Supporting growth, inspiring renewal in 2024 through the Synod Growth Investment Fund
Across the Synod in 2024, many congregations have taken the time to think, pray and commit to applying for funding to support their missional goals.
The Synod Growth Investment Fund (GIF) exists to help the Uniting Church grow in discipleship, relationship, number and impact—living out our commitment to be a contemporary, courageous, growing Church.
What this looks like on the ground is as diverse and vibrant as our Church is across the Synod. The GIF supports a range of projects and activities, and each—in its own way—represents the vision and heart of people compelled to join God’s mission to love and serve their local communities.
How does the Growth Investment Fund work?
Each year the Synod funds a number of projects that are submitted through an open grant application process. Projects are reviewed and outcomes determined by the Growth Investment Committee, a small group comprised of representatives from congregations, Presbyteries and Synod.
The Committee approves projects from three discreet grant streams – Missional (up to $10,000), Innovation (up to $100,000) and Strategic (up to $500,000). For each stream, applicants must address the grant criteria to be approved for funding, and discerning approval is a collaborative, prayerful process.
2024 highlights
2024 has seen projects funded from Byron Bay to Broken Hill to Yarralumla. Across the Synod many congregations have taken the time to think, pray and commit to applying for funding to support their missional goals. Highlights from this year include:
- 17 successful applications in total from across the Synod, representing 10 Presbyteries
- From two funding rounds (April and August), a total of $2,004,485 has been allocated to projects approved in 2024 alone
- A strong alignment with Future Directions commitments in applications, with particular focus on ministry to those in their first third of life
- 4 Strategic Projects approved for funding:
- Bangalow/Byron Bay & Alstonville Uniting Churches combined project -
- Keiraview Uniting Church - Ministry Leader, First Third of Life
- Leichhardt Uniting Church – Emerging Generations Pastor
- Hunter Presbytery - Family and Children's Mission Consultant
Growth Investment Fund – overall snapshot
The Growth Investment Fund in its current form commenced in 2022. Here’s a small snapshot of what the GIF looks like to date:
- 5 rounds of grant funding over 3 years
- A total of 37 individual projects are currently funded across the Synod
- Over the 5 funding rounds a total of $7,665,688 has been allocated to projects
- With many projects funded for between 3-5 years, current funding spans from 2022 through to 2029
- Funding supports 23 full or part-time ministry agents working in and with more than 30 congregations and 11 Presbyteries across the Synod.
What’s next?
The next round of the Growth Investment Fund opens in March 2025. There’ll be further information and updates communicated closer to the time. In the meantime, if you know, or are part of, a congregation considering applying for growth funding, now is the time to start planning and praying, particularly if you have a larger strategic project in mind. Feel free to reach out to the Growth Investment Fund team at growth@nswact.uca.org.au with any questions.
Synod Growth Investment Fund Grants
Missional Grants
Up to $10,000 available to congregations as one-off grants for missional activity
Innovation Grants
Up to $100,000 available over 2-5 years for exploring new ways to do church
Strategic Grants
Up to $500,000 over 5 years for strategic congregations or initiatives focused on growth and aligned with Future Directions. These applications can only be submitted with the support of Presbytery.