Note this information is generally representative of EMI, though particulars may vary by project and EMI office location.
EMI’s not-for-profit design and planning services are available for approved projects. The following are general requirements for receiving not-for-profit assistance from EMI:
- Helping the poor. Demonstrate to EMI how the project will minister to the needs of the poor, the vulnerable, or the under-privileged of the community.
- Advancing the gospel of Christ. Demonstrate to EMI that there is an ongoing advancement of the gospel of Jesus Christ in word or deed, and how the project will advance this.
- Property ownership. Demonstrate to EMI that the property where the project will be built is owned by the ministry, or owned by the ministry’s partner, or controlled through a long-term lease, with the relevant documentation.
- Project funding. Demonstrate to EMI that there is a planned method of funding the project construction and operation.
- Provide hospitality for the EMI team. The in-country expenses of an EMI team must be provided by the host ministry for the duration of the visit. This includes basic meals, simple lodging, local transportation, and security & translation (as necessary).
- Involve local design professionals. Whenever possible, the ministry will share professional contacts from their network in the country / region where the project is located. EMI’s desired outcome is that a minimum of two local design professionals become members of the EMI team.
- Reimburse Project Leader’s travel costs. The full travelling costs of the EMI Project Leader must be reimbursed by the host ministry.
- Pay a portion of the project design cost. The host ministry must agree to pay a portion of the project design cost to EMI. This design cost assessed by EMI is based on your project type, scope, size, and duration.
Through EMI’s Services Application, a Christian ministry can qualify to receive EMI professional technical services at non-profit rates.
EMI Services Application. This is the way to start a conversation with EMI about your project.
In the application, an applicant is expected to give a written description of the proposed project, in addition to answering yes/no questions and providing basic information about the ministry, property, and project. To see what information EMI asks for on this application, click the button below to browse the form.
There is no application fee or special materials required to complete and submit this application, and the estimated time requirement is 20 minutes.
Information entered online may be reviewed and edited prior to final submission. Once submitted to EMI, the applicant will receive an email copy of their application.
Begin an EMI Services application
Follow-up. Once your application is submitted to EMI, a member of EMI’s Project Development Team will review the information and contact the applicant to follow-up.
Many times, additional information will be requested by EMI. This may include ministry registration or property ownership documents, prior land surveys or construction plans, or responding to additional questions about your ministry or project.
Follow-up may happen in a variety of ways. Though video conferencing and email are most common, at some EMI office locations, Project Development staff will meet with ministry representatives in person—either at an EMI office or at your ministry centre or project site.
Letter of Agreement. Once EMI collects all follow-up information and determines project fit, EMI will draft a Letter of Agreement which outlines the schedule, scope & deliverables, and cost to your ministry for project assistance.
For EMI to move forward to support your project, this Letter of Agreement must be signed by your ministry.
Cost
The cost for receiving professional technical services from EMI is comprised of three items:
- Portion of project design cost. This design cost assessed by EMI is based on your project type, scope, size, and duration. EMI will assess and communicate the cost to be contributed to EMI as part of project follow-up and in the Letter of Agreement.
- Project Leader’s travel costs. The full travelling costs of the EMI Project Leader must be reimbursed by the host ministry. In most cases, this will include round-trip economy-class airfare from the Project Leader’s EMI location the project location. This travel cost will depend on the EMI location operating the project.
- Providing hospitality for an EMI team. The in-country expenses of an EMI team must be provided by the host ministry for the duration of an EMI team’s visit. This includes basic meals, simple lodging, local transportation, and security and translation (as necessary). EMI teams vary in size depending on the scale and complexity of the project work. A typical norm is 8-12 people, male & female, and a mix of nationalities.
Schedule
Most often, EMI Project Teams are mobilised in February/March, June/July, and September/October.
It can take EMI several months to recruit design professional volunteers to assemble a Project Team. Volunteers need advance notice to schedule leave from their workplace, make travel arrangements, etc. This lead-time will be longer for larger projects with complex technical needs, and shorter for smaller projects requiring fewer team members.
EMI Project Teams will typically visit a ministry project location for 7 to 10 days to investigate and study the site, consult with the ministry on the design programme, and develop the initial design plans. After this Project Trip, the project design goes through EMI’s internal technical review and development. The project deliverable contents are published to the ministry two to four months after the team’s visit.
This schedule can be accelerated in some cases. Each project will have a specific scope and schedule developed by the EMI location operating the project.
Q: Does EMI fund projects?
A: No, EMI does not fund projects. Christian ministries pay not-for-profit rates for technical services that EMI coordinates for their projects.
Q: Does EMI help with fundraising for projects?
A: No, EMI does not fundraise for projects, nor can Christian ministries access the EMI Network for project fundraising.
However, EMI has observed that certain international grant agencies, foundations, trusts, or major individual donors will look for EMI’s design involvement on a project before making significant investments financially. This is simply because donor agencies prefer to see thorough project planning.
Q: What is the length of the project application process?
A: An online EMI Services application can be made to EMI—it will take 20 minutes or less. EMI will follow-up within 10 business days to advise an applicant ministry as to what further documentation is required to complete their application, or schedule a visit to complete the application in person.
Q: How much will design services cost our ministry?
A: This depends of the scope, size, and duration of your project. The costs outlined in on the Cost & Schedule tab will be defined further during the application process and documented in the Letter of Agreement between your ministry and the EMI office location operating the project.
Q: What if our ministry can’t afford to pay for an EMI design?
A: These costs may be paid to EMI indirectly by a ministry’s partner or agent or donor. EMI’s design costs are linked to the scope and scale of the proposed project.
EMI has observed that if the ministry is unable to pay the not-for-profit costs associated with EMI design services for a specific project, it indicates that the construction of the project is less probable in the immediate future.
Q: We need to start building right away. Can EMI help us with construction plans without visiting our site?
A: No. Over the past 35 years and 1400 projects around the world, both EMI and the Christian ministries we serve have seen the value of the personal consultation and investigation process for getting good results in construction.
Q: Can EMI help our ministry on a project from the initial stage through to project completion?
A: In all cases, an EMI team can help support a project through the Concept Design stage. Depending on where the project is located, EMI may be able to assist a ministry in the Detailed or Construction Design stage and with Construction Management services. When an EMI office location is in the project country, construction stage services become more feasible.
Q: We are a small, local ministry without connections to major donors or people outside our country. Will EMI work with us?
A: Yes, absolutely. Many EMI projects are designed for local ministries like yours, led by national Christian leadership or the national church, or without international partners, funders, or connections. Your ministry is a work of faith. We understand this and want to support it in design.