“I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?”
Isaiah 43:19

Note: The next fund review period will be Spring 2024.

Purpose

The Chisholm Fund aims to assist congregations and missions of The Presbyterian Church in Canada complete small capital projects or assist in the development of new programs. Priority will be given to proposals from Presbyterian ministries in Saskatchewan and then western Canada.

Administration

The fund is administered by Canadian Ministries, a department of the Life and Mission Agency of the PCC. The right to grant or refuse requests will be at the discretion of Canadian Ministries on the basis of the priorities of the Life and Mission Agency.

In order for applications to be considered, they must be received by April 15. If there are funds remaining after the first review, additional applications will be considered if received by October 15.

Preference will be given to first-time applicants.

Support from Governing Body – Extract of Minute

All applications require the endorsement of a ministry’s governing body; governing bodies provide oversight for ministries. Examples of governing bodies and ministries for which they provide oversight could include:

Presbytery – congregations, local missions, chaplains, etc.
Synod – camp and conference centres, etc.

Contact Canadian Ministries if you are unsure of the governing body to approach.

The following example provides all the necessary elements of an extract of minute that will be required for a complete application; the example can be used to make a motion at a presbytery or synod meeting. If the application is endorsed, the Clerk of Presbytery/Synod will provide the applicant with a copy of the extract to upload to the application.

Example: On motion of J. Calvin/J. Knox, upon review it was agreed that the Presbytery of Caledonia endorse the application and supporting documents from St. Andrew’s, O’Leary, PE to the Avondbloem Experimental Fund in the amount of $750 to support the [program name] in 2015 .

Conditions of Disbursement

A grant from the fund shall not exceed $25,000. Canadian Ministries may award a maximum of $100,000 in grants in any one calendar year.

Priority will be given to ministries who have not received a grant in the last five years.

If an application is for capital improvements, a quote must accompany the application.

Expectations After Receiving the Grant

Photographs and a brief report on the project or program shall be submitted to Canadian Ministries by the end of the year that the grant was awarded.

Applicants must add to program literature the following acknowledgment: “Supported in part by a bequest to The Presbyterian Church in Canada.”

Questions about the Fund

If you have a question about making an application to the fund, please email Jen Astop in Canadian Ministries or call +1-800-619-7301 ext. 298.

Continue Contributions to the Fund

Donors who wish to contribute to the Chisholm Fund may email Karen Plater in Planned Giving or Jen de Combe in Canadian Ministries, or call +1-800-619-7301 ext. 290.