Serve Friends who suffer for their conscience.
Recently Fund for Sufferings found joy and fulfillment! Here’s how:
- Supporting some PYM members financially, for hardships/penalties related to activity protesting environmental disasters.
This is a current or upcoming project or interesting thing the granting group is working on:
- Being available most times for consultation and consideration of new hardship requests from PhYM members
People who participate in this granting group can learn and grow in this way:
- More deep awareness and appreciation of the radical history Quakers experience in conscientious action.
This granting group functions at its best when there are people serving on it who have these skills or experiences:
- Group process and clerking
- Familiarity with Quaker history of activism and conscientious objection.
The realistic time commitment of members of this granting group includes:
- About 3 hours quarterly, zoom meetings, and periodic email flurry after requests, which is really unpredictable.
Membership:
- Members of granting groups are appointed by the Granting Committee and must be a member of a meeting.
- Ideally, the Fund for Sufferings has seven members and currently needs five.
What We Do
The Fund for Sufferings Granting Group provides help to PYM members who experience financial hardship occasioned by obedience to the leadings of God’s spirit, or to conscience, consistent with Quaker testimonies.
Who We Are
Appointed by the PYM Granting Committee; the current members are Shulamith Clearbridge, Tricia Coscia (Clerk), Martin Kelly.
Contact
Group Email (to all group members)
FundForSufferings@pym.org
How To Apply
Download the Fund for Sufferings Fact Sheet [PDF] for application details. Grants can go to individuals only, not organizations, but requests for assistance can come from the individual concerned, from a Monthly Meeting on behalf of an individual, or in special cases from someone or a group close to the person involved. If time allows, the request should be in writing. If urgent, and unable to reach the Clerk at the number listed, email Grants@pym.org. Applications are considering on a rolling basis; there are no deadlines for applications.
Funds
Fund For Sufferings funds are provided by Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, and also through income donated by individuals, Meetings, and others who wish to stand in unity with those taking risks for their beliefs. All payments to the Fund will be considered charitable gifts. Payments to the Fund may be made by checks payable to Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, designated “Fund for Sufferings.” The Fund shall be used, to the extent available, for the alleviation of the hardships and sufferings of Friends, Friends groups, and others — such suffering occasioned by obedience to the leadings of God’s spirit, or to conscience, consistent with Quaker testimonies.
