Mustard Seed Mini Grant Program
THE M25 INITIATIVE ANNOUNCES MUSTARD SEED GRANT PROGRAM TO COMBAT HOMELESSNESS, HUNGER & POVERTY-
Deadline: May 15, 2017
Granting Priorities
Grant requests submitted to the Initiative are viewed in light of our primary objectives as found in Matthew 25:35-36- “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.”
Accordingly, the Initiative has outlined the following priorities by which grant decisions will be made:
Maximum Grant Amounts:
Showers for the Homeless Program Start-Up Matching Grant: up to $2,500
Innovation Start-Up Support Matching Grants: up to $1,000
On-Going Program/Ministry Support Matching Grants: up to $500
Code Blue Host Church or Supporting Church Facilities Grant (does not require a match): up to $500
The M25 Initiative reserves the right to exceed maximum grant levels on a case-by-case basis.
How to Apply:
Submit your Letter of Application (LOA) online at http://www.m25initiative.org/mustard-seed-grants.html by May 15, 2017. The LOA must include (in a PDF file): project summary and purpose of the grant; population and community need served; project budget; grant amount being sought; major sources of financial support (including that of a church or churches); governing board members; current year general budget; previous year general budget; any relevant legal documentation; any letters of support. The LOA should also address how you will measure success. The letter must also indicate the organization’s past commitment to the Cumberland County Code Blue Coalition and/or its commitment to participating as a Host or Supporting Organization in the upcoming year. Preference will be given to churches that have participated with the Cumberland County Code Blue Coalition or declare their intent to participate in the upcoming season. Organizations that receive funding are strongly encouraged to participate in the Cumberland County Code Blue Coalition. An organization may submit up to three projects for consideration. The Code Blue Host or Supporting Church Facilities Grant will not count toward the three-project limit. Please indicate what type of grant you are seeking in the LOA.
The following are ineligible for funding:
Individuals, Organizations without a presence in Cumberland County, Organizations with any legal status other than 501(c)3 (Note: Churches are allowed and encouraged to apply), Non Faith-Based Organizations (unless part of a collaborative with a Faith-Based Organization).
Questions:
Please email info@m25initiative.org or call 1-844-M25-HOPE
Grant requests submitted to the Initiative are viewed in light of our primary objectives as found in Matthew 25:35-36- “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.”
Accordingly, the Initiative has outlined the following priorities by which grant decisions will be made:
- We seek to equip and empower local congregations & faith-based organizations to provide safety net services to the poor and homeless. Safety net services include food, clothing, shelter, health, and crisis services.
- We seek to foster support for the Cumberland County Code Blue Coalition. Applications should demonstrate how the congregation and/or faith-based community has supported the Cumberland County Code Blue Coalition and indicate their commitment to further support the program.
- We seek to support churches and faith-based organizations that have served as Code Blue Hosting Centers or official Support Churches/Groups (staffing or coordinating Code Blue).
- We seek to partner with local congregations & faith-based organizations that identify, equip, and support their members who are called to specific areas of ministry in the church, the marketplace, and the world. The projects we seek to support would be typically started through the vision, calling, and gifting of individuals who are then supported by their local church. We believe it is a fundamental responsibility of every local congregation to nurture, encourage, and support the visions of their members that are God-given and kingdom-oriented.
- We look for creative initiatives that offer innovative approaches to community problems by local faith-based ministries. We desire to support dynamic projects that show the love of Jesus in word and action. Therefore, we typically do not to fund individuals who are serving in administrative roles, or projects for debt relief, land or building purchases.
- The M25 Initiative developed from the Cumberland County Code Blue Program that demonstrated tremendous success in working with other churches & organizations in meeting the needs of the community. Therefore, we will give priority to projects that meet community needs through community partnerships.
