Innovation Fund: FAQ and Timeline

January – February:  Open application for grant submissions

Application Deadline: Friday February 28, 2025

March – April:  Application vetting

June: Notification of acceptance

June: Previous year recipients report due

July – August: Funding released

September: Public announcement of recipients at the Mission Leaders Conference

• Seeds Innovation Training
• The Innovation Crisis by Dr. Ted Esler
• IDEO Design Thinking Training
• Innovation Explained

See this page: https://missionexus.org/ministry-innovation-fund/ and this page https://missionexus.org/funding-overview/.

The process involves five phases:

• Empathize:
  • Understand the needs, wants, and motivations of the people for whom you are designing.
  • Methods include user interviews, observation, and participatory design.
• Define:
  • Frame the problem in a human-centered and actionable way.
  • Utilize tools such as problem statements, personas, and empathy maps.
• Ideate:
  • Generate a wide range of potential solutions to the defined problem.
  • Encourage creativity and suspend judgment through brainstorming techniques.
• Prototype:
  • Create rough models of promising ideas for testing with users.
  • Prototypes can range from low-fidelity sketches to high-fidelity digital mockups.
• Test:
  • Gather user feedback on prototypes and iterate until solutions are effective and desirable.
  • Testing methods include user interviews, usability testing, and A/B testing.

Design thinking is an iterative process, requiring multiple cycles through the phases to develop a solution meeting user needs. Following this approach increases the likelihood of creating innovative and effective solutions.

For additional informaton on innovation:  Innovation Explained

Micro Innovation Grant:

1. Funding Range: $25,000 – $50,000
2. Tailored for smaller, impactful projects with a keen emphasis on innovation.
3. Prioritize meticulously planned initiatives demonstrating empathy for ministry impact.
4. Awarded to approximately 9 Missio Nexus member ministries.
5. Each ministry may only apply to one of the three grant options.
6. Click here for a sample of the Micro Application Form  (This is a sample, do not fill this out or attempt to submit it.  When applying you will use our Submittable platform.)

Macro Innovation Grant:

1. Funding Range: $50,000 – $75,000
2. Geared towards organizations with a well-established innovation process, showcasing iterative attempts at deploying practical solutions.
3. Emphasis on illustrating and articulating the innovation process and quantifying end-user impact.
4. Holds the potential to influence the broader missions landscape.
5. Exclusive grants awarded to 4 Missio Nexus member ministries.
6. Each ministry may only apply to one of the three grant options.
7. Click here for a sample of our Macro Grant Application (This is a sample, do not fill this out or attempt to submit it.  When applying you will use our Submittable platform.)

Collaborative Innovation Grant:

1. Funding Range: up to $75,000 -$100,000
2. Encourages joint applications from 2+ ministries. (All Missio Nexus Member Organizations)
3. Requires a proven working model of collaboration rather than a conceptual alliance.
4. Focus on demonstrating a collective approach to an innovative idea.
5. A prestigious grant awarded to outstanding alliances displaying both unity and innovation.
6. Each ministry must be a Missio Nexus member.
7. Each ministry may only apply to one of the three grant options. For the ministries applying for a collaborative grant this is considered the one submission for each ministry.
8. Click here for a sample of our Collaborative Grant Application  (This is a sample, do not fill this out or attempt to submit it.  When applying you will use our Submittable platform.)

February 28, 2025 at 11:59 pm EST

Any USA registered 501c3 or Canadian Registered non-profit who is also an active organizational member of Missio Nexus. 

You may only apply for one of the three grant options. 

If you are not a member you can learn more about membership at Missio Nexus member benefits.

