The Jesus Fund

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $9 million (most recent tax year: 2023)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
• Grant Range: Information not publicly available
• Geographic Focus: National (through National Christian Foundation)
• Total Assets: $551,613,727 (most recent tax year: 2023)

Contact Details

Address: 1901 Napa Valley Dr, Little Rock, AR 72212-3913
Phone: (501) 372-6524
Website: No public website
EIN: 86-1108441

Overview

The Jesus Fund is a private independent foundation established in 2004 in Little Rock, Arkansas. With total assets of $551,613,727 and annual charitable disbursements of $9 million as of the most recent tax year (2023), the foundation has experienced significant growth since its founding. Founded by Ronald M. Cameron, owner and chairman of Mountaire Farms (one of the nation's largest chicken suppliers), the foundation operates as a supporting organisation to the National Christian Foundation in Alpharetta, Georgia. The fund's mission is to support individuals and organisations who lift up Jesus in word and deed, including teaching his principles and furthering his gospel. The foundation's giving patterns have varied significantly, with $9 million in grants paid in 2023, following minimal disbursements in the previous two years. Revenue is generated primarily through investment activities, including sales of assets, dividends, and interest income.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

The Jesus Fund operates through the National Christian Foundation rather than maintaining its own grant application process. Specific grant amounts and programmes are not publicly disclosed. Based on the foundation's stated purpose and structure as a supporting organisation, grants are channelled through NCF's infrastructure to support Christian charitable work.

Priority Areas

Based on the foundation's mission statement and supporting organisation structure, priority areas include:

• Christian Ministry and Evangelism: Organisations that further the gospel of Jesus and make disciples
• Traditional Values: Organisations that esteem traditional, scripture-based values for government
• Educational Freedom: Support for educational freedom initiatives for children
• Social Services: Programmes that help the sick, feed the poor, and care for the underprivileged
• Faith-Based Organisations: Those who lift up Jesus in word and deed

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly documented. As a foundation supporting the National Christian Foundation and focused on Christian ministry, it is reasonable to assume they do not fund:

• Secular organisations unaligned with Christian values
• Organisations that contradict traditional scripture-based values
• Political campaigns (though the founder is personally politically active)

Governance and Leadership

Ronald M. Cameron - Trustee (Uncompensated)
Ronald M. Cameron (born 1943) is the owner and chairman of Mountaire Farms, one of the nation's largest chicken suppliers. The son of Ted Cameron and grandson of Mountaire Corporation founder Guy Cameron, he has built the foundation into a major philanthropic vehicle with over half a billion dollars in assets. Cameron and his wife attend Fellowship Bible, one of Little Rock's largest evangelical churches. He has been described as a major supporter of religious and conservative causes.

Genevieve R. Couch - Trustee (Compensated)
Ms. Couch serves as a compensated trustee, likely managing day-to-day operations and grant administration for the foundation. Based on recent 990 filings, she receives compensation of approximately $61,845 annually.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The Jesus Fund operates as a supporting organisation to the National Christian Foundation in Alpharetta, Georgia. This means the foundation directs its grants through NCF's infrastructure rather than accepting unsolicited applications directly.

Grants are made at the discretion of the foundation's trustees based on their charitable purposes and relationship with the National Christian Foundation. The foundation's Form 990-PF filings indicate it makes charitable disbursements, but the specific grant recipients and decision-making process are managed privately through the trustee structure.

Organisations seeking support would likely need to:

• Work through the National Christian Foundation's existing networks and programmes
• Have a pre-existing relationship with the foundation's trustees or affiliated organisations
• Align closely with the foundation's stated mission of supporting Christian ministry and gospel-centred work

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. As grants are made at trustee discretion rather than through scheduled application cycles, timing would depend on trustee meetings and decisions.

Success Rates

Not applicable - no public application process.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no public application process.

Application Success Factors

Given the foundation's structure as a supporting organisation to the National Christian Foundation and its trustee-directed grantmaking:

• Christian Mission Alignment: Organisations must clearly demonstrate how they "lift up Jesus in word and deed" and further gospel-centred work. This is the core criterion stated in the foundation's mission.

• Traditional Values Orientation: The foundation supports organisations that "esteem traditional, scripture-based values," suggesting that alignment with conservative Christian theology and practice is essential.

• Relationship-Based Funding: Without a public application process, grants appear to be relationship-driven. Connection to the National Christian Foundation network or to the foundation's trustees would be significant factors.

• Established Organisations: The foundation's substantial asset base suggests it likely supports established ministries and organisations rather than start-ups, though this is not explicitly stated.

• Gospel Impact: Organisations should be able to demonstrate clear impact in making disciples, furthering Christian education, or serving vulnerable populations from a faith-based perspective.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No Public Application Process: The Jesus Fund does not accept unsolicited grant proposals. It operates as a supporting organisation to the National Christian Foundation, with grants made at trustee discretion.

• Relationship-Driven Funding: Without a public application process, securing funding would require connection to the foundation's trustees, the National Christian Foundation network, or affiliated organisations.

• Christian Mission Essential: The foundation's purpose is explicitly focused on supporting Christian ministry and gospel work. Organisations must clearly demonstrate alignment with evangelical Christian values and mission.

• Substantial Resources: With $551,613,727 in assets, this is a major philanthropic vehicle, but access is limited by its private, invitation-only structure.

• NCF Connection: Understanding how the National Christian Foundation operates and building relationships within that network may be the most viable pathway to potential funding.

• Traditional Values Focus: The founder's documented support for conservative religious causes and traditional values suggests the foundation prioritises organisations with similar orientations.

• Consider Indirect Approaches: Rather than seeking direct funding from The Jesus Fund, organisations aligned with its mission might have better success applying to NCF programmes or other funders in the NCF network.

• Variable Giving Patterns: The foundation's giving has varied significantly year to year, with $9 million disbursed in 2023 following minimal grants in previous years, suggesting grantmaking may be strategic rather than consistent.

References

• The Jesus Fund - ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Financial data and Form 990-PF filings (Accessed December 2025)
• The Jesus Fund - Cause IQ Profile - Organisation classification and overview (Accessed December 2025)
• Jesus Fund - Foundation Directory, Candid - Basic foundation information and contact details (Accessed December 2025)
• Ron Cameron (businessman) - Wikipedia - Information about founder Ronald M. Cameron (Accessed December 2025)
• National Christian Foundation - Supporting Organisation - Explanation of how supporting organisations work through NCF (Accessed December 2025)
• Arkansas Times: "Little Rock's Ronnie Cameron, Mountaire Poultry, Republican money, Trump deregulation" - Background on Ronald Cameron and The Jesus Fund's focus areas (Accessed December 2025)