FaithJustice Incentive Grants 2023
The FaithJustice Foundation will award at least two $1,000 grants. The purpose of the FaithJustice Incentive Grants is to encourage new faith-based social justice initiatives in 2023 consistent with the goals of the FaithJustice Foundation. Access to the FaithJustice Foundation Incentive Grant online applications will open on or about February 20, 2023 to qualified representatives of churches or faith-based nonprofit organizations. The grant period will have a one-year timeline.
Application Instructions
Applicants must provide all of the information requested below prior to 11:59 pm ET on the due date of April 17, 2023. Applicants will be sent an email acknowledgement of receipt of their application.
Please read the information below before starting your application. If you have any questions, please contact us at info@faithjusticefoundation.org.
Background and Purpose of the FaithJustice Incentive Grant Program
The FaithJustice Foundation exists to equip and empower faith communities to take action for social justice in cities, states, and on the national level. Founded in 2017, our goal is to provide education, training, resources, and grantmaking to churches and faith-based organizations engaged in grassroots, social justice ministry, action, and advocacy.
As people of faith, we have deep concern about the injustices that persist in our society. We are deeply troubled by persistent poverty in our nation of great wealth, inequality in our land of opportunity, and mass incarceration in our country founded on liberty and justice for all.
At our recent event, the seventh annual “The State of the Dream 2023: Beyond Mercy to Social Justice,” we noted that many church missions programs focus on mercy, which includes meeting the immediate needs of those in their communities. Social justice ministry, by contrast, challenges the political and economic systems that perpetuate inequality. For example, mercy ministry feeds the homeless. Social justice ministry fights for affordable housing and economic justice in order to minimize the number of people experiencing homelessness. Both are needed.
The FaithJustice Incentive Grant seeks to fund new ministry initiatives that incorporate social justice into local church ministry. We seek to incentivize churches to move beyond mercy to social justice.
Eligibility and Deadline
Congregations or faith-based nonprofit organizations affiliated with congregations are eligible to apply. The deadline for submission of applications is 11:59pm ET on April 17, 2023.
Types of Project Initiatives to be Awarded Incentive Grants
Examples of project initiatives eligible to be supported include: 1) Voting rights education, registration, or empowerment; 2) Education reform; 3) Criminal justice reform or post incarceration assistance; 4) Affordable housing or other homelessness mitigation; 5) Economic justice or inequity mitigation; 6) Racial justice; 7) Environmental justice; and 8) Immigration reform or refugee resettlement.
Proposal Evaluation Criteria:
Proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
1. Does the project address a social justice issue?
2. Will the project be a new ministry for the organization?
3. How likely is success in meeting the objectives of the project?
4. Will key constituents be involved?
5. How sustainable is the project?
Payment and Reporting Requirements (if awarded a grant)
Payment to the grantee of the grant award will be made upon notification and acceptance of the award. Grantees will be required to provide a final summary report at the end of the project year.
Eligibility and Deadline
Congregations or faith-based nonprofit organizations affiliated with congregations are eligible to apply. Electronic applications will be available online on or about February 20, 2023. The deadline for submission of applications is 11:59pm ET April 17, 2023.
Types Project Initiatives Potentially to be Awarded Incentive Grants
Examples of potential areas of project initiatives eligible to be supported include: 1) Voting rights education, registration, or empowerment; 2) Education reform; 3) Criminal justice reform or post-incarceration assistance; 4) Affordable housing or other homelessness mitigation; 5) Economic justice or inequity mitigation; 6) Racial justice; 7) Environmental justice; and 8) Immigration reform or refugee resettlement.
Payment and Reporting Expectations
Payment to the grantee of the grant award ($1,000) will be made upon notification and acceptance of the award. Grantees will be requested to provide a final summary report at the end of the project year.
Recommended: The State of the Dream 2023: Beyond Mercy to Social Justice