• What is the timeframe over which the grant funds need to be expended.
  • Ideally 12 months, but we understand that projects can be fluid.
• Do the projects need to cover evangelism, discipleship and church planting?
  • The projects need to focus on at least one of these elements.
• What if funds are needed before June 2025?
  • We are unable to distribute funds prior to June 2025.
• Where can I find information on those who recieved past grants?
  • 2023 – https://missionexus.org/ministry-innovation-fund/2023-innovation-fund/
  • 2024 – 2024 Innovation Fund Grantees | Missio Nexus
• Where can I find information about the Innovation Discussion Group?
  • https://missionexus.org/groups/innovation/
• Can projects be in the United States?
  • Yes
• Does age of the organization matter?
  • No
• Can we be too far along in the process that it’s no longer considered innovative?
  • Since innovation is more determined on end user impact the length of time in the project should only enchance end user impact not detract.
• If we are overseas, and our US based ministry is field based, would our US org be the organization to submit from or the field?
  • We are only able to distribute funds to US or Canadian registered non-profits.  So which ever organization is able to reciept funds would be the one to submit the application from.
• Is there a text limit to the application boxes?
  • The open answer boxes do not have a text limit.  But you can upload additional documents if necessary.
• Can an organization have more than one project type that their ministry project falls under (e.g. mobilization, training, and/or global sending)
  • Sure.  Just pick the primary when filling out the field on the application and then address the connectedness to the others in the application.
• Is it possible to apply for the micro grant, and the evaluation team decides the project is actually a macro grant?
  • Yes, this could be possible.  In that case additional information could be requested from the applicant.
• How far along in the innovation process should a successful applicant be?
  • For a micro grant a ministry could be at the beginning of the process.  For macro or collaborative you need to be further along.  For some ministries you may decide to wait till 2026 to apply so you can solidify your innovation process before application.

The term ‘end-user’ can encompass a broad spectrum, potentially referring to ‘the unreached.’ However, in the context your grant request, it specifically pertains to the individuals whom the project aims to affect. Depending on your project, this group could be expansive or highly specific. We encourage meaningful engagement with the target demographic to grasp their needs thoroughly. It’s vital to ensure that the solution proposed aligns with their desires or has substantial potential for impact. We acknowledge that achieving this may be challenging in some cases. In such instances, providing evidence of similar successful implementations in comparable settings would be beneficial.

Email us and we’ll do our best to get back to you as soon as possible –  innovationfund@missionexus.org

Yes, we prefer to have all Acrobat PDF’s.  All submissions will go through our Submittable application platform.

Chat Questions and Answers from the Webinar on 1.16.25

• Expectations for the evaluation/report process:
  • The evaluation process involves a review team consisting of mission leaders and Missio Nexus staff. They consider each application based on scope, impact, and innovative approach to ministry
  • Reporting requirements include demonstrating progress and impact within 12 months of receiving the grant based on submitted metrics in each application.
• Does the idea/project need to be fully developed when applying?
  • Projects should be ready to be implemented upon receipt of the funds. If more work is needed before implementation, it is recommended to apply next year.
• Is it permissible for more than one grant proposal to be submitted by an organization or collaborating organizations?
  • Each applicant can only apply to one grant type
• Would you suggest partnering with grant writing services? Is this common among previously awarded applicants?
  • Having a well-prepared application is crucial, but we also understand there is a wide range or organizations submitting, and we want this to be accessible no matter size and experience.
• What are the reporting requirements if the grant is awarded?
  • Reporting back within 12 months is required, showing that the project was executed to the best ability of the team and has made measured progress
• Do the collaborative ministries also need to be based in the US? What are the guidelines for international partnerships?
  • The collaborative ministries applying for a Collaboration Grant need to be all US or CA registered non-profits and Missio Nexus members.  If you are collaborating on Macro or Micro projects, you can partner with those that don’t fit these categories.
• Could you explain what likelihood and/or specific factors the committee considers most crucial for a strong reapplication from a 2024 Missio Nexus Innovation Micro Grant recipient?
  • Strong applications should demonstrate a clear innovation process, immediate feasibility.
• Does Missio Nexus provide feedback on applications that are not approved? Is there assistance for making changes for the following year?
  • We do not have the capacity to give individual feedback, but we do try to provide post application analysis that would be of benefit to anyone that is not approved.
• Can an organization that is fiscally sponsored by a registered 501(c)3 be eligible?
  • Yes, as long as the sponsoring organization is a registered 501c3 in the US or CA and a member of Missio Nexus.
• Is there a limit on how often a ministry can apply, regardless of approval status?
  • No
• If funding is received for one year, can you apply again in the future?
  • Yes, but we do not simply award ongoing funding for the same project. You can apply for a new project, or an innovation based on the first project.
• Could you share the name of the organization you mentioned that is advocating for a Chief Collaborations Officer?
  • VisionSynergy – https://visionsynergy.net/
• Is there sufficient “innovation” to apply if the innovation primarily lies in the partnership rather than in the product or process?
  • Yes, collaborative innovation grants encourage joint applications from 2+ mission ministries, showcasing unity and collaboration
• Is there a greater chance of being selected for a lower value micro grant compared to a larger collaboration grant:
  • The selection process considers the scope, impact, and innovative approach, regardless of the grant size
    
• Webinar Video Recording Link