Increase Your Church’s Local Ministry Giving Through the Iowa Ministry Fund
Since 2016, BCI churches have contributed over $500,000 to gospel ministries that meet tangible needs through the Iowa Ministry Fund. BCI desires to accelerate what BCI churches are already doing to support these serving ministries by matching their financial support through the IMF.
WE DESIRE TO CHAMPION BCI CHURCHES BY ADDING FUEL TO THEIR COMMUNITY TRANSFORMATION EFFORTS AND STRENGTHENING THEIR MINISTRY PARTNERSHIPS
Churches Apply to Accelerate their Support
BCI Pastors & Church Leaders, we invite YOU to submit an application on behalf of a ministry that your church is supporting which is meeting needs in your area
How Funding Works
The Iowa Ministry Fund distributes funds to ministries that BCI churches support financially and through active participation (by serving as volunteers, staff, or board members). Ministries must meet the qualifications (listed below) to be eligible and choose a category that describes their ministry focus. These ministries can receive funds for up to 3 years in a row. Our goal is to provide matching funds, equal to the church’s contribution, as funds allow. If this is not possible based on the available funds, distributions will be determined by the BCI Foundation Committee with the goal to match all funds up to $5,000 and make grant amounts beyond that amount proportional to total church giving for each ministry.
IMF Application & Funding Process
- Church leaders submit an application for a ministry they support. The primary application period for churches to apply for IMF grants is before September 1.
- Ministry selections & grant distributions are announced.
- Funds will be distributed directly to the selected ministries.
- Churches may renew the grant for 2 additional years, provided the grant requirements were met for the previous year.
Serving Ministries Qualifications
Ministry qualifications:
- The ministry must be supported by your church through financial contributions and, wherever appropriate, through volunteering.
- The ministry must be active in meeting needs of people who live in your area.
- The ministry must have similar Christian values and beliefs as evidenced by their statement of faith.
- The ministry must provide opportunities for gospel evangelism to those it serves.
- The ministry must work to connect those it serves with local churches.
- The ministry must have a track record of multiple years of fruitful ministry.
- The ministry must be a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
Iowa Ministry Fund categories:
The ministry must meet tangible needs in Iowa in one of ten ministry categories:
- Crisis Pregnancy
- Addiction Recovery
- Troubled Youth (Including Adoption & Foster Care)
- Emergency & Transitional Housing
- Prison Ministry & Aftercare
- Religious Liberty & Justice Advocacy
- Disaster Relief
- Poverty Impacted
- Human Trafficking
- Cross Cultural Ministry
2023 Iowa Ministry Fund Recipients
3rd Place
• Adel
Agape Pregnancy Center
• Des Moines
Alpha Women’s Center
• Ankeny
Child Evangelism Fellowship
• Sioux City
Friendship Center
• Des Moines
God’s Love House of Hope
• Des Moines
Home For Awhile
• Ames
Lives of Legacy
• Bettendorf
Obria Medical Center
• Ames
Polk County Jail Ministry
• Des Moines
Single Parent Provision
• West Des Moines
Together For Good
• Des Moines
Whatsoever You Do, Inc.
• Ottumwa
Wings of Refuge
• Ames
Youth for Christ
• Cedar Rapids
together we have given over $500,000 since 2016
Since the IMF began in 2016, the Executive Board has approved around $100,000 for the Iowa Ministry Fund each year. The goal is to award grants to the effective, gospel-centered ministries across ten categories. Ongoing funding sources include the Hyde Iowa Missions Offering collected each September and allocation of Cooperative Program funds given to the BCI.
apply for imf grant
BCI Pastors & Churches, we invite YOU to submit an application on behalf of a ministry your church is supporting in your area. Ministry selections will be announced and then funds will be distributed directly to the selected ministries before the end of the year and churches will be able to renew the grant provided the grant requirements were met for the previous year.
give to the iowa ministry fund
Partner with us to invest in the amazing ministry happening across our state and bring the hope of Jesus Christ to meet needs. You can give now and participate the Iowa Missions Offering each September.