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 along with other churches and organizations.
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 parishioners who serve in these ministries; church staff; financial and prayer support for our missionaries in Argentina; annual outreach grants to local 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.
St. Stephen’s Church evaluates grant requests with particular attention to those which serve the marginalized and vulnerable. We focus our efforts 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.
The 2027 grants process
Applications for the next grants cycle will be available in January 2027.
Applications will be due in February, and after a review process, awards are made in June.
Looking for information about the Women of St. Stephen’s grants program? The deadline for these applications is September 30; visit this page of our website to learn more.
Recipients of 2026 outreach grants
ACTS
Anna Julia Cooper School
CARITAS
Challenge Discovery Projects
Communities in Schools
CrossOver Healthcare Ministry
Dogwood Preschool
Healing Place
Health Brigade
Peter Paul
Rebuilding Together Richmond
ReWorkRichmond
RxPartnership
Shalom Farms
SupportWorks Housing
Urban Hope
Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities
Virginia Institute of Pastoral Care
Virginia Interfaith Center