East Ohio Conference of The United Methodist Church

Home | Engagement with Children, Youth and Young Adults | YSF

ENGAGEMENT WITH CHILDREN, YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS

Youth Service Fund (YSF)

YSF is a grant process where funds are raised by teens for mission projects focused on youth, locally in the East Ohio Conference as well as nationally and throughout the world. It is administered globally by Discipleship Ministries Young People’s Ministries Global YSF and locally by the East Ohio Conference Emerging Leaders (formerly CCYM). 70% of funds received stay in the conference, 30% is passed on to the Global YSF. YSF provides a way for youth to be in real ministry with each other. Not only do youth contribute money and receive the money for their ministry projects, but they also decide which projects are chosen. This really is youth in ministry!

How does it work?

Emerging Leaders review all the project grant applications at their spring meeting. Upon approval, the ministries receive monies in July of that year.

What if our church has a project that could use YSF support?

Emerging Leaders accepts applications each March for project funding requests and approved grants will be disbursed in July. Please watch this page and the Conference E-News for updates.

Where does the money come from?

You! The largest form of funding comes from benevolent giving from the local churches. In addition, the YSF committee has fund raising activities including the sale of merchandise at special events like Annual Conference. You can donate to the YSF online here or by check. Please make the check payable to East Ohio Conference UMC with YSF in the memo. Mail to: EOCUMC, Attn: Eva Casey, 8800 Cleveland Ave. NW, North Canton, OH 44720.

What can you do?

Plan regular fundraisers for YSF in your church.
Challenge your youth group to give a Biblical tithe (10%) of the money they raise for their own activities to YSF.
Encourage individual youth to pledge. Did you know that if every United Methodist teenager across the nation gave 50 cents to YSF every 3 months, we would raise $1,500,000 from that source alone!