Birthday Offering
Order a 2013 Birthday Offering packet
Visit the church store to order other promotional materials to help you celebrate the Birthday Offering or download free resources.
Download a Birthday Offering grant application in PDF format
Download a Birthday Offering grant application in Microsoft Word format
Give to the Birthday Offering
What Is the Birthday Offering?
Grant Recipients
History of the Birthday Offering
Birthday Offering Grant Process
Birthday Offering Application
Birthday Offering Resources
What is the Birthday Offering?
The Birthday Offering is a PW offering collected in the spring of each year to celebrate the blessings in the lives of Presbyterian Women. The offering funds up to five projects that are not included in ongoing General Assembly mission support, such as agricultural development, child care, community organization, criminal justice, drug counseling, economic justice, elderly care, employment training, homelessness, literacy, violence and women’s concerns.
PW in the Congregation Remittance Form
PW in the Congregations (PWCs) typically collect the Birthday Offering in the spring and dedicate their offerings at spring gatherings. No giving guidelines are suggested other than “give as you are blessed.” PWCs who collect the Offering should send their donation (as a check made payable to Treasurer of Presbyterian Women) with a PW Remittance Form to the treasurer of PW in the Presbytery.
Email Presbyterian Women to find out the name and address of your PWP treasurer.
Grant recipients
2013 Recipients
After reviewing numerous proposals, the Creative Ministries Offering Committee chose Westminster Neighborhood Ministries to receive the sole grant from the 2013 Birthday Offering. Gifts to the 2013 Birthday Offering will allow this ministry in Indianapolis to expand educational services to children and adults, and provide financial counseling to families. The goal for the offering is $500,000; give now.
Westminster Neighborhood Ministries
Child, Family and Adult Education Connection
Indianapolis, Indiana
Westminster Neighborhood Ministries serves the basic needs of families who live in Near Eastside Indianapolis, where close to 34 percent of neighborhood families have incomes below the poverty level. Over the past 30 years, Westminster’s services have grown rapidly; services must continue to expand to effectively meet the needs of additional clients.
From early childhood programs to youth programs and adult services, Westminster Neighborhood Ministries provides vital resources for area families. Your gifts to the PW Birthday Offering will allow Westminster to expand its educational services, extending service to preschool-age children, expanding its basic adult education program, and providing financial counseling to families so that they can more-effectively improve and sustain their standard of living.
Expanded adult services will include job skills training and résumé building, developing adult literacy and basic math skills, financial counseling and budget building, cooking and fitness training, post-secondary education preparation, and anger management classes. All these resources are offered to help create stable families in which parents cope with everyday stresses, participate in their children’s education and become better role models for the children in their care.
History of the Birthday Offering
In 1922, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Woman’s Auxiliary (PCUS), it was decided that an offering should be made for a definite cause. That same year, Hallie Paxson Winsborough, superintendent of women’s work, visited Miss Dowd’s School for Girls in Kochi, Japan. Realizing the school’s needs, she challenged members of the Women’s Auxiliary to give one penny for each year of their life as a birthday gift to the school. Over the years, that tradition has become known as the Birthday Offering. Presbyterian Women have given more than $29 million in support of mission projects throughout the world.
Birthday Offering grant process
Birthday Offering grants range from $200,000 to $750,000. Grant requests come from a variety of sources including PC(USA) governing bodies, health agencies, overseas churches, ecumenical councils, community groups, educational institutions and church related groups. Projects must meet the criteria established by Presbyterian Women.
Download a Birthday Offering grant application in PDF format.
Download a Birthday Offering grant application in Microsoft Word format.
Applications for grants must be submitted by May 15. The Creative Ministries Offering Committee of Presbyterian Women meets in the fall to review applications and make selections. Up to five projects will be selected for funding. Projects will be notified in November and will receive the first payment in October; second payment will be made by May 1 if the interim report is received by February 1.
Birthday Offering resources
Visit the church store for promotional materials and other resources to help you celebrate the Birthday Offering or download free resources.
Questions?
Email Presbyterian Women. For more information, see the January/February issue of Horizons each year.
