Cascadia Grants and Loans: Empowering Ministries

What is Cascadia Grants and Loans: Empowering Ministries?

Cascadia Grants and Loans: Empowering Ministries is the new name of The Cascadia District Church Extension Society. We exist to provide financial and strategic assistance to churches in our district wanting to improve their facilities, strengthen their existing ministries, or to start a new ministry that can reach new people.

Funds for our work are provided by district churches through paying their CDCES Asking, through the sale of District properties, and through investment gains on these funds.

Cascadia District congregations are eligible to apply for grants for new or expanding ministries and programs, and for loans for use in building, maintenance, and capital improvement projects. For more information see the General Information for Grant and Loan Requests

Annual Meeting

Thursday, October 12, 2023 at 10 a.m. PT via Zoom

All members of Cascadia Grants & Loans are invited to participate in the Annual Meeting. Cascadia District local church pastors and local church lay leaders are all members of the Society, as well as an additional lay person per congregation.

The Annual Meeting provides an opportunity to hear about the programs provided and the work that has been done with Society funds. Members of the Executive Board are elected and any proposed policy changes are voted on.

Register here to indicate your intention to participate and to receive the Zoom link.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does the Cascadia District CES obtain their funding?
We are funded through an “asking” requested of all Cascadia District Churches through the Conference Treasurer’s office, and through investment interest and dividends.

Who Belongs to Cascadia District CES?
Membership consists of the Bishop, Cascadia District Superintendent, District Lay Leader, all pastors serving in the District, and the lay leader plus one additional lay member from each congregation. The role of both the pastor and lay members of each congregation is to act as a liaison between the Cascadia District Extension Society and the local church, to be knowledgeable about sources and type of support available, and to attend the annual meeting of the society which is held each Fall.

Who serves on the Board of Directors?

The Board of Directors are elected by the society membership at the annual meeting, typically in October. Each director serves a three year term and may be re-elected. Directors are nominated by the board with consideration given to maintaining a balance between clergy and laity.

You can download the By-Laws of the CDCES here.

Grant-Loan Application Forms

CDCES Loan Application, Word doc

New or Expanding Ministry Grant Application Word doc

Grant or loan applications are requested 2 weeks prior to a scheduled Board meeting so that the board members can review ahead of time. Grant/Loan applications will be reviewed at the April, July, and October meetings each year. An informational meeting will be offered via Zoom six weeks before each application deadline. See the schedule below.

No applications will be reviewed at the January meeting.

See Cesie Delve Scheuermann's advice about how to write your application for best results in this video:

And click here for a page to help you take notes!