Christianity makes up 2.38 billion of the 8 billion population in the world.  It is the largest religion, making the bible not only the most popular or most read book, but the book that most people in this country look to for answers about how to live.  However, when it comes to finances, there seems to be a limited amount of influence from the biblical perspective.  Christianity is also the most diverse religion in the world, and in many communities of color, low income communities and marginalized communities, it serves as a point of refuge, resource and education.  Kingdom was built off of this premise. 

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Kingdom partners with local churches for participation in the program.  The church identifies the best candidates for the program and then the cohort journeys through a year long program and receives their Seed grant funding and an opportunity for scale loan funding at the end of the year.  There are several components involved in the model which provides for individual, and collective support.  It also provides for ongoing learnings and application.  Lastly, it gives opportunity for implementation in real time at the end of the program.

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Kingdom provides a service and delivery model of several components. 

 

1. Educational financial curriculum that focuses on biblical principles that support financial sustainability and wealth building. 

2.  Individual mentorship by a seasoned business owner and wealth builder. 

3.  Membership to a cohort of other previous graduates, so there is additional support through the financial stability and wealth building journey

4. Seed funding after the completion of the program to implement immediate learnings

5. Access to a loan to assist in scaling bigger goals.

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The participants are asked to signed a contract that, with the a limited amount of opportunity for missing classes or not doing the assignments or a loss in the financial benefit at the end.  The cohort typically meets for 4 months a month on an agreed upon timeframe and sets up additional individual meetings throughout the year to address individual concerns and questions.  The Seed grant funding is given to each participant that successfully completes the program.  Additionally, there is an opportunity for each participant to propose a case for additional loan funding with favorable rates and terms to scale or increase their wealth building or financial stability journey.

 

Kingdom's foundation is based on one of the most prominent, consistent and longstanding connections and resources in the community, the church.  The churches access to this community in the intercity, right away addresses the racial wealth gap directly.  First, it accesses, in a trusting way the spaces and places where this community will seek support with financial challenges.  The church and biblical principles and practices have been a longstanding resource for African American community, and especially intercity African American families.  The church oftentimes serves as the space where community members go when they are struggling with almost any challenge, including cashflow and finance issues.  Many African Americans see the church, and the bible especially, as a reliable source of information for the best way to live their lives.  Additionally, church goers/Christians are more incline to adhere to and follow after the information that's shared. 

 

Secondly, the length of the program helps to address the wealth gap by providing ongoing support through the length of the class and even after the class has completed.  It is common for those in the wealth gap to receive information on financial literacy, but not the support with implementation, or without opportunity for follow up questions after implementation.  The length of this model is intentional in allowing for time for the participants to learn concepts and then implement them.  It also gives individual support to address specific needs.  Lastly, there is the ongoing membership and connection to other believers, participants that have completed the program and resources to continue their journey. 

 

Lastly, the seed funding serves as significant and immediate way to address the racial wealth gap.  African American's earn 1/8 of the income of a white family, they have less access to knowledge and social capital, but especially financial capital.  Even if they are able to get the information they need to become financially stable, they don't have the access to capital to even start that journey.  The seed funding serves as that vehicle.  It gives the participants access to resources to implement their goals immediately and start working toward a financial future of success.