Grant Opportunities Aligned with IFI’s Mission

Below is a curated list of grantmakers whose funding priorities closely align with International Friendships, Inc. (IFI)’s mission areas: international student ministry expansion, cross-cultural engagement, faith-based discipleship/evangelism, operational growth, and innovative outreach. Each entry includes key details and action steps.

The list below is for funding related to IFI’s overall mission. For opportunities directly related to the building fire and restoration funding please see this page

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• Grantmaker/Funder: Organization name and location info • Grant Amount: Typical funding ranges • Eligibility: Requirements to qualify for funding (NPO church status filter implemented) • Application Cycle & Deadlines: Timeline and submission process information • Alignment Rationale: How the funder's priorities match IFI's mission • Required Deliverables: Documents and materials needed for application • Actionable Next Steps: Specific actions to take to pursue the funding • Priority Level: Categorization as High, Medium, or Low priority

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High-Priority Grant Opportunities (Top Alignment & Impact)

1. Maclellan Foundation – Great Commission Grants

• Grantmaker/Funder: The Maclellan Foundation (Chattanooga, TN) – major Christian family foundation.
• Grant Amount: Typically $50,000+, with some grants reaching six figures for strategic ministry projects.
• Eligibility: 501(c)(3) Christian ministries advancing the Great Commission. Maclellan explicitly funds organizations “committed to fulfilling the Great Commission of Jesus Christ”. (Religious organizations are eligible.)
• Application Cycle & Deadlines: Letter of Inquiry (LOI) accepted year-round via their online portal. Proposals are by invitation after LOI. The foundation has two grant cycles per year. (See website for current deadlines; e.g., spring and fall cycle decisions.)
• Alignment Rationale: Maclellan’s core focus is evangelism, discipleship, and “extending the Kingdom of God to every tribe, nation, person, and tongue”. IFI’s work with international students (representing “every tribe and tongue,” cf. Rev. 7:9) directly fits their Great Commission emphasis. Funding can support campus ministry expansion, volunteer training, or new discipleship initiatives.
• Required Deliverables: LOI outlining ministry vision, kingdom impact, project budget, and alignment with biblical mission. Full proposal (if invited) requires detailed project narrative, financials, leadership bios, and Statement of Faith alignment.
• Actionable Next Steps: Visit Maclellan’s website and submit an online LOI describing IFI’s project (highlight global disciple-making impact). Emphasize how IFI’s outreach fulfills Matthew 28:18-20 and Acts 1:8 in a unique context. Prepare to provide supporting documents (IRS determination, budgets, etc.).
• Priority Level: High. (Strong missional alignment and significant grant size potential make this a top target for IFI.)

2. Henry Parsons Crowell Trust – Evangelism & Church-Planting Grants

• Grantmaker/Funder: The Crowell Trust (Colorado) – historic trust dedicated to Evangelical Christian work.