You’re not just running programs. You’re holding your community together.

You’re filling the gap when systems fall short — when people come home from prison with nowhere to stay, when families lose work and can’t afford rent, when folks need mental health support and can’t get seen.

If that’s the work your church is doing — or trying to do — this blog is for you.

Because this kind of mission doesn’t run on hope.
It runs on structure. And it runs on funding.

This Is About More Than the Church

Black churches have always done more than preach.
They’ve educated, organized, housed, and protected our people.
That legacy didn’t start in a boardroom. It started in the community.

But now the challenges are bigger, the dollars are fewer, and the need is growing.

If you’re serious about making impact — about voter education, about re-entry, about real economic mobility — you need to fund it like it matters.

Because it does.

Justice Work Costs Money — Here’s Where It Goes

You can’t budget off inspiration. You need actual line items. Here’s where the dollars are needed:

Re-entry Programs

  • Housing assistance
  • Job search support
  • Legal aid
  • Counseling for trauma and transition

Food and Housing Security

  • Weekly groceries for families
  • Hot meals for seniors
  • Rent and utility assistance
  • Partnerships with shelters and housing organizations

Voter Engagement

  • Printing, text banking, canvassing, rides to the polls
  • Education on propositions and candidates
  • Youth voter registration initiatives

Workforce and Economic Mobility

  • Resume clinics
  • Financial literacy programs
  • Trade and job training partnerships

Mental Health Access

  • Licensed therapists
  • Group healing spaces
  • Trauma response for community violence or loss

If you’re running any of this — or you want to — it’s time to ask the next question: where will the money come from?

These Are Your Funding Options

You don’t need every dollar from inside the congregation. You don’t need to do this alone.
But you do need to take action.

Individual Donors

People are ready to give when they believe in the impact.
Not just members — extended community, alumni, folks watching from afar.

Make specific asks.
“Would you consider a gift of $250 to help fund our mental health circle for 10 women this month?”

You don’t need a million-dollar donor. You need 100 people who care enough to give clearly and consistently.

Foundation Grants

There are foundations looking to support exactly the kind of justice work you’re doing.
But they won’t fund a blank slate.

You need:

  • A specific program
  • A simple, clear budget
  • A way to show the results

We’ve helped churches land these grants — even their first ones.

Government Funding

Local, county, and federal governments have dollars for food, housing, violence prevention, youth development, re-entry, and more.

You may have to apply, track outcomes, and follow through — but the money is there. It’s designed for exactly this kind of work.

Community Campaigns

The quickest way to start is a 30-day focused campaign using our Adopt-A-Project Plan.

We’ve seen churches raise $10K to $25K in weeks — not months — by focusing on one project, one story, one ask.

The Plan: One Project. One Goal. One Month.

Here’s what this looks like in practice:

  • Pick one program to fund.
  • Set a goal that matches the need — not a vague estimate.
  • Craft your message: “Here’s what we’re doing, here’s who it helps, and here’s how you can be part of it.”
  • Make the ask directly: “Would you consider a gift of $500 to sponsor a family in our transitional housing program?”
  • Follow up and report back — with honesty, numbers, and impact.

This isn’t about begging. It’s about building.
This isn’t about guilt. It’s about leadership.

You are not just running a church — you’re holding up a community. And people want to be part of that.

You’re Not Alone — And You Don’t Have to Start From Scratch

Partnerships take this work further.

Here’s who you can bring to the table:

  • Individual donors who care and want to act
  • Foundations who can fund full programs
  • Local businesses looking to give back or sponsor
  • Nonprofits who can bring training, staff, or shared funding
  • Schools and colleges for workforce training and mentorship
  • Government agencies with grant dollars and joint programs

You’re not just building a program. You’re building a network. One that keeps your work alive when the spotlight fades.

Start With the Tools. We’ll Walk You Through It.

If you’re serious about funding your justice programs — not just keeping them afloat — here’s what to do next:

  1. Watch the video: https://youtu.be/S43JGrSuA1E
    It breaks down exactly how to fund your social justice work.
  2. Get the Social Justice Funding Checklist: https://mailchi.mp/wearenfm/social-justice-funding-checklist
    This tool shows you:
  • How to identify what needs funding
  • What to ask for and how to ask it
  • Who your best partners are
  • What to track and report to keep support coming

You’ve already shown up for your community.
Now it’s time to fund that work — fully and confidently.

No more scraping by. No more doing everything alone. No more waiting for the right time.

The time is now.
The tools are ready.
Let’s build something that lasts.