Grant and Funding Programs Offered by St. David's United Church Foundation of Calgary

St. David’s United Church Foundation of Calgary is an incorporated charitable foundation created to support the long‑term ministry and mission of St. David’s United Church. Established in the early 1990s, the Foundation builds a capital fund from bequests, wills, memorial gifts and other contributions, invests these assets in secure instruments, and disburses the investment income each year to eligible projects. Its funding is designed to complement, not replace, the church’s regular offerings and operating budget.

The Foundation focuses on two principal objectives. First, it funds outreach programs that are charitable, educational or religious in nature, primarily within the City of Calgary. Examples include leadership development, new church development, assistance programs for people in need, inspirational conferences, youth development, and other Christian initiatives in the wider community. Second, it assists with major maintenance of St. David’s buildings and property, defined as expenditures over $5,000 required to keep facilities in good working order.

Within these priorities, the Foundation is especially interested in providing seed money for new initiatives. New long‑term programs may receive support for up to three consecutive years until they are expected to become self‑sustaining. Typically, the Foundation funds only a portion of a project’s total budget, encouraging additional revenue sources and community participation.

Requests for funding are ordinarily initiated by groups, committees, organizations or individuals connected with St. David’s or its broader ministry, and are first reviewed by the St. David’s Council before being forwarded to the Foundation. Applicants must describe the program or project, its duration, expected outcomes and benefits, and provide a preliminary budget including the total cost and the specific amount requested from the Foundation. The official funding request form also asks whether participants will be charged fees and reminds applicants that unused funds should be returned for redistribution.

The Board of Directors of the Foundation uses established criteria to screen and rate applications in a fair and equitable manner, considering alignment with Christian values, outreach impact—especially within Calgary—the number of people who will benefit, and the availability of funds. The Foundation limits commitments to the income available for disbursement in a given year and adheres to the specific directions of its donors and bylaws.

The Foundation regularly publishes examples of programs it has supported, demonstrating a broad reach across ministries and community organizations. Recent beneficiaries include faith‑based and community groups such as camps, education and leadership initiatives, affirming and inclusive ministries, food banks, support services for women, children and newcomers, and health‑related outreach. Annual outreach disbursements have totaled tens of thousands of dollars, underlining the Foundation’s role as a steady source of grant funding in Calgary’s Christian and social‑service networks.

Through its careful stewardship of donated capital and its targeted grant programs, St. David’s United Church Foundation of Calgary helps ensure that the spiritual, educational and outreach work of St. David’s—and partner organizations aligned with its mission—can grow and adapt over time.