TYPES OF GRANTS
The Bell Trust provides temporary funding only to congregations associated with Churches of Christ. This is done in two ways:
- Ongoing assistance is provided to congregations in the support of ministers or missionaries. This support is provided to a church on a temporary basis until that church either assumes the amount provided or replaces it otherwise. Greater consideration is given to requests when there is a planned schedule of reductions over a given period of time, not to exceed five years. Our commitments, however, are normally made for one calendar year at a time.
- Assistance may also be provided to congregations through a one-time grant for a specific need.
GRANT AMOUNTS
The Bell Trust considers the requesting church to be the primary supporter of a given work. Our general policy is to give congregations no more than they will provide toward a proposed work. Our desire is not to be a “matching grants” organization that automatically matches the amount the requesting church is providing. Rather, any assistance we provide is intended to be secondary and supplemental.
APPLICATION DATES
Bell Trust meetings are held quarterly during the first week of March, June, September, and December. The open application period for each meeting is as follows:
- December 15 – February 15 — preceding the March meeting
- March 15 – May 15 — preceding the June meeting
- June 15 – August 15 — preceding the September meeting
- September 15 – November 15 — preceding the December meeting
APPLICATION PROCESS
The Bell Trust uses an online application to receive all grant requests. The online application can be accessed through the “Click here to Apply” button below, after which you will be asked to set up your account with an e-mail and password. You will receive a notice by e-mail confirming your account and password. Your e-mail and password are required to login for future applications or reporting. Once you have established your account, you may then complete the online application form during the open application period preceding each of our quarterly meetings.
IMPORTANT NOTE
The person who submits the application must be an active leader in the church that is making the request. This individual will serve as the contact person throughout the entirety of the application and funding process. He or she must not be one who will receive financial benefit from the grant, if approved.
NOT ALL PROJECTS CAN BE FUNDED
The trustees of the Bell Trust have responsibility for the final approval of each grant. Since the Trust receives funding requests far in excess of its ability to fund, only a portion of requests can be approved. A decision not to fund a proposal does not necessarily reflect on the merits of the applicant or the value of the proposal.