The Jennings Family Foundation directs substantial, faith-driven giving through a small number of large grants, combining donor-advised funding vehicles with direct support for evangelical international relief and church-planting work. Their grants indicate a clear preference for Christian organizations that do both humanitarian aid and mission expansion, often operating internationally. They favor broad-purpose support (general support/multi-interest funds) rather than tightly restricted program grants.
The Jennings Family Foundation c/o National Christian Foundation TC uses a DAF structure to move sizable Christian giving through a small set of recurring ministries, with especially large commitments to World Vision, Timothy Initiative, and Wooddale Church. The pattern is not broad, scattered philanthropy; it is concentrated support for evangelical relief, church planting, and ministry organizations that combine mission work with practical service. A single 2024 grant of $3,000,000 to National Christian Foundation for multiple areas of interest funds shows how much of the foundation’s activity runs through donor-advised channels. From there, the largest named gifts point to the kinds of work they prioritize: $1,600,000 to World Vision for various projects and $1,000,000 to Timothy Initiative for general support/church planting. They also back Christian institutions and local ministries, including a substantial grant to Wooddale Church for various projects and missions. Across the recent grant list, the foundation favors general support, campaign support, and mission-designated funding over tightly restricted program grants.
Church planting is one of the clearest themes in the portfolio. The foundation gave $1,000,000 to Timothy Initiative for general support/church planting, and it also supported The Navigators with $675,000 in 2024 for Mutua Mahiaini plus general support. International relief is another major lane. World Vision received $1,600,000 in 2024 for various projects, followed by $800,000 in 2023 for Zambia Thrive + Discipleship Fund and $500,000 in 2025 for general support. That mix suggests support for both humanitarian work and faith-based discipleship. The foundation also funds Christian education and ministry infrastructure. It gave $400,000 to Hope Academy for general support in 2025 and $200,000 to Hope Academy in 2023 for student scholarships and Boaz Gifts. In media ministry, it supported Moody Bible Institute and Radio with $105,000 for Moody Radio and Central Seminary (WCTS Radio) with $100,000 for WCTS Radio.
Grant sizes are relatively large: the typical grant size is $20,000 at the 25th percentile, $50,000 at the median, and $100,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent record shows repeated support for several recipients across multiple years, including World Vision, Urban Ventures, Bethany International, Hope Academy, The Navigators, and Minnesota Family Institute. That pattern points to ongoing relationships rather than one-off gifts. The foundation is a Pure DAF Provider, so its grantmaking runs through donor-advised giving rather than an operating foundation or PRI program. The portfolio also leans toward general support, annual fund support, and campaign funding, with some project-specific awards such as accessibility and scholarship support.
$5M
$7.5M
$1.6M
$5.1M
Most grants fall between $20K and $100K, with a median of $50K.
25th Percentile
$20K
Median
$50K
75th Percentile
$100K
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Very concentrated giving: only three large gifts totaling $5.6M, split between a donor-advised/multi-interest vehicle and two evangelical international/mission recipients; preference for few, sizable unrestricted or broadly purposed grants rather than many small awards.
Notable grantees: National Christian Foundation, World Vision, Timothy Initiative
Giving is concentrated in the United States, with 100% of recent grants going to US recipients. Minnesota receives a large share of the activity: recipients in Minneapolis, Eden Prairie, Bloomington, Richfield, and Plymouth appear repeatedly, alongside grants tied to Colorado Springs, Raleigh, and Alpharetta. Washington, D.C. also stands out as the top state by grant count, even though the foundation’s headquarters are in Minnesota. The recipient map is therefore more about where partner ministries operate than about the foundation’s own location.
The recent grants point to Christian organizations, especially those involved in church planting, international relief, media ministry, education, and local ministry support. Examples include Timothy Initiative for church planting, World Vision for humanitarian and discipleship work, and Hope Academy for scholarships and general support.
The typical grant size is $20,000 at the 25th percentile, $50,000 at the median, and $100,000 at the 75th percentile. Recent gifts also include much larger commitments, such as $3,000,000 to National Christian Foundation and $1,600,000 to World Vision.
Yes. The recent grant list shows multiple years of support for several recipients, including World Vision in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Urban Ventures in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Bethany International in 2023, 2024, and 2025; and Hope Academy in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
Recent grants are entirely to US recipients, and Minnesota appears frequently across the recipient list, including Minneapolis, Eden Prairie, Bloomington, Richfield, and Plymouth. Washington, D.C. is the top state by grant count.
