Self-Development of People of Central Virginia offers grants of up to $3,000 to community organizations working on issues of poverty, injustice, and oppression.
Self-Development of People (SDOP) is a mission program that aims to ameliorate poverty and powerlessness by providing grants to organizations committed to diminishing the effects of poverty, oppression, and injustice. The Presbyterian Church (USA) founded the program in 1970.
Self-Development of People of Central Virginia is an authorized affiliate of the PC(USA) program and is supported by the Presbytery of the James.
The program is rooted in the belief that the poor, oppressed, and disadvantaged possess firsthand knowledge of the type of conditions that facilitate poverty and powerlessness, and they have a legitimate sense of what is needed to promote and encourage change.
Self-Development was created to assist organizations involved in such efforts. The program’s core beliefs recognize the potential of the poor and disenfranchised to speak truth to power through community organizing, and for this reason, SDOP focuses its funding support on organizations committed to initiating change and subsequently encouraging self-development. SDOP does not fund individuals but targets organizations seeking effective change.
People Investing in People
Members
Lamar Lockhart, moderator
Beverly Bullock
Curtis Kearns
Humphrey Muraya
Lori Purcell
Lutrelle Rainey
Deborah Regal
Willie Woodson
Jochelle Young
Grants
Funding also is available from the national Presbyterian Committee on the Self-Development of People. In 2019, each national grant recipient was awarded $15,000. There are no deadlines for national grants; the committee receives and reviews grant applications throughout the year.
Past SDOP of Central Virginia Grant Recipients and Projects
Embrace Richmond - Brookland Park Young Leaders Project >> Read more >>
Elevated Imagination Life Center
Stafford Junction - Helping Us Grow Strong (HUGS) kindergarten readiness program
Daily Planet - quality health services regardless of financial, housing or insurance status
Friends Association for Children - leadership and career advancement program
FIRST Contractors, Inc - picnic table project
How You Can Help
Self-Development of People is funded through the One Great Hour of Sharing Offering and by individual donations from friends and supporters of the program.
