2% For Development Fund

The 2% for Development Fund is a Uniting Church response to the request of churches in "third world" countries that churches in richer countries establish such a fund, as a sign of solidarity with people in poverty, who are marginalised or oppressed (that is, people whose human rights are violated in some way).

It makes the church's commitment to the elimination of poverty part of the financial structures of the church. The funds go to development projects which do something about the causes of poverty. In NSW, the Trust Association and the Insurance Fund give 2% of their "profits" to the fund.

 The 2% For Development Fund now provides a funding program for community development projects; and social justice and human rights education projects within NSW and the ACT.

Closing date for applications is 5pm Friday 11 May 2012.

Grants Program

The Grants Program provides grants of up to $10,000 to eligible congregations and community groups for community development or social justice/human rights education projects in NSW and the ACT. Useful initiatives are sometimes quite small.

This program does not provide recurrent funding. However, we may fund successive phases of an educational or action campaign, or fund a single organisation for more than one project where the project phases are clearly identified. In exceptional circumstances we may fund more than one year of the establishment phase of a project.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for funding the organisation must meet the eligibility criteria for either the community development projects OR social justice & human rights education:

a)        Community development projectsProjects in this category  must involve working with people in the local community who are poor, disadvantaged or marginalised, with an emphasis on changing the situation. They usually involve:

  • Providing opportunities and resources (e.g. information, skills) for disadvantaged people to work together to take control over their own lives. Ideally the participants themselves will have some say in the project development & planning.
  • Challenging the situations and policies that cause disadvantage and undermine human rights.
  • Working with local community groups and/or ecumenically to address locally identified needs.
  • The local sponsoring group making some contribution to the project. This may be financial or "in kind".

b)        Social justice and human rights education

The focus of education projects will be on helping the community understand the situation of people who are poor, marginalised or oppressed, the justice issues involved and what can be done to change the situation. Eligible education projects:

  • Help people understand the nature of human rights abuses and the changes necessary to improve the situation.
  • Focus on the situation of people whose human rights are violated in Australia, such as Indigenous people, people from non-English speaking backgrounds, people with disabilities, or people who are poor or unemployed.
  • Focus on situations where Australian trade or other activity contributes to injustice overseas.
  • Some projects may include both community development and educational components.

Please note: As of 2012 there  is only one funding round each year.

Refer to the Application Form (see link below) for application instructions & information.

Further Information For Applicants

The 2% for Development Fund programs focus on relieving injustice and enhancing human rights. It is about facilitating the agenda of the poor and marginalised, rather than church-focused agenda. Applicants must provide all the information requested in the application form to enable the Committee to fully understand and assess your project

Contacts:

Jill Napier
2% For Development Fund Committee Convenor
UnitingCare NSW.ACT
PO Box A2178, Sydney South, NSW 1235
T: 02 9376 1452  F: 02 9267 4842
E:  jnapier@unitingcarenswact.org.au

Kristen Gartrell
Executive Assistant to the Executive Director
UnitingCare NSW.ACT
PO Box A2178, Sydney South, NSW 1235
T: 02 9376 1403  F: 02 9267 4842
E:  kgartrell@unitingcarenswact.org.au

Background 

The 2% for Development Fund is a way the Uniting Church works ecumenically for the elimination of poverty and the enhancement of human rights, both in Australia and overseas. The Uniting Church is a member of the National Council of Churches in Australia, and the World Council of Churches. The fund enables us to share directly in the community development work of both organisations, as well as to support development work in congregations and the local community.

Many of our members give individually to development work, through Force Ten and Christmas Bowl. The 2% fund provides for the corporate commitment of the church. It amounts to a church self-tax.

Distribution
The overall distribution of funds is a decision of the Council of Synod. The funds kept within the NSW and Synod are administered by a committee of the UnitingCare NSW.ACT Board. The distribution is:

  • 25% to Uniting Church in Australia Assembly for use in development in Asia and the Pacific.
  • 25% to the development programs of the Christian Conference of Asia.
  • 25% to the development programs of NATSIEC (the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Ecumenical Commission of the National Council of Churches in Australia).
  • 25% for development education and church and community development projects within NSW. This section of the funds is available for small one off grants in April-May each year. More details are available in the Information for Grant Seekers section.

The Aboriginal Development Fund is administered by the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Ecumenical Commission of the National Council of Churches. It reports to the NCCA how its funds have been distributed. It enables Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to make decisions about their own development.

More Information

See a list of projects that have received funding in the past
Download the Application Form for 2% For Development Fund