Mission Essential Parish Family Fund

Parish families will be considered mission essential (and eligible for grants) if the following apply.

1. The parish family contains more than 1 church being used for regular weekly Masses.
2. As of the most recent fiscal year (beginning with FY 2024), the parish family has a combined ordinary income of under $1.25 million.
3. As of the most recent fiscal year (beginning with FY 2024), the parish family has under $1.25 million in combined Parish Revolving Fund (PRF) savings excluding:
   • PRF funds connected to a parish school
   • PRF funds set aside for expected maintenance spending
   • PRF funds placed in a restricted fund not available for general use

Over time some parish families will become eligible, and some may lose eligibility due to changes in financial performance.  These eligibility requirements will be reviewed annually and adjusted as needed with the approval of the St. Joseph Foundation board.

Grant applications will be received on an ongoing basis but will be reviewed and disbursed quarterly. These reviews will take place in February, May, August, and November.

Mission Essential Parish Family Fund grants will be available primarily to support programmatic needs and emergency capital projects at parish families with demonstrated inabilities to cover those needs. Funds can also be used to provide support for mission-essential staff positions that the parish does not have the ability to self-support.

• The fund will not be used to support non-emergency capital projects, day-to-day operational needs, or school expenses.
• Individual grant values will be capped at $100,000, and total grant disbursals each fiscal year will not exceed $300,000 unless additional funds are required for out-of-cycle or emergency grants. Grantees will only be allowed to receive 1 MEPFF Fund grant per fiscal year.
• They will be able to receive both a St. Joseph Foundation and MEPFF grant in the same fiscal year.