The grant list leans toward broader support. Many awards are labeled general support, while others are for campaign support, various projects, or mission-designated funding. A few grants are more specific, such as scholarship support, accessibility projects, and radio ministry funding.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bethany International | Bloomington, MN | $600,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| World Vision | Minneapolis, MN | $500,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Urban Ventures | Minneapolis, MN | $400,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Hope Academy | Minneapolis, MN | $400,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| New Life Family Services | Richfield, MN | $400,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Young Life - Minneapolis | Minneapolis, MN | $375,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Grace Church | Eden Prairie, MN | $150,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Heshima Association | Wheaton, IL | $100,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Beyond Limits | Bloomington, MN | $100,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Anselm House | St Paul, MN | $100,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Fellowship of Christian Athletes | Minneapolis, MN | $100,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| International Justice Mission | Washington, DC | $100,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Timothy Initiative | Raleigh, NC | $100,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| The Navigators | Colorado Springs, CO | $100,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Forever Adventure | Minneapolis, MN | $75,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Minnesota Adult and Teen Challenge | Minneapolis, MN | $75,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Union Gospel Mission | St Paul, MN | $60,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| CURE International | Grand Rapids, MI | $50,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| TreeHouse | Edina, MN | $50,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Thrive | Lakewood, CO | $50,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| CBMC | Chatanaoog, TN | $50,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Good Cities | Eden Prairie, MN | $50,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Focus On the Family | Colorado Springs, CO | $50,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| My Pregnancy Choices | Apple Valley, MN | $45,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| First Liberty Institute | Plano, TX | $40,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Young Life - Capernaum | Minneapolis, MN | $40,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Luis Palau Association | Portland, OR | $40,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Lakes Area Pregnancy Support Center | Staples, MN | $25,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| HopeKids | Eden Prairie, MN | $25,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Crystal Womens Clinic | Crystal, MN | $25,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Guiding Star Wakota | West St Paul, MN | $25,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Young Life - North Star Region | Minneapolis, MN | $25,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Living Well Disability Services | Mendota Heights, MN | $20,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life Inc-Education Fund | Minneapolis, MN | $20,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Pregnancy Resource Center of Cambridge | Cambridge, MN | $15,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Woodbury Options For Women | Woodbury, MN | $15,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Tandem Family Rsource Center | Minneapolis, MN | $15,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| ESTHER Homes | Irvine, CA | $15,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Elevate Life | Bloomington, MN | $15,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Metro Woman's Center | Crystal, MN | $10,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| True Friends | Annandale, MN | $10,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Minnesota Family Institute | Minneapolis, MN | $10,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| National Christian Foundation | Alpharetta, GA | $3,000,000 | 2024 | Multiple Areas of Interest Funds |
| World Vision | Minneapolis, MN | $1,600,000 | 2024 | Various Projects |
| Timothy Initiative | Raleigh, NC | $1,000,000 | 2024 | General Support/Church Planting |
| Wooddale Church | Eden Prairie, MN | $850,000 | 2024 | Various Projects and Missions |
| The Navigators | Colorado Springs, CO | $675,000 | 2024 | Mutua Mahiaini + General Support |
| Urban Ventures | Minneapolis, MN | $500,000 | 2024 | General Support |
| Bethany International | Bloomington, MN | $500,000 | 2024 | Keep Reaching Campaign |
| Young Life Camps | Colorado Springs, MN | $250,000 | 2024 | Castaway Accessibility Projects |
Bethany International
$600,000General Support
World Vision
$500,000General Support
Young Life - Minneapolis
General Support
Grace Church
$150,000General Support
Heshima Association
$100,000General Support
Beyond Limits
$100,000General Support
Fellowship of Christian Athletes
$100,000General Support
International Justice Mission
$100,000General Support
The Navigators
$100,000General Support
Forever Adventure
$75,000General Support
Minnesota Adult and Teen Challenge
$75,000General Support
Union Gospel Mission
$60,000General Support
Good Cities
$50,000General Support
Focus On the Family
$50,000General Support
My Pregnancy Choices
$45,000General Support
Young Life - Capernaum
$40,000General Support
Lakes Area Pregnancy Support Center
$25,000General Support
HopeKids
$25,000General Support
Crystal Womens Clinic
$25,000General Support
Guiding Star Wakota
$25,000General Support
Young Life - North Star Region
$25,000General Support
Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life Inc-Education Fund
$20,000General Support
Pregnancy Resource Center of Cambridge
$15,000General Support
Woodbury Options For Women
$15,000General Support
Tandem Family Rsource Center
$15,000General Support
ESTHER Homes
$15,000General Support
Elevate Life
$15,000General Support
Metro Woman's Center
$10,000General Support
World Vision
$1,600,000Various Projects
Wooddale Church
$850,000Various Projects and Missions
The Navigators
$675,000Mutua Mahiaini + General Support
Bethany International
$500,000Keep Reaching Campaign