The Foundation of the Christian Reformed Church in North America seeks to honor God through stewardship of gifts for this work of his kingdom.
Initiated by donors in the early 1990s, the Foundation was first known as the Fellowship Fund and was primarily a current fund for large gifts. The Foundation is now able to receive current gifts as well as endowed gifts.
The statements below are a summary of the Foundation's values and priorities.
- The Foundation's primary focus is projects that have a denominational rather than local impact. Ordinarily a local project will be funded by the Foundation only if it is judged to have a broader denominational impact.
- Most funding decisions will be made within the framework of the denominational strategic plan. Any ministry initiatives funded by the Foundation should be consistent with the strategic plan.
- The Foundation places a high priority on projects that creatively address current ministry needs and have an impact beyond the project itself.
- The Foundation will be flexible in its dealings with donors. We acknowledge the initiative and interests of donors and seek to work creatively with them.
- The Foundation will be flexible in its funding decisions. The desire to be strategic requires that it not be imprisoned by its own policies and procedures.
- The Foundation affirms the critical importance of effective communication at all levels of denominational life and is committed to doing whatever is possible to keep the denomination ministry-focused and ministry-centered.
- The Foundation will actively seek funding for projects that serve the denomination as well as reacting to initiatives from ministry groups or donors.
- The Foundation is sensitive to the work of denominational agencies. It is not in competition with them but seeks to complement their efforts.
- The application process is flexible. The Foundation will grant funds with little paperwork when this can be done responsibly. It will request extensive information where responsible stewardship requires it.
- Ordinarily the Foundation will not provide long-term funding. Funding will be either for short-term projects or for projects that in the long term are owned by groups beyond the Foundation.
