Role of Global Ministries in the funding ecosystem
Global Ministries is the joint international mission agency of the United Church of Christ (UCC) and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). From its North American base, it channels financial resources, personnel and technical support to a wide network of partner churches, Christian organizations and community initiatives in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, Europe and the Pacific. The organization manages designated gifts and general mission offerings that are then allocated to partners through project-based support and ongoing operational assistance.
Funding generally focuses on ministries that combine Christian witness with concrete community impact. This includes projects in education and theological formation, primary health care and hospitals, food security and agriculture, peacebuilding and justice, refugee and migrant support, and capacity-building for local churches and NGOs. Many of these initiatives are led by local partners; Global Ministries’ role is to provide financial backing, accompaniment and visibility.
General approach to funding and partnerships
Rather than operating open public calls for proposals, Global Ministries usually works through long-term relationships with recognized partner churches and organizations. These partners can present project proposals or ongoing needs, which are then evaluated within the mission priorities of the UCC and Disciples of Christ. Funded activities may take the form of small project grants, support to institutions such as schools and clinics, or co-financing of major initiatives led by local actors.
Global Ministries also administers special projects and thematic campaigns, where donations are solicited for specific causes such as disaster response, women’s empowerment, or media ministries like Showers of Blessing International. In these cases, the organization aggregates contributions and transmits financial support to the designated partner or project, providing accountability to donors and accompanying implementation.
Transparency, governance and accountability
As a faith-based non-profit linked to two historic Protestant denominations, Global Ministries operates under church oversight and nonprofit regulations. It publishes narrative information about funded partners and projects, shares stories of impact, and encourages designated giving aligned with its mission priorities. Financial flows are typically managed through the denominations’ established stewardship and accounting structures, with an emphasis on responsible use of funds, partnership discernment and long-term capacity-building rather than short-term, one-off grants.