CHURCH AND SOCIETY

Human Relations Day

Human Relations Day Grant

January 10 is the deadline to apply for a Human Relations Day Grant from the United Methodist General Board of Church & Society (GBCS).  The grants are to support ministries that respond to non-violent young offenders through education, advocacy or leadership training and development.  Grant funds are raised through The United Methodist Church’s Human Relations Day Special Sunday each year. This day of social action and raising awareness supports the Youth Offender Rehabilitation Program. 

To qualify for a Human Relations Day grant, the applicant must be either a United Methodist local church, district, annual conference or other affiliated group/organization, or an ecumenical group/organization working with and through at least one United Methodist agency or organization, whose program affects at least one United Methodist local church. 

To be considered for funding, a project must be initiated by or developed in partnership with a United Methodist church.  The project must focus on needs of non-violent juvenile youth offenders as they address one or more chronic social problems or concerns, such as housing, employment, health care, human rights, education, the environment and racism. 

Applicants must have a supervisory board consisting of a majority of members of The United Methodist Church that shall make all policy decisions. 

All funding from GBCS must be used for programmatic components and not for salaries, purchase of equipment, purely administrative costs, and direct delivery of services or building construction.  Intent of the grant is to provide start-up money. 

Grant applications are available at Human Relations Day Grant, or by contacting Marvlyn Scott at mscott@umc-gbcs.org or 202-488-5643.  For more information, contact the Rev. Neal Christie, assistant general secretary, Education and Leadership Formation, General Board of Church & Society, at 202-488-5611.