FAQs
General Funding Information
- What are your funding strategies?
We are a private foundation that provides grants to Christian ministries in the developing world in the areas of leadership development, evangelism and holistic ministry. Our leadership development focuses on training mid-career leaders, grass root pastors and lay leaders and supporting evangelical seminaries. We focus on reaching the unreached through evangelism and church planting among unreached peoples. Our holistic ministry funding consists of assisting the urban poor, encouraging medical and community health ministries and enabling rural development.
- Does First Fruit fund individuals or scholarships for individuals?
No. According to our by-laws, we do not fund individuals or scholarships. First Fruit only grants to international, cross-cultural Christian ministries in the developing world.
- Is First Fruit willing to be a sustaining donor?
First Fruit does not see itself as a sustaining donor. Because we wish to encourage an organization’s development of a broad base of donors, we will not continually fund the same organization.
- How often do you have Board meetings?
Our board meets three times a year: in February, June and October.
- Do I need to have a prior connection with someone at First Fruit to receive a grant?
While First Fruit generally does not receive unsolicited proposals, we do accept letters of inquiry from any organization who feels it is working within our areas of focus.
- May we meet with someone at the Foundation?
Before we will consider a meeting, we need to receive a Letter of Inquiry outlining your organization and ongoing projects.
Approaching First Fruit/Letters of Inquiry
- Do you have an application?
As a matter of course, our board only considers invited proposals; accordingly, we do not have application forms. If you would like to seek our interest in a project, please submit a Letter of Inquiry.
- How do I submit a Letter of Inquiry?
If you wish to submit a Letter of Inquiry, you may send us a brief description of your work including a one to two paragraph summary of the project for which you are seeking funding including goals, strategy outcomes and budget information. Also, please state how you found out about First Fruit and if you are currently working with or know of any organizations who have been funded by First Fruit. Please send your letter electronically.
- What is the timing for submitting a Letter of Inquiry?
Letters of inquiry can be submitted at any time during the year.
- How often may I submit a Letter of Inquiry?
We encourage a one year waiting period between submissions.
- May I submit more than one Letter of Inquiry at a time?
If you have more than one project for which you would like funding, you may send a letter outlining all of the projects.
- Do you have a sample Letter of Inquiry or Proposal?
We do not hand out samples because we would like to hear the specific “voice” of your organization.
- How long before someone contacts me in relation to my Letter of Inquiry?
We appreciate your interest in First Fruit, but we receive many more requests for funding than we can fulfill. Due to the large number of requests, we are able to respond only to inquiries that we determine are potential granting opportunities for First Fruit.
