Al Winn Mission Endowment Fund
Reverend Al Winn is universally regarded as a transformational pastor in the history of Second Presbyterian church. As pastor from 1974 to 1981, Dr. Winn helped start a ministry to the homeless, a transportation ministry for families of prison inmates, and an ecumenical Downtown Cooperative Ministry with nearby congregations. These ministries continue today. Dr. Winn served as moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the U.S. from 1979-1980.
Dr. Winn’s son commented in a Times-Dispatch story about his life that “he had a powerful moral and political vision about what was wrong and how it could be made better, and he was fearless in speaking truth to power.”
Description and Purpose
The Al Winn Mission Endowment Fund (noted as the Winn Mission Fund) enables Second Presbyterian Church to support transformational impact on human needs through recipient community organizations and within Second Presbyterian Church.
Use of the Winn Mission Fund will be guided by our Matthew 25 and Earth Keeping commitments, by our calling to help those in need, and by the desire to address emergent issues in our community. Additionally, the funding will most often be put towards efforts where there is an opportunity for members of our congregation to be involved.
The Winn Mission Fund can be used to respond to needs and ideas brought forward by the congregation members or by current or new mission partners. This endowment was created to provide a permanent funding stream for transformational grants, outside of the annual mission grants within the Mission and Advocacy Council budget. To ensure that the funds awarded have the most significant impact in our community, one organization or project will normally be selected annually to receive the allocated funding.
Based on applications or requests received, the Mission and Advocacy Council will select worthy projects that support community needs and generate congregational interest.
Application Process
Who is eligible?
Current mission partners, organizations with support from current members of Second Presbyterian church, or other mission agencies and partners that might emerge with legitimate requests from Mission and Advocacy Council can apply for funding from the Al Winn Mission Endowment Fund (to be noted as Winn Mission Fund). Ordinarily a project can be funded only one time, with no continuation funding.
When to submit applications and to whom?
Applications need to be submitted by March 30 and should be addressed to Dorothy DeJong (ddejong@2presrichmond.org) c/o Winn Mission Fund Committee. It is anticipated that only one application will be funded per year. It is also possible that there will be no acceptable applications in a given year, if that occurs, the funds will roll into the next calendar year.
What reporting is required?
The funding recipient is expected to provide a brief progress report to MAC after 6 months and one year of funding.
Who can I contact for further questions?
Contact Mary Sue Donahue, Co-Chair Mission and Advocacy, Second Presbyterian Church. To receive her contact information, call the church office at 804-649-9148.