The Birthday Offering funds up to five capital improvement projects each year, in amounts of $75,000 to $150,000. The Thank Offering funds up to 15 programmatic projects each year, in amounts of $5,000 to $50,000. Grants are one-time awards.
To qualify, a project must
- have a clearly defined purpose that meets human needs. The purpose must be in accordance with mission goals and policies of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
- be a project less than three years old or an existing project moving in a new direction
- be underway within one year of receiving the funds
- not have received Birthday Offering or Thank Offering grants within the last five years
- not use funds for payment of current debt, create or maintain revolving loans, fund a permanent endowment, or offset ongoing operating budget expenses, including salaries.
Applications must
- describe how the project will improve the lives of people served and how those served will be involved with the project;
- indicate how the project will work with women, children, youth, persons of diverse races and/or ethnicities, and/or persons with disabilities;
- list all other sources of money being requested and/or already awarded for this project;
- describe how the program will continue after the grant money is spent;
- for projects within the United States: include an endorsement from the moderator of a Presbyterian Women in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) group. No exceptions are made to this requirement. If your program does not have a relationship with a PW group, contact your local Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) congregation for assistance.
- for international projects: include an endorsement letter from a PC(USA) partner church within the country of the project and a letter of acknowledgment from a PC(USA) International Ecumenical Liaison. No exceptions are made to this requirement. If your program does not already have this relationship, go to pcusa.org/about-pcusa/agencies-entities/life-witness/ministry-areas/global-ecumenical-partnerships/global-ecumenical-liaisons#international-ecumenical-liaisons for more information.
- be mailed with a postmark by November 1 or emailed in a single pdf by November 1. Multiple attachments via email will not be considered.
Grant recipients must
- return an interim report with supporting financial information six months after receiving the first payment;
- return one-year and two-year follow-up reports;
- notify Presbyterian Women of any change in the proposal, leadership or address.
| Grant | Application Deadline | Decision | First Payment | Second Payment |
| Birthday Offering | June 1 | September of the same year | October of the decision year | May one year after application |
| Thank Offering | November 1 | March of following year | May of decision year | December of decision year |
Download the Birthday Offering Application.
Download the Thank Offering Application.
To ask a question or to learn more about Birthday or Thank Offering Criteria, contact Cheri Harper.