2024 Incubate Partner Applications
The National Benevolent Association is accepting Incubate Partner applications from Disciples health and social service organizations. Being in partnership with NBA involves a multi-year relationship that includes a specialized menu of resources and support for your young ministry/organization.
Our Partners receive up to four years of access to professional consultants, opportunities for learning, peer support, and grant funding. In a spirit of mutuality, Incubate Partners agree to share the story of their mission with the wider Disciples community and beyond. Together, we expand the church’s understanding of and capacity for health and social service ministry as part of Christ’s work in the world.
In alignment with the NBA’s commitment to prioritize the work of reconciliation and anti-racism, the Social Entrepreneurship Program is dedicated to supporting and uplifting social enterprises that are led by or serve historically marginalized, under-represented, and under-resourced people groups. In our efforts to dismantle white supremacy, we are sensitive to Incubate Partner applications that are addressing systemic needs, and place justice and equity at the center of their organization.
REQUIREMENTS
Incubate Partner Eligibility:
- Incorporated for 10 years or less.
- Disciples-affiliated. This means being founded in partnership with a Disciples congregation or the NBA; having a set percentage of Disciples board members; and/or having an Executive Director/CEO who is a member of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
- Health and/or social service-related.
- Aligned with the mission of the NBA.
- A tax-exempt nonprofit that has conducted active programming for at least two years.
- Innovative—serving communities in creative and unique ways
- Diverse—including organizations with diverse staffs and leadership teams, as well as projects that serve Black, Indigenous, and/or other communities of color.
TESTIMONIALS
Incubate Partnership has helped our organization have space and resources to think strategically about infrastructure. This partnership has also helped us develop some programmatic areas and think more systemically about how we want to show up in a movement to support Black girls and Black women.
—Rev. Dr. Yolanda Norton, Global Arts & Theology Experience
Incubate Partnership has helped our organization to become a catalyst in the community for social services. We are blessed to have the now have resources and space to execute our mission and vision. This has enhanced the very needed resources. We are building our family success program, workforce development, senior vitality, and entrepreneurship services.
—Rev. Syvoskia Pope, Empower Hope Center