- We recognize the Church as God’s primary representative in the world. We also believe the local congregation of believers is His primary representative within a particular geographic area. Therefore, we consider local church accountability and financial support primary indicators of the priority, integrity, and sustainability of a particular project. A church and/or faith-based organization must be willing to invest financially in a project for the M25 Initiative to consider funding that project. We do not consider in-kind contributions alone as local church/faith-based organization financial support.
Maximum Grant Amounts:
Showers for the Homeless Program Start-Up Matching Grant: up to $2,500
Innovation Start-Up Support Matching Grants: up to $1,000
On-Going Program/Ministry Support Matching Grants: up to $500
Code Blue Host Church or Supporting Church Facilities Grant (does not require a match): up to $500
The M25 Initiative reserves the right to exceed maximum grant levels on a case-by-case basis.
How to Apply:
Submit your Letter of Application (LOA) online at http://www.m25initiative.org/mustard-seed-grants.html by May 15, 2017. The LOA must include (in a PDF file): project summary and purpose of the grant; population and community need served; project budget; grant amount being sought; major sources of financial support (including that of a church or churches); governing board members; current year general budget; previous year general budget; any relevant legal documentation; any letters of support. The LOA should also address how you will measure success. The letter must also indicate the organization’s past commitment to the Cumberland County Code Blue Coalition and/or its commitment to participating as a Host or Supporting Organization in the upcoming year. Preference will be given to churches that have participated with the Cumberland County Code Blue Coalition or declare their intent to participate in the upcoming season. Organizations that receive funding are strongly encouraged to participate in the Cumberland County Code Blue Coalition. An organization may submit up to three projects for consideration. The Code Blue Host or Supporting Church Facilities Grant will not count toward the three-project limit. Please indicate what type of grant you are seeking in the LOA.
The following are ineligible for funding:
Individuals, Organizations without a presence in Cumberland County, Organizations with any legal status other than 501(c)3 (Note: Churches are allowed and encouraged to apply), Non Faith-Based Organizations (unless part of a collaborative with a Faith-Based Organization).
Questions:
Please email info@m25initiative.org or call 1-844-M25-HOPE
2016 Recipients
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July 27, 2016
Dr. Robin Weinstein, President & Founder of The M25 Initiative, today announced that the organization has awarded over $15,000 in Mustard Seed Mini-Grant funds to 14 local churches and nonprofits in Cumberland County. The M25 Initiative Mustard Seed Mini-Grant Program provides seed funding through matching grants for innovative start-up and on-going projects of faith-based organizations and collaborations in Cumberland County, NJ. “The Cumberland County Code Blue program has demonstrated that faith, coupled with prayer and loving action can move mountains,” said Dr. Weinstein. “This program has brought our community together to save lives while extending compassion and hospitality to our homeless neighbors. The M25 Initiative seeks to build upon the success of Code Blue to tackle other problems facing our community. The Mustard Seed Mini-Grants further our mission to care for the community by leveraging our assets through partnerships.” The M25 Initiative Mustard Seed Mini-Grant Program aims to equip local congregations and faith-based organizations with financial resources to address issues in Cumberland County related to the primary objectives of the organization as found in Matthew 25:35-36: “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.” “Our goal is to engage, equip, empower, and mobilize the local church and faith-based organizations to employ innovative and cooperative solutions to alleviate suffering, feed the hungry, end poverty, reduce crime, revitalize a spirit community and transform lives,” said Weinstein. “Churches and organizations are on the frontline of combatting poverty and hopelessness and we want to come alongside them in helping others. It is not enough for people to go to church, rather we must BE THE CHURCH by putting faith into action.” The primary priority for grant awards is providing safety net services to the poor and homeless. Safety net services include food, clothing, shelter, health, and crisis services. In addition to the Mustard Seed Grants, M25 will be providing up to $4,000 in funds to start shower programs for the homeless in Millville and Vineland. Bridgeton has a successful shower program located and operated by Bethany Grace Community Church. "We thank the generosity of our community that have provided us with these funds and we seek to faithful stewards of them," concluded Weinstein. |
