Faith-Based Solutions

Rhema Word Ministries contracted Faith-Based Solutions LLC to write a government grant for which it received, in the amount of $50,000. After winning the grant, they contracted for additional services with Faith-Based Solutions LLC to submit 10 grant proposals, create a website, and 12-20 hours of training. Additionally, Faith-Based Solutions LLC agreed to complete the IRS 1023 for in order for them to apply for 501c3 status (nonprofit status), complementary due to the fact that this status is mandatory for most private foundation funding. We were not aware they did not have their 501c3 status already in place and had proceeded forward in a good will effort.

Ms. G., the contact for RWM, at numerous times would go completely unresponsive for months at a time. She would not show up for scheduled phone appointments, would not return phone or email contact, and not return documents required in order to fulfill the contracted work. We continued for approximately 9 months past the conclusion of the engagement, in good will in order to complete their work.

On 3 separate occasions, Rhema Word Ministries was formally warned in writing that due to their unresponsiveness to needed information, their contract would be concluded. Finally, Faith-Based Solutions LLC concluded that continuing on in this fashion was futile and concluded the contract. Per the contract with Rhema Word Ministries, Ms. G. was offered to notify Faith-Based Solutions LLC through dispute resolution if she disagreed with this conclusion. She declined to do so. Faith-Based Solutions LLC concluded the relationship and sent all work products to the last known address.

Response: Faith-Based Solutions LLC entered into a contract with Narrow Gate Ministries to write 10 grant proposals and to submit those proposals to pre-researched foundations. As the contract proceeded forward, Ms. U. had ever-changing priorities, programs, and objectives, which meant ever-changing proposals and research to match. Proposals were submitted to Ms. U. for final approval, but came back with pages of re-write after re-write with no concern for the advice the professional grant writers were giving her for the ultimate success of the proposals. We went beyond our contract agreement and industry standards in order to submit the proposals.

With the consistent refusal to abide by advice and standards, it got to the point where we refused to move forward with completion of work at the end of their contract unless they signed an addendum to go specifically by our recommendations and advice in order for that success of the grant process. And that ultimately continuing further was at the managing partner's discretion.

Our professional staff continued another 20 months attempting to fulfill the needs of Narrow Gate Ministry and they continued to remain unwilling to follow the expertise of our professional grant writers, making it impossible to complete their work per the contract and addendum. By Dec. 7th, 2009, it became apparent that it would be futile to continue in the relationship and we concluded the agreement, which had already expired April 15, 2009. We forwarded to Narrow Gate Ministries all of their work product, grant proposals, templates, and multiple rewrites, which represented hundreds of hours of labor and concluded the relationship.

In February 2008, Narrow Gate Ministries attended a grant writing conference presented by Faith-Based Solutions (also known as Vision 2020) in San Antonio, TX. At that conference, a Faith-Based Solutions rep told us that for $4,995, we would receive one grant proposal template, a list of 25 foundations, ten proposals to foundations on the provided list, and one completed template. (The definition of "template" is the one provided in their handbook.)

Faith-Based Solutions said they couldn't guarantee funding, but that they did guarantee they would continue writing proposals until our initial investment had been funded back to us. In April 2008, a contract was signed between Narrow Gate Ministries and Faith-Based Solutions, and our $4,995 was paid by June 2008. Narrow Gate complied to all requests for completing the proposal.

The first, partial template sent to Narrow Gate Ministries was simply a re-worded document we wrote and sent to them. In a conference call with the program director and the template writer, Narrow Gate was told that Faith-Based Solutions had changed writers and the template writer on the conference call would be our writer and would do a good job for us.

Almost every time we contacted Faith-Based Solutions, our contacts were either no longer employed by them or ill. Illness was a consistent excuse for lack of progress on the Narrow Gate Ministries template--that and staff leaving the company.

Despite earlier promises for a "good job" on the new template, the work Faith-Based Solutions sent for us to proof wasn't grammatically correct. And Narrow Gate Ministries has been under at least 3 or 4 program directors in the last 3 or 4 months; we didn't have a consistent person to work with, and there was always an excuse as to why someone else was doing the work.

The contract term ended in April 2009. We called, because Faith-Based Solutions did not provide a template, list of foundations, or proposals as promised. We continued to work with them and insisted on weekly updates, which they failed to do, always giving an excuse why it had to be a week later. From July 2009 through December 2009, we insisted on tighter contacts and results. We were consistently promised results, which never materialized.

In October 2009, we finally received a list of 10 foundations. Researching the listed foundations revealed that none had funded areas in which Narrow Gate Ministries operates. When Faith-Based Solutions was confronted, they assured me the foundations did fund organizations such as ours. At one point, Faith-Based Solutions sent a partial template to us, saying they needed to beef it up, asking for more information.

When more information was provided, Faith-Based Solutions said it was too much and had to pare it down. When a three-way conference call with the owner, Mike **, was requested, they refused and sent us a letter stating that Faith-Based Solutions needed Narrow Gate Ministries to send them something in writing stating the problem.

A demand for refund letter/email was sent giving Faith-Based Solutions ten days to respond. On the tenth day, Narrow Gate Ministries received a food-encrusted, sleeveless CD and a reply stating Narrow Gate Ministries had broken the contract by being unwilling to follow Faith-Based Solutions' expertise and they were withdrawing the contract, even though Faith-Based Solutions had been in breach default since April 2009.

We are submitting a complaint to the Better Business Bureau. We were also told by a Nevada lawyer that because Faith-Based Solutions also defrauded the church in New Jersey (We found that info on your site.), this could be reported to the FBI.

Our church has made a huge sacrifice to trust FBS in March 2007. To help us become complaint with the government and also be able to train officers in the church to further our vision with the community. We are 5 years old and realize the important of be 501c3 compliant and FBS had a seminar on south Jersey geared to Churches and Faith Based organizations. There was an initial fee of $3,900.00 and their company explained the procedure of obtaining a grant within the process. They (FBS Inc.) said their success rate is 87%.

A few members of the board came to the seminar and were able to discuss how this opportunity would help develop our goals and ministry. The process took a few months and the following year with a contract and within 4 months we were awarded a grant for our literacy summer program and the fee for FBS was an additional 20K to help get the church better structured. We signed and sent the check in full and there where 10 items to be completed by December 2008. This bring our grand total paid to FBS Inc. $23,900.00. In addition to $75.00 for paper work completed. Seemed a lot strange but we send and trusted this company.

As to date there are 3 major items yet bending (write to 2 more foundations for a grant, a church website and prepares the 501c3) and we have been switched to 4 different persons to handle our case. We've receive letters explaining the huge amount of work they have etc. for the delay however, our contract due date is 12/2008. I have called, emailed 4 to 5 times a week after the New Year. The 501c3 process is extremely important due to funding for the summer program from last year the results were amazing. Our city has a few buildings that will be available to ONLY Faith-Based organizations and due to the delay and no communication from FBS we will miss this opportunity.

Our website is not launched nor have we had any results. Files and information have been sent via email and postal service without any answers or communication. As far as writing to 2 foundations: this could have been great for the church and the literacy program we ran for free within our community. So many children need additional help during the school term and summer. Needless to say our church board is beyond questions of how this company geared to help churches would rob us of our hopes and dreams to help others. Our request is a reimbursement of only $6,500.00 for this will take care of the website and preparer for our 501c3. As far as writing to 2 more foundations? We will count it a loss and trust God in our future decisions.