The chief purpose of the SOMA Foundation is to glorify God and His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, by supporting Christian organizations whose goals, activities, and operating principles are consistent with the Foundation's Statement of Faith.

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Geographic Area of Grant Focus

SOMA Foundation accepts grant applications from the geographic area defined by the sixteen counties of the West Central Georgia Health District* and Russel County, Alabama. Organizations outside the defined geographic area may submit a grant proposal online.

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(*) Georgia Counties in the West Central Health District: Chattahoochee, Clay, Crisp,

Dooley, Harris, Macon, Marion, Muscogee, Quitman, Randolph,

Schley, Stewart, Sumter, Talbot, Taylor, Webster.

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General Guidelines for Grants

The SOMA Foundation seeks out organizations/ministries that:

(1) Demonstrate Effectiveness (2) Exercise Collaboration (3) Adhere to Best Practices

(4) Strive for Sustainability (5) Document Ministry Outcomes (6) Align with SOMA Priorities

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Demonstrated Effectiveness: Present a clear record of how your organization has effectively delivered the services proposed in the grant request. Over what length of time were the services delivered? Does your organization see increasing effectiveness, decreasing effectiveness or no change in effectiveness over the time covered? If your grant proposal is a new venture for your organization? Please submit a clear record of other new ventures effectively implemented.

Collaborative Funding and Work: Specifically, what other sources of funding have you procured FOR THIS GRANT REQUEST? With what other organizations do you plan to collaborate in delivering the services proposed in this grant request?

Best Practices: Demonstrate your understanding of “best practices” as the term applies to the operation and governance of non-profit organizations. Document your organization’s engagement of best practices in the delivery of the services proposed in your grant request.

Sustainability: Present a documented picture of your organization’s ability to sustain services/ministries in coming years. What are your organization’s biggest challenges concerning sustainability?

Documented Outcomes: What specific OUTCOMES are you planning to achieve with the actions involved in this grant request? What specific tools will you use to identify and measure, hoped for, outcomes because of implementing the actions proposed by your grant request?

SOMA Alignment:  How does your organization’s mission, and your specific request, align with the values of The SOMA Foundation, and where does the request connect with SOMA’s three Areas of Priority for Grant Making: (1) Theological School Scholarships (2) Transformative ministries for the poor and vulnerable (3) Retired Clergy Benevolence Grants (Shepherd’s Fund).

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 Priorities & Restrictions​

SOMA makes charitable grants only to 501(c)3 organizations as classified by the IRS Code of 1986ff.

SOMA requires organizations to be compliant with the Foundation’s Statement of Faith.

SOMA does not give to endowments.

SOMA does not make loans to individuals or to organizations.

SOMA does not give to social clubs or booster organizations.

SOMA does not give to political or legislative advocacy groups or organizations.

SOMA does not give to organizations headquartered outside of the United States or its territories.

SOMA generally does not give to the production of films or documentaries.

SOMA generally does not give to local churches or school operating budgets.

SOMA generally does not give to requests for “seed” or startup money for organizations.

SOMA generally does not give for festivals or conferences.

SOMA generally does not give grants for previously incurred debt.

SOMA generally does not give grants in the form of multi-year pledges.