The Chapel of the Cross Seed Fund provides a single annual grant to support new, early-stage community initiatives that meet a demonstrated need and could not exist without initial funding support. Established to catalyze meaningful engagement and service in the broader community, the Seed Fund is both a financial and a relational resource designed to spark long-term positive impact. While the Fund provides a discrete grant for a specific program, it also aims to inspire parishioners and community members to contribute through service or additional financial support.
Administered by an advisory committee of parishioners and the Vestry, the Seed Fund is open to applications each spring. For the 2025 grant cycle, applications will open on Friday, March 7 and close on Friday, April 18. Following the submission window, the committee will conduct a review and finalist selection over the summer, and the selected grant recipient will be publicly announced in the fall. Proposals are welcome from both members of the Chapel of the Cross parish and from the broader community, as long as the initiative aligns with the fund’s mission to foster catalytic change.
Grants range from $15,000 to $25,000 per project. Proposals must present a compelling case for the catalytic nature of the initiative—one that responds to an identified community need in an imaginative and innovative way. Eligible initiatives may include new programs, physical infrastructure, or capital campaigns. The fund prioritizes projects located within the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina, with particular preference for those based in Orange County.
To be eligible, proposals must reflect the Seed Fund's core intent: to fund something genuinely new that would not happen without this support. The initiative must also have the potential to create a multiplying effect, encouraging further community involvement and impact.
For more information or questions about the Seed Fund, interested applicants may contact the program via email at seedfund@thechapelofthecross.org. Additional resources and updates are also made available through parish email communications.
