Assistance Program
As the agency of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) that administers benefits, the Board of Pensions is keenly aware of unmet financial needs. The Assistance Program embodies our connectional Church at its best through need-based grants that are supported by the donations of generous individuals.
Receive a grant
Need-based grants are available to members, ministers, retirees, and surviving spouses who qualify. We encourage all Benefits Plan members to review eligibility requirements and apply.
Give to those in need
You can help provide critical financial assistance to those in need by donating to the Assistance Program in a variety of ways, including a one-time gift, annual gifts, legacies, and endowments.
Assistance by the numbers
The Assistance Program is supported through generous donations, including the Christmas Joy Offering. One-hundred percent of each gift received is used to directly support active and retired members of the Benefits Plan of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
In 2023, the Assistance Program distributed 1,502 grants for a total of approximately $7.6 million in funds.
Assisting ministers and members
After experiencing symptoms of burnout, the Reverend Dr. T. Janel Dixon was able to take her first sabbatical in more than 20 years of ministry with the help of a Sabbath Sabbatical Support grant from the Board of Pensions — an experience that renewed her ministry and reconnected her with God.