About the Development Fund
The Development Fund invites grant applications to support local projects that are missionally creative, reflect where God is at work in the community, and encourage wider learning across the diocese.
We have already supported over 200 parishes and deaneries with their mission development with large and small grants. These have helped parishes with a wide variety of outreach, from setting up Messy Church sessions or a starting a community garden to developing a village hub or employing a youth worker.
The amount of money available to parishes, benefices and deaneries in the Diocese of Oxford is up to £1m each year.
The Fund is open to all but aims to be particularly helpful to those parishes who, after paying Parish Share and other essential costs, have very limited financial resources to invest in missional activity. We know even modest grants can make a significant difference in such parishes.
If you are looking for a summary of the application process, where to get help and advice on your project, and tips on how to make a good application, try this printable leaflet.
Why you should apply
We are called to put into deep water and let down the nets: to tell the Christian story with love and hope and confidence.
The Fund provides grants to projects which are developed by parishes, benefices or deaneries to support mission in their local context. The Development Fund is one strand of our Common Vision, which is ‘to become a more Christ-like church for the sake of God’s world: contemplative, compassionate and courageous’.
As with any grant application process, there is a lot of information at first glance. We suggest reading the guidance in the order below. Submission deadlines are 31 January, 30 April, 31 July and 31 October each year.