Statement of Faith: We believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth; And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and buried; the third day he rose from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from there he shall come to judge the living and the dead.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy universal church, the communion of the saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. We believe the Old and New Testaments to be the infallible Word of God; inerrant as originally given, verbally inspired by God, the complete and sufficient revelation of His will for salvation and conduct.
We believe Jesus Christ has given two important tasks for his people. The first is the Great Commandment, loving God with all our heart and mind and loving neighbor as ourselves (Mark 12:30-31). The second is the Great Commission, preaching the Gospel and making disciples around the word (Matthew 28:18-20).
Vision: Christian organizations are supported and empowered to do the work God has called them to. Through our granting, investing and non-monetary efforts, we are committed to creating equitable opportunities for individuals and communities to thrive and flourish spiritually, physically, mentally, and economically. We envision a world where all communities have abundant resources, including sustainable businesses that employ local individuals who have profitable pathways to employment and wealth. In this world, people will experience less trauma and abuse, all children will attend school and individuals will feel safe.
Core Beliefs
Our giving is rooted in the following principles and beliefs:
1. All resources belong to God. He calls and equips us to steward His gifts and resources faithfully with equity and justice.
2. Human flourishing in under-resourced communities is encouraged through holistic community development, and holistic community development requires both philanthropic and investment capital.
3. By partnering with leaders who are inspired by their faith, sharing the Gospel through spiritual discipleship and/ or by being the hands and feet of Christ, we create opportunities for more people to know Him and further the work of His servants in Chicago and around the world.
4. Supporting Chicago Black led and indigenous-led organizations abroad will contribute to more equitable funding practices and remove some of the barriers to success for these leaders.
5. Sustainable, impactful transformation occurs when solutions are community-led and community-driven.
The Hands and Feet of Christ: We work in collaboration with our faith-inspired partners to be the hands and feet of Christ. Together we combat poverty and systemic oppression, as these significantly impede human flourishing. Our granting is directed towards organizations engaged in one or more areas of holistic community development. Specifically, we will fund work focused on entrepreneurship, sustainable employment/job creation, spiritual care, education, housing stability and health/wellness, with priority on economic stability. MIGMIR will strive to provide equitable access to funding for Black and indigenous-led organizations in Chicago and abroad, working with individuals in under-resourced communities.
Long-term Outcomes: Our partnerships and investment efforts contribute to social change at the community level. This encourages wholeness, safety, economic stability and spiritual flourishing. As a result, individuals are more likely to invest in their communities and become change agents where they live, work and worship.
Racial Equity and Inclusion
We recognize that the social problems being addressed in Black communities are predominately the result of the systemic racial injustice that still exists today. More specifically, the United States has prospered at the expense of Black people for over 400 years. Structural racism continues to disproportionately isolate the Black community from access to resources and opportunities. We are deeply sorry for remaining silent on these issues and for the unceasing pain and inequality it has caused.
We are committed to learning more about and countering the historical, intentional and traditional marginalization of Black people. As such, we pledge to increase our grant and investment support to ministries and grass roots organizations governed and led by a majority of Black leaders in Chicago. We pray that our efforts will show our love for our neighbors and actively contribute to a more equitable society.
