The First Baptist Mount Olive Gratitude Project invests in people who want to make positive social change in Mount Olive, NC. It provides resources to enable more people to live out the mission of FBCMO “to be the presence of Christ” in our community. We are looking to award financial grants to local grassroots groups and nonprofits that address the issues of poverty. We also hope to use FBCMO members' skills, experience, and networks to help launch new and innovative ministries and services that transform how we participate in God's mission in and for the world. The Gratitude Project invests in opportunities that:

• Contribute to the spiritual formation process for recipients to live out their faith in the world.

• Leverage FBCMO members' strengths, passions, and experience to positively impact the poorest areas of Mount Olive.

• Demonstrate potential for long-term social impact on the town of Mount Olive.

• Accelerate or launch lasting, sustainable programs.

First Baptist Mount Olive has devoted $100,000 to be used as grants through the Gratitude Project.

• Overall fit with Covenant’s mission of following Jesus wherever you live, work, and play.

• Contribution to the applicant’s formation. Will this project help the applicant live out their faith?

• Ability to use Covenant congregation members' strengths, experience, and expertise.

• Talent of applicant and other team members (if applicable) to execute the project.

• Potential for social impact. Will this project satisfy an unmet need in the city of Austin and is there capacity for scale/growth?

• A working prototype (proof of concept) and financial model.

• The Gratitude Fund is an initiative of First Baptist Mount Olive. While being a Christian is not a requirement for funding, the proposals should further the values that are aligned with First Baptist and the Christian faith.

• If an applicant is not a First Baptist member, he or she will need a First Baptist member to serve as a reference.

• A panel comprised of Gratitude Fund committee members and members of First Baptist staff.

• If the first application is approved, applicants will be invited to a second round with more in-depth questions. A final round includes an interview.

• After the final round, applicants will be notified and recipients announced to the congregation.

Grants will be awarded up to $100,000. The applicant is asked to name the amount they need for their idea and panel will discuss and discern that amount during the process.

TBD, an announcement will be made when the new cycle begins.

You will hear back from us with news on whether your application is selected by XXX, 2022.

We expect to receive a large volume of applications and are unable to comment on each one. We will be unable to share the exact reasons for the declination of your project.

You will own your intellectual property.

Complete the online application. You will need the following information and documentation:

• Contact information: name, address, phone number, email address

• Organization contact information: name, address, website, tax identification number

• Organization background: Organization’s mission, overview and description of the project

• Formation: Description of how the project allows you to live out your faith

• Social Impact: Evidence of impact, if funded. Include objectives, metrics, and intended measures of success.

• Covenant connection: List of at least three Covenant members or functional areas in need of support that can be provided by at least three Covenant members.

• Funding request and Covenant member as reference (if not a member)

For this round of funding, the Gratitude Fund will generally not fund:

• A project without other funding in place. We do not generally make grants where First Bapist is the sole source of funding.

• Non-profit organizations except as a single impact grant.

• The Gratitude Fund is exclusively for business entities with Tax ID/Business EIN.

• Organizations whose mission and vision are in opposition to the mission and vision of the church

We would love to hear your ideas during our next cycle and application process.

• First Baptist has devoted financial resources to be used as grants for the Gratitude Fund.

• Additionally, First Baptist staff provide significant administrative and spiritual support for the program.

Please submit additional questions to XXX.