Missional Grants
Imago Dei Community’s Missional Grants help facilitate ministry and service ideas that come from the body of the church. We want to partner with you who call Imago Dei home, helping birth new ideas that the Holy Spirit may bring to your attention.
The intent is for these new ideas to be implemented by you and your team. The process is an iterative one, filled with dialogue, coaching, evaluation, and start up funding, if approved. Funds awarded as Missional Grants are intended to be used toward planning and operational costs to launch the ministry, generally not toward salaries or capital costs.
WHAT ARE MISSIONAL GRANTS?
OVERVIEW
In order to be the best stewards of the resources we have been given, our desire is to see new initiatives that support, uphold, and fully align with Imago’s Mission, Values, and Vision:
Our Mission
We are a community of Jesus followers seeking to encounter Jesus, be formed by his Spirit, and be sent on God’s mission to proclaim the whole gospel, to the whole person, to the whole world.
Our Values
Mission drives everything we do and shapes what we invest in and contribute to. It has focused us as a community to pursue three spiritual values:
Encounter Christ through the whole gospel
Formation in Christ to the Whole Person
Mission by the Spirit to the Whole World
Our Vision
We long to see the living God bring spiritual renewal and social vitality to the city of Portland through kingdom-minded churches of worship and justice.
CRITERIA
The following criteria can help you determine whether your ministry idea is a good fit for Missional Grants. Ministries for consideration must contain the following three elements.
Be Local
Missional Grants funds are designated specifically to create ministries that serve the city of Portland and the surrounding region. International ministry ideas fall outside the parameters of the Missional Grants program. Below are examples of ministry initiatives that have received funding.
Mobilize Others
A successful Missional Grant application will demonstrate the ways that the new ministry idea will engage and mobilize others, especially others at Imago. It is our hope that followers of Christ at Imago and throughout the community can put their faith into action in our city.
Committed to Imago Dei
Applicants should be actively involved and committed to the Imago Dei Community.
Past Missional Grant Examples
One of our Imago Dei’s 2025 Missional Grant recipient was Beacon. Beacon seeks to support refugees and immigrants who wish to learn or improve their English. If you are interested in getting involved as a student or volunteer, please email beacon@idcpdx.comto learn more.
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Ministry to equip recent immigrants with business skills. Now is a stand-alone 501(c)3 charitable org
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Ministry determined to disrupt the demand for Commercial Sexual Exploitation. Now is a stand-alone 501(c)3 charitable org
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This effort grew into Embrace Oregon and Every Child, efforts of The Contingent, a major local non-profit
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This effort became a part of a statewide organization that partners with Oregon DHS through Every Child Oregon
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This organization is working to change the narrative of youth of color through culturally responsive relationships. Now is a stand-alone 501(c)3 charitable org
2026 Timeline
2026 Missional Grants schedule.
May 17 - Initial Applications Due
June 1 - 7 - First interviews for applications
July 26 - Final application due from select applicants
August 3 - 30 - Second interviews from select applicants
October - Announcement of Select Missional Grants for 2026
