How it Works
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Recent Awards
How the Endowment Works
First Congregational United Church of Christ invests the endowment in accordance with our endowment policy. Each year, we take a distribution from the endowment equal to four percent of a five year rolling average of the value of the fund. Ten percent of that distribution is reinvested as a show of faithfulness in the fund; twenty percent of the distribution is put into a capital fund that cannot exceed $100,000; and the remaining seventy percent is split evenly between the church’s budget and grants (and scholarships) that leave the church.
This way, the endowment is set up to continue for years to come, supports the work of the congregation inside our community, and allows us to support organizations in DeWitt and around the world.
Apply
If you would like to apply for a grant for an organization, just fill out this form (.docx) and send it to our church office.
If you would like to apply for a scholarship, make sure that you meet the requirements, and then fill out this form (.docx) and return it to our church office. Scholarship recipients must be active in the life of our congregation, be enrolled at an accredited two- or four-year institution, and have enough credits to be considered second year. A full list of requirements can be found in the application.
The DeWitt Farmers Market
The DeWitt Farmers Market received $500 for advertising and insurance. The Farmers Market helps support healthy lifestyles, sound nutrition, sustainable agriculture, person-to-person social interactions, and entrepreneurship opportunities for our high school FFA/FCCLA students. Its Managers Table supports our stewardship of God’s Creation by providing information on care of the earth, care of others, and care of ourselves. And the children’s book give-away table helps young persons discover and develop their God-given talents, and provides an intentional opportunity for intergenerational interaction.
Kekeli Ghana
Kekeli Ghana received a grant of $2,000 to provide surgeries for two children: Abdulhaq Alhassan (knee correction surgery) and Christopher Eyram Wede (bowed leg correction). Kekeli will coordinate all logistical arrangements, including pre-operative assessments, review of surgical procedure costs, post-operative care, and follow-up physical therapy or rehabilitation as needed. The organization will also provide direct family support and case management throughout the recovery process.
Prison Congregations of America
Prison Congregations of America (PCA) received a grant of $5,000 for its general operating budget. PCA plants and supports congregations in prisons across the United States. Different from the traditional prison ministry wherein volunteers from churches in the free world come into facilities to conduct worship with the residents, this is an actual church plant or new mission start within the prison.
ServeHAITI
ServeHAITI received a grant of $1,000 to sponsor its 2026 fundraising event at Common Chord in Davenport. Founded in 2001, ServeHAITI was born out of the collaborative efforts of volunteers from the United States and Canada, with a desire to break the cycle of temporary interventions in the region. ServeHAITI’s goal has always been to provide the necessary resources to empower the people of Grand-Bois to build and sustain a healthy and economically viable community for themselves.
The Camanche-DeWitt Coalition
The Camanche-DeWitt Coalition (CDC) is a group of friends and neighbors in the Camanche, DeWitt, and surrounding areas, who are concerned with the safety and well-being of our youth. The CDC is committed to reduce unhealthy use and abuse of substances and related issues to give our youth a secure place to grow and explore.