Cohorts of leaders small congregations (ASA 30-70) and their dioceses commit to a 3-year program that will allow the congregations to assess their vitality and sustainability and develop effective improvement strategies to with the assistance of their dioceses. Congregations should be relatively healthy, free of major conflicts, with leaders and members willing and able to apply learnings for the benefit of the congregation, its neighborhoods, and other congregations in its diocese. 

Congregations smaller than 30 ASA tend to have a difficult time increasing vitality and sustainability. Meanwhile, an ASA above 70 are beyond the limit of what can be considered small?

It has been our experience that providing resources and services free of charge results in significantly lower commitment to, engagement in, and learning from vitality improvement programs. It is also strongly encouraged by Trinity Wall Street Philanthropies. Participation contributions are part of “Pay-it-Forward” financial plan/sustainability plan (see “Features” menu below).

• Participating dioceses form Diocesan Vitality Improvement Teams to shepherd the diocese and their congregations through the three year program and beyond (with the help of FaithX). Each diocesan team then recruits a cohort of 7-10 congregations each to to guide their congregations through the 3-year program of vitality and sustainability improvement activities. Meanwhile, dioceses willassess their own vitality and sustainability and develop effective improvement strategies using a soon-to-be-available, online, research-based Judicatory Vitality Assessment that FaithX is currently developing in Year 1 of the project.
• Participating congregations form a Parish Vitality Improvement Team to lead them through the 3-year program and beyond, increasing their own vitality and sustainability by leveraging their vitality strengths to engage the neighborhoods they serve. They explore their vitality and sustainability strengths and weakness using their diocese’s Congregational Vitality Assessment Judicatory Platform and identify neighborhood missional opportunities and challenges using their diocese’s MapDash for Faith Communities demographic/analysis platform. Guidance will be provided by FaithX and direct assistance by Diocesan Vitality Improvement Teams.

The total VIP budget of is approximately $1.2 million over the 3-year project.

• Congregations: $750/yr. = 0.25%yr. 
• Dioceses: $10,000/yr. = 2.5%

• FaithX: $90,000 over 3 years = 7.5%

There are a number of ways we can help congregations whose budgets are stretched too thin:

• Quarterly, monthly, and weekly payment plans are available (e.g., $15/week).
• Partial scholarships are available for congregations that can demonstrate financial need.
• Parishioners may make a designated contribution to the FaithX VIP Scholarship fund on behalf of their parish.

*Funding and resources for the Vitality Improvement Program will come from a variety of sources and partners over the 3-year period of the project, including: Trinity Wall Street Philanthropies ($800,000 grant), The FaithX Project ($90,000 in scholarships toward subscription costs), Datastory ($30,000 in MapDash reduced rates and extra features), Episcopal Church Foundation ($15,000 in foregone commissions plus in-kind contributions and support), participation contributions from dioceses ($10,000/yr/ea = $50,000) and congregations ($750/yr/ea = $37,500), and others. Participation contributions are part of “Pay-it-Forward” financial plan/sustainability plan (see “Features” menu below).