The Global Food Initiative (GFI) is the primary way that the Church of the Brethren assists hungry people in developing food security. Since 1983, GFI (formerly Global Food Crisis Fund) has raised over $8,000,000 for community development projects in numerous countries around the globe. Read (and share!) the latest GFI newsletter or take a look at the list of 2024 GFI allocations, 2023 GFI allocations, or previous GFI allocations. To learn more about GFI grant eligibility and the grant application process, please review the Grant Overview and Eligibility page.
GFI seeks to:
- invest in small-scale economic development
- join efforts to improve diet and health practices
- champion soil conservation
- promote awareness-raising and advocacy on hunger issues.
This work is made possible through your contributions. We encourage you to participate with us by:
- praying that those who are hungry may have food
- giving an individual contribution
- participating in our ongoing “My 2¢ Worth” fundraiser (contact GFI for questions or materials)
- taking an offering for GFI at your congregation or camp
Your support of the Global Food Initiative upholds the biblical command to lift the burden of the oppressed. Moreover it honors God, for as stated in Proverbs 14:31, “Kindness shown to the poor is an act of worship.”
Donate to Global Food Initiative
Our Work
We partner with members of the Global Church of the Brethren Communion, national and international organizations, and local churches to address hunger and food security. Find out more on our Partner Organizations page and our Community Gardens page. Additional resources and information can be found on our Stories and Resources page.
GFI-Related News Across the Church of the Brethren
- The violence of hunger: The 2025 State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report
The Church of the Brethren’s Global Food Initiative (GFI) is a partner organization to Bread for the World and contributes to its reporting and research on US policies and on both domestic and international food security. For 2024, the GFI helped provide funds to support Bread for the World's Policy Research Institute that has been studying and monitoring what the World Food Program has labeled “Hunger Hot Spots”
- Grants from Church of the Brethren funds support disaster relief, food security, and congregational outreach projects
A number of grants have been made recently from Church of the Brethren denominational funds including the Emergency Disaster Fund (EDF) for disaster relief, the Global Food Initiative fund (GFI) for food security, and the Brethren Faith in Action fund (BFIA) to support congregational outreach projects.
- GFI grants support food ministries at Church of the Brethren congregations, agriculture efforts in South Africa and Venezuela
The Church of the Brethren’s Global Food Initiative (GFI) has given its latest round of grants to support food ministries at four Church of the Brethren congregations in Illinois and Ohio; the Beyond Abundance Program of Phahama Grain Phakama in South Africa; and the purchase of electric mills for indigenous Amazon communities to grind cassava, via the Church of the Brethren in Venezuela.
- Sharing the love in Alaska
Bill and Penny Gay of Pleasant Dale Church of the Brethren in Decatur, Ind., have been volunteering in various locations in Alaska for many summers. Their work centers on community gardening and efforts to reduce food insecurity. The projects in Alaska have received support through grants from the Global Food Initiative. Here is an update on their continuing work
- Latest round of GFI grants support agricultural training and farming in Africa, clean water in Haiti
The Global Food Initiative (GFI) has given its latest round of grants to support well drilling by the Haiti Medical Project, an agricultural training component for students at the Great Lakes Bible School in Rwanda, and “Farming God's Way” in the Church of the Brethren in Burundi.
- Grant opportunity for congregations is offered by Global Food Initiative (in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole)
Looking to address hunger in your community? Congregations are invited to apply for a Global Food Initiative (GFI) grant to support efforts to address domestic hunger and homelessness.
- Global Food Initiative grants aid food security and related work of church partners
The Church of the Brethren’s Global Food Initiative (GFI) has issued a recent round of grants supporting work for food security and related needs including $15,000 for purchase of farmland in Uganda, $6,470 for a well project in the Democratic Republic of Congo, $825 for a farming project of the emerging Tanzania Church of the Brethren, $5,000 in continued support for the Soybean Value Chain project of Ekklesiyar Yan'uwa a Nigeria, and $15,000 for the Wings of Blessing and Hope Farm Poultry Project of ASIGLEH, the Church of the Brethren in Venezuela.
- Global Food Initiative gives four grants to start off the year
The Church of the Brethren’s Global Food Initiative (GFI) has given its first round of grants for 2024, supporting an aquaculture project in the Dominican Republic, a grain mill project in Burundi, a maize mill project in Uganda, and Syntropic training in Haiti. Two grants made in 2023 have not previously been reported in Newsline, for a school-based organic food production and environmental awareness effort in Ecuador, and to First Church of the Brethren, Eden, N.C., for its community garden.
- Jennifer Hosler to manage the Global Food Initiative for the Church of the Brethren
Jennifer Hosler has been hired by the Church of the Brethren as part-time manager of the Global Food Initiative (GFI), in the Global Mission office. She begins working for the GFI as a remote employee from Washington, D.C., on April 22.
- Last round of grants for the year announced by denominational funds
A last round of grants for the year 2023 were given from three funds of the Church of the Brethren: the Emergency Disaster Fund (EDF--support this ministry with donations at https://churchofthebrethren.givingfuel.com/bdm); the Global Food Initiative (GFI--support this ministry with donations at https://churchofthebrethren.givingfuel.com/gfi); and the Brethren Faith in Action Fund (BFIA--see www.brethren.org/faith-in-action).