Faith & Action Grants

The Christian Theological Seminary Faith & Action Project aims to connect, inspire, and empower communities of faith and other organizations to implement effective solutions for reducing poverty and increasing opportunity in Indianapolis. This grant program is deeply aligned with the foundation's mission to address the root causes of poverty rather than simply providing relief. The project serves as a catalyst, bringing together faith communities, government agencies, non-profits, and for-profits to collaborate on systemic change. The target beneficiaries are communities in Indianapolis, specifically Marion County, that are experiencing poverty. The impact goal is to eliminate the need for poverty relief by addressing the underlying issues. The program prioritizes sound and sustainable initiatives that are ready to scale, helping them achieve a new level of size, strength, and impact. The focus is on fostering collaboration, which is defined as a mutually beneficial relationship where two or more organizations contribute resources (staff time, financial resources, marketing, subject matter expertise) towards a shared goal. The project seeks innovative approaches that can effectively tackle the complex challenges of poverty. Expected outcomes include the advancement of programs that have demonstrated potential to significantly reduce poverty and increase opportunity within Marion County. While specific measurable results are not explicitly detailed beyond the overall grant amount of $100,000 to be awarded, the emphasis on scaling "sound and sustainable programs to the next level of size, strength and impact" implies a focus on demonstrable progress in poverty reduction. The foundation's strategic priority is to act as a catalyst for collective action, operating under a theory of change that believes by uniting diverse sectors, the root causes of poverty can be solved, leading to long-term societal benefit.