities. The grants can also provide assistance for living-expense bills and unpaid balances for living expense and medical bills. These grants provide assistance until other funding sources can be secured. The application form for these grants requires some personal financial information.
For Churches
Senior-Adult and Cluster Ministry Programs
These grants are for multiple Presbyterian Church (USA) churches to covenant together to develop and implement a shared senior-adult ministry program. Each partnering church must submit a request in writing that indicates the commitment to and purpose of the grant request. The request must be signed by the pastor/moderator of each church represented in the collaborative ministry. Program grant requests for individual churches will also be considered. Specific vision, mission, and programming goals as well as an operating budget must be included with this grant request.