Task Force on Review and Revision of the Episcopal Church Block Grants Program

Mandate

FIN-C (2026) Creation of a Task Force on Review and Revision of the Episcopal Church Block Grants Program

Resolved, Pursuant to Article VIII, Section 3(d) the Executive Council Joint Standing Committee on Finance (Finance Committee) can create “subcommittees to carry out specific work.” Furthermore, “The chair of a Joint Standing Committee has the authority to appoint the membership of a subcommittee.” ; and be it further

Resolved, that it has become necessary for the Episcopal Church to restructure its block granting process and procedures so that:

* The procedures are standardized;

* The granting process is uniform and objective;

* Funding of the Block Grants program is necessarily, adequately and properly funded;

* Funds granted for the program is expended for its intended purpose;

* Recipients of granpts are accountabile for the use of funds granted and meet with reporting requirements;

* Measurements of performance and use of funds granted are created and reported; and

* Reports submitted are reviewed by staff  on a regular basis; and be it further

Resolved, that a Task Force of the Executive Council Joint Standing Committee on Finance be created to review and evaluate the current Block Grants program that are administered by the Episcopal Church, and to develop a structure within the Episcopal Church to manage and administer all of its block grants and other accounts that may fund block grants. Furthermore, the Task Force shall consult in the development of a consistent evaluation framework that will measure the impact of our block grantmaking programs ; and be it further

Resolved, that it has become evident that some dioceses who have been recipients of block grants do not have the administrative infrastructure or staff to perform fundamental diocesan administrative duties (e.g. perform essential financial responsibilities, maintain financial records, meet annual audits, or prepare and submit operational reports). This task force will survey and evaluate the needs of these dioceses so that it can develop recommendations on how the Episcopal Church can best support them and create programs to support them to meet the reporting requirements and develop and infrastructure to assist them with creating sustainable administrative support to perform these tasks.  

Resolved, that the term for this Task Force will end at the end of this triennium or until it has completed its work, whichever is earlier, and that funding for the work of the Working Group will be provided by the Office of the General Convention; and further 

Resolved, that the Task Force will provide a status report at the October Executive Council meeting that will include recommendations on funding of the Block Grants program for the next triennium budget (2028-2030); and further

Resolved,  that a final report of findings and recommendations be made to the Finance Committee and the Executive Council prior to the last meeting of both bodies prior to the 82nd General Convention,  and be it further 

Resolved, that the Finance Committee create the Task Force which shall be comprised of members of the  Episcopal Church Executive Council which shall include representatives from the Executive Council’s Joint Standing Committee on Finance, the Episcopal Church’s Chief Financial Officer, representatives from the Executive Council’s Joint Standing Committee on Budget, representatives from the office of the Presiding Bishop and President of the House of Deputies and other individuals who have expertise/experience with non-profit granting process and procedures; and be it further

Resolved, the Joint Standing Committee on Finance, having unanimously electronically voted in the affirmative on-line on the 5th of September, 2026, appoints the following individuals to serve on the Block Grants Review Task Force for the term as set forth in the fifth Resolve of this Resolution.