“The Gospel offers to all people a world where it is legitimate to hope.”
— Leslie Newbigin

MISSION STARTUPS IN HARD PLACES.

The purpose of the Mission Venture Fund is to strengthen mission ventures who are pursuing ministry in hard places. The Fund accomplishes its purpose by bridging mission philanthropists with mission entrepreneurs in contexts where transformational ministry is needed most. Seed-funding, strengthening and scaling mission ventures have the potential to release exponential impact in a world that is increasingly contested, uncertain, and conflict prone. 

Three values drive the Mission Venture Fund.

  • We believe in the power of aggregation. Highly leveraged, niche strategies can have outsized, even exponential, impact and influence, especially when aggregated together. Same is true for resources. Bringing philanthropic partners together to partner with specific portfolios multiplies potential and impact, while also elevating friendship and community.

  • We move at the speed of trust. Trust is essential to fulfilling all aspects of the vision of the Fund. Building authentic and faithful relationships with all our partners is our first priority recognizing we can only move at the speed of trust. Faithfulness to trust will manifest in listening, mutual learning, transparency, accountability, and excellence as we acknowledge our shared calling will be met with many challenges.

  • We lead with prayer. Prayer is the foundation of the vision of the Fund and the fuel for everything we do. We are pursuing strategies that position prayer as both a beacon and anchor, recognizing that making an impact on the frontiers of mission will require much more than a casual strategy for prayer. We trust God to animate our relationships, vision, strategies, plans and work through prayer, focusing not only on resources distributed, but on lives transformed, wisdom shared, and callings enabled in service to God and others.

While Mission Venture Fund functions like a charity, legally it is a Donor Advised Fund (DAF) facilitated by Together International, a registered 501(c)3 charity in the United States, and OpenWell, a consulting group in Oxford, England. Philanthropic gifts are facilitated by TrustBridge Global, a donor advised fund based in the United States and Switzerland, and The Impact Foundation, a donor advised fund based in the United States.

VENTURE MEANS PEOPLE.

Mission entrepreneurs, investors, advisors, strategic and referral partners are all essential to helping make mission ventures flourish. The Mission Venture Fund is a lean, three-person team, including Stephan and Patrick and a part time coordinator. Philanthropic Partners are individuals, families, foundations or churches with a calling to serve mission entrepreneurs in frontier places. Strategic Partners bring experience, strategy and processes, and will provide direct coaching, training, capacity-building, and potentially co-investment. Referral Partners, whether individuals, churches or organizations, recommend ventures to the Fund for consideration. Some may be involved in capacity building by serving on a coaching team for specific ventures. The Mission Advisory and Portfolio Advisory Councils include people who share the vision of the Fund and have deep, first-hand experience serving in the greater mission space and/or in critical parts of the world.

  • PATRICK MCDONALD

    Cofounder and Partner

    At age 17, Patrick started the global children’s charity Viva, which today helps over a million children every year in 22 countries. With a group of foundations, Patrick facilitated the founding of the India Collaboration, now serving several hundred partners in India, and also the Europe Collaboration which is focusing on planting churches in the cultural centers in Europe. In 2012, Patrick founded Openwell, which has been instrumental in starting charitable and commercial enterprises. Patrick holds an MBA from Oxford University’s Saïd Business School. He is married to Emily and they enjoy their 4 sons.

  • STEPHAN BAUMAN

    Cofounder and Partner

    After leading World Relief as President and CEO, Stephan served in private philanthropy, partnering with ministries and community-based organizations in more than 100 countries worldwide. Early on, Stephan transitioned from a career in the Fortune 100 to Africa where he directed missional programs for nearly a decade. Stephan holds two Masters degrees and is purusing a PhD in migration theology. He is an ordained minister and a CPA. Stephan considers his African friends his most influential teachers, his wife, Belinda, his most important mentor, and their kids, Joshua and Caleb (“PJ”), his friends.

  • SUNITA AND ANDY GROTH

    Prayer Advisors

    Sunita and Groth have spent 20 years serving alongside and learning from those in the hardest and most conflict prone places of the world. Sunita serves with World Vision and holds a Master’s in Economics and Finance and a Bachelor’s in International Relations and Economics from Gordon College. Andy holds a Master’s of Divinity and a Bachelor’s in Marketing, and is a certified trainer in the DISC personality profile. Sunita and Andy met while living in Rwanda and were formed by the resilience, love and hope of the friends they met there. They make their home in Jacksonville, Florida with their five children: Gabe, Addie, Asha, Eden and Zion.

  • BELINDA BAUMAN

    Partner Catalyst

    While living in Africa, Belinda experienced a “beautiful collision” with brave women who survive the dangers of war. She founded One Million Thumbprints, a campaign advocating for women and girls experiencing violence. Belinda is an educator, an author and a therapist. Belinda has two MA’s one in education and the other in psychology. She is an educator, ciriculum specialist and therapist. Belinda and Stephan traded the hub-bub of greater Washington DC for Grand Rapids where they raised their kids, Joshua and Caleb (“PJ”), and enjoy late night conversations with friends while gazing at the stars.

  • JOSH CHANA

    Project Catalyst

    For nearly a decade, Josh worked with some of Britain’s most significant organizations across a range of sectors (heritage, arts & culture, education, financial services, and government), supporting them in project management and program delivery. Josh is also a currently studying Theology at the University of Oxford, and is interested in the relationship between theology, business, international development, and architecture. He volunteers as a Trustee for the Royal Air Force Museum in his spare time. Outside of work, Josh is married to Jemima, and they attend St Aldate’s Church in Oxford. They enjoy travelling, coffee, going on walks and runs together, and eating ramen with friends!

“Recognize the possibilities and challenges offered by the present moment. Embrace them with courage, faith and hope.”
— Thomas Merton