Shepherd’s Gate Grants
Shepherd’s Gate Grants are small annual grants that support local non-profit organizations that reflect our mission to serve those in need, do justice, uphold human dignity and promote peace. Proceeds from the International Festival finance the SGG scholarship program.
2025 Grant Recipients
A Best Choice
ABC Women’s Health & Ultrasound Center provides both free and low cost medical, educational, and support services to women and men facing an unplanned pregnancy or sexual health concern. The grant will help provide transportation for low-income women via Uber/Lyft to A Best Choice Mobile Ultrasound to receive a free pregnancy test, free ultrasound, and counseling.
Commissioned by Christ
Bring Catholics closer to Christ through short-term mission trips that form them through personal and communal prayer, participation in the sacraments, building community with fellow Christians, and providing an opportunity to partake in works of mercy by helping those in material and spiritual need. The grant will help fund a mission trip to a Senior Center in El Salvador.
Just Neighbors
Just Neighbors provides immigration legal services to low-income immigrants and refugees in Virginia, Maryland and Washington D.C., who are eligible for work authorization and other benefits under U.S. immigration law. Attorneys help immigrants file applications that allow families to live together (avoid deportation) as well as applications for green cards, work permits
and citizenship. Just Neighbors also assist immigrants in situations of domestic violence and trafficking so that survivors can live free of their abusers.
Liberty’s Promise
Liberty’s Promise is dedicated to supporting immigrant youth in need, helping them feel welcomed in their new communities and encouraging them to become active, engaged American citizens. Since 2011, we have implemented our Civics and Citizenship program at West Potomac High School with the primary goal of providing newcomer youth with a safe and supportive environment where they can grow academically, socially, and professionally.
A $2,500 grant would fund four field trips to to destinations like local college campuses, government offices, and cultural landmarks in Washington, D.C., helping to inform of higher education opportunities and inspire them to pursue higher education and engage in their community.
Mother of Light Center
Mother of Light Center (MoLC) is dedicated to love and serve men and women who are poor, needy, and homeless. MOLC provides material support, spiritual help, encouragement, and information. MOLC helps identify talents/potentials of those they help, redirect their lives, find jobs and permanent housing, and most importantly, discover how much God loves them. MoLC provides monthly fresh meats, produce and dairy, as well as staple food delivery to over 1,100 families and provide meals to 2,300 labor workers, and served over 1,500 meals at homeless shelters. Grant funding will be used to help cover food expenses as needs and prices rise.
Pathway Homes
Pathway Homes serves nearly 2000 single adults who have experienced homelessness and have serious mental illness to obtain stable housing and services. Grant funding will be used to purchase housewares, cleaning and basic hygiene products, nonperishable food for “Welcome Kits” that are provided to newly housed individuals, many of whom had been living in woods and are fragile, as they enter supportive housing. Volunteer groups are engaged to assemble the kits.
Rising Hope United Methodist Mission Church
Rising Hope was established with the mission of bringing the “power of Christ” and the “support of the church” to the community living in poverty south of Alexandria, VA along the Route 1 Corridor of Fairfax County by addressing homelessness, food insecurity, transportation concerns, and other emergency situations. The grant would help provide supplies, gift cards, and transportation support for the 50+ individuals visiting the Drop in Center which helps to ensure a safe and welcoming environment for people to catch a break from unsheltered life, commune with neighbors, and access wrap-around services. Lunch is provided by the Rising Hope kitchen and refreshments are available.
Shelter House
Family Preservation and Strengthening Services (Family PASS) became a
program of Shelter House in January of 2023. Family PASS assists low-income families to improve their economic situation through education, financial literacy instruction, and technical training that builds employable skills and allows parents to earn a livable wage to support their family. Safety-net and community resources are provided to promote stability upon entering the program.
