Community Partnerships
Our efforts are multiplied when we work with schools,
community organizations, and other partners.
These partnerships provide volunteers, leadership, and material support from St. Stephen’s to local organizations; our partners bring knowledge of their communities and their needs, and specialized skills and expertise to these collaborations.
Two of our partners, ReWork Richmond and Anna Julia Cooper School, were founded by St. Stephen’s Church and other churches and organizations. We continue to provide significant financial support to ReWork through funds set aside during our Centennial Capital Campaign for this innovative and effective program. Anna Julia Cooper School receives financial support through our annual grants program as well as volunteer hours and other non-financial support.
Many of our relationships go back decades, including Peter Paul RVA, Fairfield Court Elementary School, the Virginia Institute of Pastoral Care, and others. We are grateful for these long-standing collaborations, sharing ideas, volunteers, and resources, and we also welcome opportunities to work with new partners.
Outreach Grants
St. Stephen’s Church supports outreach ministries in a variety of ways, including expertise, leadership and direct involvement by volunteers and church staff; ongoing financial support for ReWork Richmond; financial and prayer support for our missionaries in Argentina; annual outreach grants to community organizations, and grants made by the Women of St. Stephen’s.
Funds for outreach grants come from the annual parish budget as well as special fundraising events such as the annual golf tournament.
St. Stephen’s Church evaluates grant requests with particular attention to those which serve the marginalized and vulnerable. The parish supports outreach locally, nationally, and internationally. Local efforts are focused in the East End of Richmond, where we support institutions with a spiritual component as well as those in which St. Stephen’s parishioners are, or can become, involved.
A grants committee of parishioners evaluates grant applications and makes recommendations to the rector and vestry for their approval.
Recipients of 2023 Outreach Grants
ACTS
Anna Julia Cooper School
CARITAS
Challenge Discovery Projects
Communities in Schools
CrossOver Healthcare Ministry
Full Circle Grief Center
Greater Richmond SCAN
Healing Place
Health Brigade
Housing Families First
Peter Paul
Rebuilding Together Richmond
Shalom Farms
St. John’s Church Foundation
Urban Hope
Virginia Institute of Pastoral Care
Virginia Supportive Housing
Westminster-Canterbury