Who funds Faith-based & Religious nationally

If you lead a faith-based nonprofit or a secular organization doing work rooted in religious values, you already know that funding for this sector moves differently than it does for other causes. The funders below are among the largest national sources of support for faith-based work. Knowing who they are, what they actually fund, and how they think about grants is the foundation of a real funding strategy.

M J Murdock Charitable Trust

Based in Washington, the Murdock Trust distributes over $116 million annually across a wide range of causes, including faith-based work, education, human services, arts, and international development. Their giving is genuinely broad. If you work in faith-based education, community service, or religious organizations that serve vulnerable populations, this funder is worth studying. Their typical grants tend to run around $60,000. The scale of their giving and the breadth of their interests mean they fund hundreds of organizations each year. See their profile

Koum Family Foundation

The Koum Foundation, based in Palo Alto, distributes nearly $75 million annually. Faith-based and religious work sits alongside international development, education, criminal justice reform, and the arts in their portfolio. Their typical grants tend to land in the low six figures, around $191,000. This is a funder with real resources and a demonstrated commitment to faith-based organizations working at scale. See their profile

Dart-L Foundation

With $50 million in annual giving, the Dart-L Foundation focuses on economic empowerment, faith-based work, human services, community development, and civic engagement. They are a significant player in faith-based funding nationally. Their giving pattern suggests they fund fewer, larger grants, though specific typical award amounts are not publicly detailed. If your organization aligns with their focus areas, this is a funder worth getting to know. See their profile

Walter Scott Family Foundation

Based in Omaha, the Walter Scott Family Foundation gives approximately $46 million each year across education, human services, arts, civic engagement, and faith-based work. Their typical grants tend to run around $254,000, making them a source of substantial support. They have a strong regional presence in the Great Plains but fund nationally. This is a funder with real grant capacity and a long track record in faith-based philanthropy. See their profile

Jesus Fund

The Jesus Fund, based in Little Rock, Arkansas, focuses exclusively on faith-based and religious work. They distribute $34 million annually and represent a major national funder dedicated entirely to this sector. Their giving is concentrated and intentional. For faith-based organizations, this funder is a natural fit to research and build a relationship with. See their profile

Next steps

These five funders represent real money and real commitment to faith-based work across the country. The next move is not to send an application. It is to read their actual giving history, find the organizations they have funded that do work similar to yours, and then figure out how to get on their radar through relationships. If you want Funding Findr to keep an eye on a specific funder relationship you are building, reach out. We are here to help you do the homework.

Funding Findr is a fundraising & development operating system for people who are on the ground doing the work. Enterprise-grade funder intelligence, grant listings with no dead links, built for nonprofits. Start for free at fundingfindr.co.