The Wesleyan Community Care Grant Program was established to support the community outreach initiatives of Wesleyan Methodist Churches. For 2025, the program will offer two grants: one valued at $10,000 and the other at $5,000. These funds are to be utilised by December 31, 2025, to support community programs focused on one or more of the following areas: Indigenous Support, Migrant Support, Family Strengthening Initiatives, or Vulnerable Sector Support (e.g., elderly, homeless, at-risk youth, or individuals with disabilities).
Eligibility Criteria
Applications are exclusively open to Wesleyan Methodist Churches of Australia to be used for projects in Australia. All proposed projects must align with the policies of Wesleyan Community Care and focus on assisting vulnerable populations in the community. Importantly, the funds cannot be used for religious purposes, ensuring that the projects are inclusive and accessible to all community members, regardless of their faith background.
To be eligible, applicants must not have received direct funding from Wesleyan Community Care within the past 12 months, nor have an active campaign currently underway with the organisation. Please note, this restriction does not apply to grants that have been sponsored by Wesleyan Community Care in partnership with other funding sources.
Assessment Criteria
Following is a list of the criteria for assessing community grants for vulnerable people.
- The project clearly aligns with Wesleyan Community Care’s focus on supporting vulnerable individuals, such as the indigenous, migrant, elderly, homeless, at-risk youth, or people with disabilities or be a family strengthening initiative.
- The project addresses a significant need within the targeted vulnerable population and directly contributes to their well-being.
- The project demonstrates the potential to make a measurable impact on the community, enhancing the quality of life for those it serves.
- The project has specific, measurable, and achievable goals that contribute to improving the lives of vulnerable people.
- The objectives are realistic within the timeline (must be started by December 31, 2025) and within the requested budget.
- The project has a plan for long-term sustainability beyond the funding period, including strategies for continued support and resources after the grant is used.
- The project includes a plan for monitoring progress and evaluating outcomes, demonstrating how success will be measured.
- The proposed budget is clear, realistic, and appropriately allocates resources to the key areas of the project.
Application Process
Applications open on the 1st of March 2025 and closes on 30th of April at 5pm.
An information session will be run via zoom on the 4th of March at 12 noon. All applicants are encouraged to attend this session.
Committee Evaluation
In May a designated committee reviews all grant applications to ensure compliance with Wesleyan Community Care (WCC) standards.
Final Selection
The committee compiles a list of eligible projects and distributes information about participating churches to the donors.
Voting Process
In June the donors vote on the projects they wish to support.
The voting will be divided into two categories: one large grant (up to $10,000) and a smaller project (totalling $5,000).
Grant Recipients
On the 1st of July 2025 we will announce the winners of the grants to all donors and the broader community.
Helpful Reminders for Grant Application
Outline specific, measurable, and achievable goals for your project. Ensure they are closely tied to the needs of vulnerable individuals and demonstrate how your program will have a direct impact on them.
Make sure your project falls under one of the four eligible categories: Indigenous Support, Migrant Support, Family Strengthening Initiatives, or Vulnerable Sector Support (e.g., elderly, homeless, at-risk youth, or individuals with disabilities).
Provide a detailed breakdown of how the grant funds will be allocated. Ensure the budget aligns with the project’s activities and needs and be transparent about any additional sources of funding or in-kind contributions.
Include data, community input, or other evidence that clearly demonstrates the need for your project in the target population. This helps show that your program is addressing a real and urgent need.
Provide a realistic timeline for the project, with key milestones and deadlines. Ensure the project can be started by December 31, 2025, as required.
Include a monitoring and evaluation plan to track the progress of your project. Explain how success will be measured and how you will assess the impact of the project on the target population.
Include any additional materials that support your application, such as letters of support, testimonials, past project success stories, or any other documents that strengthen your case.
Ensure your application is submitted by the specified deadline. Late submissions may not be considered for funding.