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Find Us Faithful Foundation

Annual Giving
$5.3M
000

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $5,345,633 (2023)
  • Success Rate: N/A (invitation-only grantmaking)
  • Decision Time: Not applicable (no public application process)
  • Grant Range: Estimated average $668,000 per grant (8 grants in 2023)
  • Geographic Focus: International (focus on poverty reduction worldwide)
  • Foundation Type: Private family foundation

Contact Details

Address: 10940 S Parker Rd #727, Parker, CO 80134-7440

Phone: 303-917-3280

Website: www.findusfaithful.org

EIN: 205632085

Note: The foundation does not accept unsolicited grant requests.

Overview

Find Us Faithful Foundation (FUFF) is a private family foundation established in 2006 in Delaware by David and Lynn Clouse following the sale of VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner) to HomeAway. Named after Steve Green's inspirational Christian song about leaving a legacy of faithfulness for future generations, the foundation's mission is "Investing in Lasting Solutions for Biblical Human Flourishing." The foundation focuses on supporting Christian efforts in education and ministry while funding self-sustaining projects to reduce poverty worldwide. In 2023, the foundation distributed $5,345,633 across 8 grants, with total charitable disbursements of $5,525,548 in their 2024 filing. As a private family foundation, FUFF makes contributions exclusively to preselected charitable organizations identified through the trustees' networks and strategic priorities.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates through trustee-discretion grantmaking rather than formal grant programs. Based on 2023 data showing $5,345,633 distributed across 8 grants, the average grant size is approximately $668,000, suggesting the foundation makes significant investments in selected organizations rather than numerous small grants.

Application Method: Invitation only / No public application process

Priority Areas

Christian Education and Ministry: Supporting Christian efforts in educational institutions and ministry organizations that align with biblical principles of human flourishing.

Self-Sustaining Poverty Reduction Projects: Funding initiatives designed to create lasting, sustainable solutions to poverty worldwide, emphasizing projects that can become self-sufficient rather than creating dependency.

Biblical Human Flourishing: Investments that address human dignity, capacity building, and holistic transformation from a Christian worldview.

Known Grantee Example: Plant With Purpose has been a major recipient of funding from Find Us Faithful Foundation over multiple years, receiving support for their environmental and community development work that addresses poverty through sustainable agriculture and spiritual renewal.

What They Don't Fund

  • Unsolicited grant requests from organizations not already known to the trustees
  • Organizations or projects that do not align with Christian values and biblical principles
  • Projects that create dependency rather than sustainable, self-sufficient solutions

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors

David Clouse, Board Chairman (uncompensated): Founder of VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner), which he and his wife Lynn created in 1995 and sold to HomeAway in 2006 for a reported significant sum. Upon the sale of VRBO, the Clouses founded Find Us Faithful Foundation. David has a history of charitable giving dating back to his VRBO years, when he would calculate tax savings and donate the difference to build churches around the world in places like Guatemala. He serves as the visionary leader and chairman of the foundation's board.

Elizabeth Lynn Clouse, Vice President/Director (uncompensated): Co-founder of VRBO alongside her husband David and co-founder of Find Us Faithful Foundation. She plays a key governance role in the foundation's strategic direction.

Matthew Clouse, President/Director ($81,900 compensation in 2024 filing): Serves as the foundation's president, managing day-to-day operations and grant strategy.

Staff Leadership

Jeffrey Kahler, Treasurer ($94,620 compensation in 2024 filing): Serves as CFO and Treasurer of Find Us Faithful Foundation. Kahler is also the founder of Genesis One Capital, LLC, and has served on the board of Plant With Purpose (a major foundation grantee) since 2006, rejoining in 2021. He resides in Castle Rock, Colorado with his wife, Elle.

Stephen Laird, Secretary ($89,772 compensation in 2024 filing): Handles administrative and secretarial functions for the foundation.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. Find Us Faithful Foundation explicitly states that it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds."

Grants are awarded at the discretion of the board of trustees to organizations they have identified through their networks, strategic partnerships, and areas of interest. The foundation proactively identifies organizations aligned with their mission of supporting Christian education, ministry, and self-sustaining poverty reduction projects.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept applications. Grant decisions are made by trustees on an ongoing basis as they identify organizations that align with their funding priorities.

Success Rates

Not applicable for external applicants. The foundation made 8 grants in 2023, 10 grants in 2022, and 8 grants in 2021, indicating selective, high-value grantmaking to a limited number of organizations.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications or reapplications.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, organizations that have received funding share certain characteristics:

Alignment with Christian Values: All funded organizations must demonstrate a clear Christian mission and approach that aligns with biblical principles of human flourishing and dignity.

Sustainable Impact Model: The foundation prioritizes "self-sustaining projects" that create lasting change rather than dependency. Organizations like Plant With Purpose exemplify this approach through their environmental and community development work that builds local capacity.

Poverty Reduction Focus: Projects must demonstrate meaningful impact on poverty reduction, particularly through education, ministry, and sustainable development initiatives.

Trustee Connections: Given the invitation-only nature, organizations with existing relationships to board members or staff (such as Jeffrey Kahler's connection to Plant With Purpose) appear to have access to funding opportunities.

Multi-Year Partnership Potential: Evidence suggests the foundation makes sustained commitments to organizations over multiple years rather than one-time grants, as indicated by Plant With Purpose receiving support "over the past six years."

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process exists - this foundation exclusively funds preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests
  • High-value, selective grantmaking - with approximately $668,000 average grant size (8 grants totaling $5.3M in 2023), the foundation makes significant investments in few organizations
  • Christian mission essential - all funded work must align with biblical principles and the foundation's focus on "Biblical Human Flourishing"
  • Sustainability over dependency - projects must demonstrate self-sustaining models that create lasting change in poverty reduction
  • Relationship-driven - funding appears to flow through existing networks and relationships of the Clouse family and board members
  • Named after a legacy - the foundation's name, inspired by Steve Green's song "Find Us Faithful," reflects the founders' commitment to leaving a legacy of faithfulness for future generations
  • Founded from entrepreneurial success - established by VRBO founders David and Lynn Clouse in 2006 following the sale of their vacation rental business

References

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