Background:
Our Daily Bread Ministries (ODBM) is a nonprofit that has a goal to “make the life-changing wisdom of the Bible understandable and accessible to all”. Their funding has traditionally come from supporters moved by the ministry's spiritual impact, educational resources, and global outreach. However, after a lengthy period of decreased funding, ODBM needed to strategically think outside the box to right the ship.
"In 2020 and 2022, we were facing some significant obstacles, one of the biggest being a decline in giving. We knew we had to diversify our revenue streams,” said Dr. Matt Lucas, President and CEO of Our Daily Bread Ministries.
Vision:
Recognizing the need to build a more resilient financial model, ODBM aimed to establish grant writing and management as a strategic pillar in their funding approach. The vision was to develop internal capacity to secure large grants while staying aligned with the ministry’s mission, to expand its reach, thrive in challenging times, and prepare the next generation of leaders in faith.
Challenges:
While ODBM had strong writers and a sizable team, they lacked the specialized skills and structural tools required for successful grant writing and management. Their team had not developed critical components or a strategic framework to articulate the need, opportunity, and measurable outcomes, essential elements in the eyes of most foundations. Entering the grant space was uncharted territory, and expert guidance was needed to avoid missteps and build a sustainable process. "We hadn’t exercised that muscle as a ministry, nor had we developed the kind of logic model that most foundations look for,” said Dr. Lucas.
The plan:
ODBM had a goal to not just write and win grants, but to embed a repeatable, internal grant-seeking process into the organization. That’s where DickersonBakker came in. "While we had strong writing skills and a large pool of people to draw from, grant writing requires a very different skill set. Working with DickersonBakker helped us break down that entire process and think through every part," said Dr. Lucas.
DickersonBakker’s approach focused on helping the team tackle the grant application process step-by-step, build internal competencies and reduce long-term dependence, establish logic models and success metrics, and strategically respond to high-value RFPs. "DickersonBakker does a great job of setting you up for success without making you overly reliant on them,” says Dr. Lukas.
The campaign:
With DickersonBakker’s support, ODBM targeted a major opportunity: the Lilly Endowment RFP in 2023, focused on thriving churches. With DickersonBakker’s guidance, ODBM crafted a bold proposal for a $1.25 million grant, and with a compelling message and solid strategy, was awarded the full amount. “We submitted one for $1.25 million... and we were awarded the full amount,” said Dr. Lucas.
Encouraged by this success, they quickly responded to another Lilly Endowment RFP in the following year, this time centered on engaging the next generation in worship and leadership. Again, their application was successful, securing a second major grant. "Because we had developed a strong internal grant-writing practice, listened to best practices, and moved quickly, we saw significant results for our ministry,” said Dr. Lucas.
These back-to-back victories were not only a financial win but a transformational milestone in how the ministry approached funding. “I would strongly encourage anyone to consider working with DickersonBakker and to see them as an excellent partner in the grant writing space,” said Dr. Lucas.
Outcomes:
Through the partnership with DickersonBakker, ODBM successfully transitioned from a donation-reliant organization to a grant-empowered ministry. They were able to embed a: fully functioning, internal grant writing and management practice, which enhanced the ability to communicate needs, goals, and impact in a funder-friendly format.
"Without their partnership, I know we would not have experienced the level or speed of growth that we have," said Dr. Lucas. By investing in expertise, listening to best practices, and moving swiftly, ODBM achieved significant growth, both financially and operationally. Today, grant writing is not just a funding tactic for the ministry; it’s part of their DNA.