COVER STORY 35 APRIL 2026 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition A second StrikeForce Giving’s grant of $55,000 in 2022 came during another pivotal season of growth for the ministry. “By that time, the ĒMA program had matured significantly and was strengthening both its service model locally and the systems required to scale the approach nationally through affiliate partners. The funding helped strengthen our program capacity and the volunteer advocate model that remains central to how we serve mothers.” Speaking more broadly, Tchividjian said, “We deeply appreciate StrikeForce Giving’s approach to philanthropy. Their model of collective giving mobilizes individuals to thoughtfully steward their resources and invest in organizations that are creating real impact in their communities. We especially value their commitment to supporting ministries that are addressing complex challenges with both compassion and strategic focus. We are grateful for their partnership and encouraged by the role they continue to play in strengthening organizations that are serving vulnerable families with excellence, dignity and hope.” StrikeForce is also meeting very practical needs for ministries and those they serve. In 2023, Sonrise Mission, a residential discipleship ministry that helps individuals overcome addiction and life-controlling issues through a Christ-centered recovery program, received a grant of approximately $65,000 from StrikeForce Giving to purchase a 12-passenger van. Cynthia Walker, resident director at Sonrise Mission, said the van improved transportation for residents to church, medical appointments and daily activities, allowing the ministry to operate more independently and effectively serve those in its care. “It was a real blessing and made it easier for us to get our people where we needed to go,” Walker said. “I think it’s powerful to have women come together like that… it’s Kingdom business. God is using them in a mighty way, and it’s impacting lives. We are extremely grateful.” Experiencing the blessing Beyond the money, StrikeForce is having an impact on its community of givers as well. Weeks after their Celebration Event at Lauderdale Yacht Club when the grants were awarded, women were still excited and talking about it. “I think it’s bringing a lot of joy into women’s hearts,” said Auker. “They love learning about ministries they never even knew existed… going to site visits and seeing it firsthand. It’s opening their eyes to what’s going on in their community.” She said, “One woman called and asked if she could make a legacy gift. She’s using this to teach her elderly father about generosity and wanted to give in memory of her mother… that’s the kind of impact that goes beyond just one event.” As they collectively raise the funds, Auker said, “God uses it to get other people involved in ways we never expected. For example, when one ministry wasn’t fully funded, a member literally ran out to the parking lot to track them down and ended up closing the gap. That couple is now deeply involved with that ministry, and they had never even heard of them before.” Reflecting on their recent milestones, Auker said, “This was a huge jump we made this year. It's our biggest ever at almost $390,000. Last year it was about $275,000. With awards like these, I think we're going to have more ministries applying for grants, the size of the grants may increase, and these ministries are going to get funded to do the work they're being called to do right here in our own community.” The grant process StrikeForce Giving invites local faith-based ministries to apply for grants each year and typically receives about 25 applications. Details are on their website at strikeforcegiving.com. To help ministries understand the process, StrikeForce will host a pre-application Ministry Social on July 23rd, where applicants can connect and learn what’s required. All grant applications must be submitted by midnight on August 31. Then the StrikeForce board practices due diligence, thoroughly reviewing applications, financials and project proposals to ensure each ministry meets qualifications, including 501(c)(3) status and a clear faithbased mission that shares the gospel. Auker emphasized, “It also has to be project-based. We’re not funding operations or staffing, but something that propels the ministry forward. Then we narrow it down to about 15 ministries and bring them in for interviews.” The grant finalists will be announced on October 15, during a membership kick-off event at Lauderdale Yacht Club, which begins a season of site visits where StrikeForce members, who commit to give $1,000 or more, have the option to learn more about the inner workings of each ministry. However, it’s on Voting Day, which will be held on January 21, 2027 at Coral Ridge Yacht Club, when StrikeForce members get to hear directly from each ministry and decide where the funds will go. “Each ministry has about 10 minutes to present, so they focus on the key points of their mission and the project,” Auker explained. “A lot of women feel like — even in just 10 minutes — the presentations are very compelling. That’s when members really engage. They’ve done their homework, and now they get to vote. This was the first year we’ve ever been able to fully fund all seven ministries. Typically, we don’t raise enough, which is why voting matters, because members help decide how the funds are distributed. Now that members have a voice, it’s really helped drive growth, and we continue to stretch toward our goal of giving $1 million each year, even if that means not always fully funding every ministry.” Step into the circle Looking ahead, StrikeForce aims to continue its momentum by increasing sponsorships, fostering church partnerships and inspiring more women to join the movement of faith-driven philanthropy. To create community for the women during the non-giving season, “we’ve started hosting off-season community events, like lunches, pickleball and even pottery gatherings so women can connect, build relationships and feel part of something. We want more women stepping into the circle to experience this generosity.” If you want to learn more about StrikeForce Giving and how to get involved, visit StrikeForceGiving.com y y e - n . g e - 0 n r - s e e e o f - d t s e - ) - , - n - a - n - - , l l s e y n - e h - - d f - - n
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