What We Do

The Membership Development Granting Group supports Monthly and Quarterly Meetings of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting in projects that:
- Enhance the visibility and outreach of Monthly Meetings in their communities.
- Attract new people to attend Meeting for Worship.
- Increase engagement of members and attendees in the Meeting community.
- Strengthen and increase membership in Monthly Meetings.
Provided is a list of recent grants to better understand the size and scope of projects that the Membership Development Granting Group has supported in the past. The group is currently only making grants of up to $2,000.
Who We Are
Appointed by PYM Granting Committee. Andrew Diamond, Paul Indorf, Guinevere Janes, Irene Oleksiew, Ken Park, Kellie Schlussel-Edens, Carla White (clerk). Ex Officio: Christie Duncan-Tessmer, General Secretary.
How To Apply
The Membership Development Granting Group meets quarterly to consider grants and discuss membership development, and in other months (save July and August) to consider grant applications as needed. You should plan to apply at least two months before the start of a project. Proposals are expected to address a concern arising from the Meeting for outreach and membership development. PYM Monthly and Quarterly Meetings should consult the Membership Development Application Form and Guidelines [PDF] for details about the application process; other organizations are ineligible.
Funds
Membership Development Support Fund – Established in 1997 to support projects designed to enhance the visibility and outreach of Monthly Meetings and to bring new members to the Religious Society of Friends. Grants today are made directly from a portion of the unrestricted bequests left each year to Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, and not from income on investments. These gifts are used to increase and strengthen membership, so that the Society of Friends will remain vital well beyond the donor’s lifetimes and our own.