Grants

The E. Warren Colehower Fund for Evangelism

Background and Policy Information:

The E. Warren Colehower Fund for Evangelism was established with an original corpus of $515,650 from a bequest of Mr. Colehower. According to the words of his Will, Mr. Colehower intended that the purpose of this Fund was "to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ anywhere in the universe where there is intelligent life."

The corpus is to be invested according to the procedures and policies of the Delaware-Maryland Synod through its Committee on Finance and the Synod Council.

The E. Warren Colehower Fund for Evangelism is not simply to accumulate but is to be utilized for the work of the Delaware-Maryland Synod in evangelism. The goal shall be to expand an average of 95% of its income each year, with 5% returned to the corpus in order to offset the long-range effects of inflation. In years where there is either no income or the investment actually suffers a loss, the Committee will receive a fixed allocation of $10,000.

The expenditure of these funds shall be directed by an advisory committee of five, appointed by the Bishop with Synod Council approval. The members shall be chosen in coordination with the Synod's Congregational Mission Team as part of their charge to promote evangelism throughout the Synod.

The E. Warren Colehower Fund for Evangelism shall be used for (listing not prioritized):

1. Synod-wide projects
2. Activities sponsored by groups of congregations
3. Activities sponsored by individual congregations

Projects can be in support of activities within the Synod, nationally or globally. These projects may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• seminars and workshops for lay leaders and clergy focusing on the context and effectiveness of our proclamation
• publicity to targeted groups utilizing the media or of individual design
• worship that will attract and nurture
• since the Gospel is proclaimed in deed as well as word, projects of service to the community also may be given consideration.

Process for Allocation of Funds by the Colehower Fund Advisory Committee:

1. In January of each year the Synod Finance Committee will provide an available allocation figure from the Fund to the Colehower Fund Advisory Committee to be used in the review and awarding of grants.
2. In accordance with the Delaware-Maryland Synod's commitment to honor Mr. Colehower's intent that these funds be used to proclaim the Gospel "anywhere in the universe," a total of 30% will be taken "off the top" of the allocation and sent as a donation from the Synod to the ELCA World Hunger Fund and the ELCA Domestic Disaster Relief Fund (15% each). This donation ensures that a significant portion of the annual allocation is used globally and nationally.
3. In February of each year the Colehower Fund Advisory Committee will publish an article about the purpose, availability, and requirements of the Colehower Fund to Synod and encourage congregations, groups of congregations, or other Synod organizations to initiate programs focused on evangelism. The article will solicit applications which will be due to the Synod office by 1 April of each year.
4. The Synod Support Staffperson to the Colehower Fund Advisory Committee will compile the packages and provide them to Committee members no later than mid-April each year.
5. The Advisory Committee will meet in late April or early May each year to discuss the requests and draft its recommendation for allocation of the funds. Programs shall be evaluated on a case-by-case basis and may be awarded full or partial funding depending on many factors - such as: demonstrating a direct tie to evangelism as the project's goal, the overall allocation of available monies from the Colehower Fund, the Committee's estimation of both need and potential impact, and the availability of other funding sources. Grants may be made on a matching basis for up to three years. The proportion shall be flexible, but not less than 20% of the funds must be provided by the receiving congregation or group. The Committee's recommendation will be forwarded to the Synod Council for action.
6. Once approved, congregations will be informed by letter from the Synod Council as to whether or not their applications were successful and the Treasurer will provide the funds to those congregations that were awarded grants. Congregations receiving funds will also be instructed that a one-page synopsis of their project and any impact thus far should be provided to the Synod Council 6 months after funding is received. Copies of these synopses will be shared with Colehower Committee members.
7. The Synod Council will also send letters, each accompanied by a check, to the two ELCA Funds notifying them of the donation and the source.
8. The Advisory committee shall monitor and evaluate all programs. One method of evaluation will be the one-page synopses of projects and their impact provided to the Synod Council by the receiving congregation(s). Other methods might also be used at the Committee's discretion.
9. The one-page synopses should be published by the Synod Council in order to encourage similar evangelistic activity by other congregations and Synod organizations.
10. In order to encourage other Lutherans toward gifts similar to that of Mr. Colehower, all projects funded shall include notation of the source of the funding.

NOTE: The E. Warren Colehower Fund for Evangelism Advisory Committee may, in order to enter a project of special potential, recommend to the Synod Council that up to 20% of the corpus of the fund may be expended in one or two years. Special care would be taken in the formation of such a project. A two-thirds majority of the synod Council shall be required for approval.