Plymouth Church Foundation: “A Legacy of Caring and Sharing”

The mission of the Plymouth Church Foundation is to solicit and accept contributions from caring supporters for the use and direct benefit of Plymouth Church.  The Foundation is a 501c3 non-profit corporation whose sole purpose is to support the ministries of Plymouth Church.  All charitable contributions are pooled for investment purposes, and carefully managed by a board of directors, a finance and investment committee they appoint, and the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines where the investments are held.

Since 1979, the Plymouth Church Foundation has made grants available to the church’s boards and committees providing needed catalysts for projects, programs and ministries not budgeted for through general fund giving.

Previous Grants

Foundation grants have helped breathe life into several ongoing programs like the Transition Into Ministry (TiM), Stephen Ministries, Stepping Stones, and many recent building and grounds projects. Grants have also played a major role in funding every capital campaign the church has embarked upon.  Those grants include the “This Moment,” Tower Restoration, TiM Sustainability, “God is Still Speaking,” and “Faith Forward” campaigns.

Check out some recent Foundation grant awards that show the diversity and impact of that support.

Financials

The Foundation’s Finance and Investment Committee works closely with the Community Foundation to manage the Foundation assets to ensure adherence to the Foundation’s investment policies.  Some yearend financial highlights:

• Foundation total assets as of December 31, 2025: $10,404,350*

• Value of competitive grants awarded in 2025: $10,000

• Value of strategic grants awarded in 2025: $299,000

 (*$2,420,232 is in a restricted account for support of the Transition into Ministry (TiM) program, and $71,435 in restricted accounts for the Laverman Sallade Fund and the Rainbow Action Fund.)

Seeking a Grant

Since 1979, the Plymouth Church Foundation has made grants available to the church’s boards and committees providing needed catalysts for projects, programs and ministries not budgeted for through general fund giving.  Two types of grants are available.

Competitive grants are awarded on a competitive basis from a Competitive Grant Pool to fund ministries, programs and projects that are supported by and consistent with the mission of the Church. Competitive grants are not to be used for activities within the normal budget for operating expenses of the Church.

Strategic grants are awarded from a Strategic Grant Pool to support special programs, capital improvements and maintenance, or other projects that are considered high priorities for the Church, and consistent with its strategic plan.  Strategic grants are not to be used for projects contemplated to be within the normal budget for operating expenses of the Church.

The Plymouth Foundation awards competitive grants twice annually to significant ministries, projects or programs endorsed or sanctioned and requested by an official board or committee of the Church. Grants are funded for one year unless otherwise noted in the initial grant application. Renewed funding is not automatic. Click here to read our grant policies.

How and When to Apply

Eligible boards and committees should complete a grant application, and email the form to Grant Committee Chair.  The Foundation board will review the grant request, and will get back to the submitting board or committee as soon as possible. 

There are two deadlines for competitive grant applications each year:

• Request due: April 1
  Awarded: May 1

• Request due: Oct. 1
  Awarded: Nov. 1

Strategic grant applications may be submitted at any time.