Before You Begin
Issachar Fund is legally organized as a private operating foundation. This means that most of our projects are initiated by our staff, in conversation with our partner organizations. However, we also do some traditional grant-making for strategic projects consistent with our mission and priorities. Before starting an LOI, please read through our FAQ'S.
Review Process
Submit a Letter of Inquiry
We accept Letters of Inquiry on a rolling basis.
Please note: The LOI portal remains open for new submissions, but we will be unable to consider any funding inquiries for several months due to internal organizational transitions. We will not be inviting any full proposals, or providing any feedback or guidance, formal or informal. However, once our transitions are complete, we will then respond to all LOIs in the portal.
LOI Review Process
Issachar Fund staff carefully review each LOI in terms of overall quality and strategic alignment with our mission. We pay close attention to the tactical details and the capacity for success. This process may take up to three months. The strongest candidates on a competitive basis, whose proposals best fit our goals and priorities, will be invited to submit full proposals. Applicants will be notified via email of the outcome of the LOI review.
Submit Full Proposal
(By Invitation Only)
Submitting a full proposal is the required second step of the process. Full proposals are by invitation only, after the LOI has been approved. In the full proposal, applicants are expected to provide more specific information about the activities of the proposed project and its anticipated results. A detailed project budget is also required.
Full Proposal Review
Each proposal is carefully reviewed. Proposals are first reviewed by our staff to evaluate their consistency with our mission and interests, their strategic value, and the applicant’s capacity for success. Many proposals are then sent out for expert review. Applicants who submit proposals needing clarification or enhancements will be contacted for further information. Based on the full proposal, as revised, our staff make funding recommendations to our Board of Directors on a quarterly basis. Grants can be made only to registered 501(c)3 organizations, per U.S. tax law. Applicants will be contacted via email regarding the decision of the Board of Directors.
Submit a Follow Up Report
Current grantees can log into the grant interface to submit follow up reports by clicking the following link: Foundant Grant Log In Page.
FAQs
Issachar Fund does not align itself with a particular denomination, nor does it require specific faith commitments from its partners. We support work at secular and faith-based institutions and organizations. We also promote interfaith work that serves the Christian church.
We hold a high view of science and a high view of the Christian scriptures. We support projects that engage the sciences, the scriptures, and the church in a rigorous, relevant and gracious way.
We have helped secure funding for many different types of projects: individual research projects, team research projects, books, journal articles, conferences, small working groups of scholars, church education projects, and lectures. We are open to a wide range of endeavors. We are focused on reaching a variety of audiences: the academic community, congregations, pastors, teachers, thought leaders, the international community, and others.
Due to the number of inquiries we receive, we prefer that your inquiries begin with a LOI.
Visits to Issachar Fund are rarely necessary and are only at our invitation.
The Issachar Fund is not currently accepting applications.
Most projects we recommend for funding are one to two years long.
Unless otherwise specified in a specific program, Issachar Fund does not have geographic boundaries or restrictions. However, we strongly prefer that international organizations have a U.S. fiduciary to receive funds.
Yes. We currently cap our indirect cost recoveries at 10%.
Yes. However, Issachar Fund strongly prefers projects that are affiliated with an institution (typically a university, research institution, or other non-profit organization). Unaffiliated individuals must find appropriate 501(c)3 institutions to administer their grants.
We typically do not support planning grants.
Yes, in some cases. However, we believe good ideas often invite broad support and therefore we prefer projects with multiple funding sources. This is especially true for projects over $15,000.
The Issachar Fund is not currently accepting applications.
Yes. Our focus is on important questions and issues arising from the interface of Science and Religion.
We use the software Foundant for all of our grant management and reporting needs. To log into your account to submit a report click on the link here: Foundant Log-in