Challenge Grant

The purpose of the Holy Trinity Challenge Grant fund is to support initiatives for the development of services to address social, economic or cultural needs in Lancaster County.

Above is our 2025 Challenge Grant winner Patty Eastep from Anchor Lancaster receiving the “check” from Pastor Joel.

Since 2001, the Community Outreach Ministry has awarded a $5,000 Challenge Grant annually. In 2011 the committee awarded two $5,000 grants to commemorate the Challenge Grant‘s 10th anniversary. In 2013 the Challenge Grant awarded $2,500 for existing programs, in addition to the $5,000 Grant for new projects.

For 2024, SOWE was awarded the grant.   Their project is to construct outdoor locker space in Culliton Park, giving the unsheltered a safe place to store their belongings.

Priorities in selection of an organization to be awarded a Challenge Grant are:

1. Address the needs of the most at-risk populations
2. Provide services which help recipients to move toward living situations of self-support
3. Empower people to be full participants in the economic, social and cultural life of the community

The process begins with a letter being mailed to all identified organizations in September with a grant request proposal. Our grant reading volunteers privately submit their assessment of each grant, ranking in order those they find the most deserving and why. The top 3-4 ranked organizations are invited to a designated day and time to be interviewed by a separate committee. From that interview process the current year organization is selected to be awarded the grant.

The grant presentation takes place on a Sunday in mid-November at the beginning of the worship service.

Past Recipients Include
ASSETS Lancaster
Bridge of Hope
Clare House
COBYS Family Services
Crispus Attucks
Gaudenzia
Milagro House
The Mix at Arbor Place
Mom’s House
The Threshold Foundation
Transitional Living Center