Statement of Purpose
The Oak Grove Endowment Fund was established by the Oak Grove Mennonite Church in 1987.
Grants are made annually or more often by a seven-member Board of Trustees and are intended to supplement or enhance rather than replace funds available from other sources. The Board is responsible for awarding grants in accord with the guidelines which follow.
General Guidelines
1. All disbursements shall be in furtherance of the religious and/or charitable purposes of the congregation and in the case of organizations, shall only be made to organizations having a tax exempt status under Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
2. The Board shall give preference to grant requests that are Mennonite-related in that they originate from, are sponsored by, or groups or their institutions such as seminaries, colleges, hospitals and relief organizations and which fall within one or more of the following categories (hereafter called Preference Categories), all of which are to be considered on an equal basis:
a.Requests to assist in church planting or in opening and establishing new areas of mission or service;
b. Requests for “seed money” to assist with start-up costs of new programs;
c. Requests which will cultivate or nurture the understanding or practice of Christian stewardship in its various aspects;
d. Requests which will enable persons (a) to receive training for Christian service or ministry or (b) to engage in full-time Christian service or ministry;
e. Requests which will strengthen educational programs and opportunities;
f. Requests which will provide for relief or rehabilitation of persons;
g. Requests which propose innovative approaches to address recognized needs or problems; and
h. Requests which are “inter-Mennonite” in nature in that they are supported by or will foster cooperation among, two or more Mennonite denominational groups or institutions.
3. If the Board is unable to disburse all of the income for Mennonite-related requests in any year or if the Board considers any grant requests that are not Mennonite-related to be superior to other requests, then the Board may disburse up to ten percent (10%) of the total income available that year toward meeting grant requests which fall within one or more of the Preference categories but which are not Mennonite-related provided that the objectives to be accomplished and the strategy to be used are consistent with Mennonite faith as more fully set fourth in the Mennonite Confession of Faith adopted by the Mennonite Church in 1995.
In general, the following are not considered for funding:
1. Operating or maintenance requests.
2. Loans to individuals.
3. Fellowships and travel grants which are primarily for personal benefit or enrichment.
4. Capital fund or endowment campaigns; except that a one-time grant to a capital fund or endowment campaign of a Mennonite denominational group or institution may be made.
5. Organizations that support political candidates or political philosophy.
6. Organizations that influence, promote or attempt to initiate legislation; except for Mennonite-related organizations involved in influencing, promoting or attempting to initiate legislation of historical or long-standing concern to the Mennonite Church.
7. Organizations whose objectives and/or strategy would violate the basic tenets of the Mennonite faith as more fully set forth in the Mennonite Confession of Faith adopted by the Mennonite Church in 1995.
Applications may be printed and submitted using the form below or an application may be obtained by writing to the Oak Grove Mennonite Church, 7843 Smucker Rd. Smithville, Ohio 44677.
