The Special Funds Trustees of Multnomah Monthly Meeting & Bridge City Friends Meeting share the following information about our Meetings' Special Funds.

THE SPIRITUAL LIFE FUND

The Spiritual Life Fund was established in 1992 with a bequest from Charlotte Wise, whose will stipulated that the money be used “to foster the religious and spiritual life of members and attenders of Multnomah Meeting and of the religious community.”

Since that time, we have amplified this mandate in the following ways:

1. Explicitly shared administration of the fund with Bridge City Friends Meeting and made it explicit that Worship Groups under the care of Multnomah or Bridge City are to be included.
2. The fund is to be used for new activities or the enhancement of existing activities within our Spiritual communities, not to substitute for regularly-budgeted items.
3. The fund is available for members and attenders of Multnomah Monthly Meeting, its Worship Groups, and Bridge City Friends Meeting related to their religious activities and pursuits within our religious communities, subject to the approval of the Special Funds Trustees. For members and attenders, it is expected that they will use funding to enhance and contribute to our Meeting communities.
4. It is not to be used as financial aid for Quarterly Meeting or Yearly Meeting Annual Session.
5. Members, attenders or committees can make an application at any time, in writing to the clerk of the Special Funds Trustees. 

Examples of use of the Fund: mostly travel to conferences; conference fees; money has also been given to Quaker groups carrying out work that meets the intent of the Fund.

How to ask for financial assistance: When seeking assistance please write to the Special Funds Trustees in care of the Clerk, currently Carol Uhte (cuhte.1@gmail.com, 360-980-0289). In your request include information about: 

• State how you will use the money and how that meets the goal of fostering “...the religious and spiritual life of members and attenders of...(your)Meeting and of the religious community.”
• The amount of the request. Be specific about fees, transport, room & board, etc.
• Include information about other sources of funding, including your own resources
• If you need full funding, please give some brief explanation of why this is true
• If you are attending a conference it is helpful to include a description of the conference or, at the very least, a website link to that information. 
• Briefly state how you will bring what you learn back to the local community.

Please allow at least 4 weeks for the Trustees to consider your request. This gives time for proper seasoning and potential payments to take advantage of early discounts and travel expenses. Be aware that the Trustees may ask additional questions and/or may want to meet with you as part of their discernment. This is not an onerous process, the Trustees do want to be thorough as they discern the way forward.

Draft: Aug 2022

THE MINISTERIAL SUPPORT FUND

Ministerial Support Fund Description  (approved May 2016)

The Ministerial Support Fund was established in 2003 with an undesignated bequest. The Meeting accepted a proposal to create the fund to assist individuals with a special call for ministry. The proposal at that time was explicit that the Meeting might in the future decide to use the funds for other purposes and/or merge this fund with Spiritual Life.

“Ministry” is defined as writing and teaching as well as dedicated action outside the Meeting community to advance the just society cherished by Friends. The fund is complementary to the Spiritual Life Fund, supporting outreach for Quaker belief and testimonies, while the Spiritual Life Fund supports activities within and for our worshiping communities. 

Fund guidelines include the following:

1. Members or attenders are eligible when they can demonstrate a concern or leading that has been seasoned with a Clearness Committee and recognized by their Monthly Meeting, perhaps as a released Friend. It is likely that such individuals will be members or otherwise will have participated for a substantial time in the life of their Meeting or associated worshiping groups.
2. Applications may be submitted without concern for a time limit or deadline. Eligible recipients may receive continued assistance on a case-by-case basis over consecutive years, based on the Trustees consideration. 
3. If financially possible, Grants amounts will be limited to the income earned during the previous year. Otherwise, the Fund trustees will decide how best to allocate funds from this account, based on its sustainability and fund purposes and guidelines.

Examples of use of the Fund: mostly travel to conferences; conference fees; money has also been given to Quaker groups carrying out various ministries.

How to ask for financial assistance: When seeking assistance please write to the Special Funds Trustees in care of the Clerk, currently Carol Uhte (cuhte.1@gmail.com, 360-980-0289). In your request include information about: 

• The nature of your ministry and when it was taken into the care of the Meeting
• The amount of the request. Be specific about fees, transport, room & board, etc.
• include information about other sources of funding, including your own resources
• If you need full funding, please give an explanation of why this is true
• If you are attending a conference it is helpful to include a description of the conference or, at the very least, a website link to that information. 
• It will add substance to the request if it is also endorsed by your Support/Anchor Committee.
• Briefly state how you will bring what you learn back to the local community. 

Please allow at least 4 weeks for the Trustees to consider your  request. This gives time for proper seasoning and potential payments to take advantage of early discounts and travel expenses. Be aware that the Trustees may ask additional questions and/or may want to meet with you as part of their discernment. This is not an onerous process, the Trustees do want to be thorough as they discern the way forward.

August 2022