Some states require special notices to be included with each solicitation delivered to the public.

CA: Heartbeat International’s audited financial statement is available upon request to Heartbeat International.

DC: Heartbeat’s Business ID is #400214000149 and our license expires on June 30, 2024. This information does not constitute an endorsement by the District of Columbia or by an officer or employee of the District.

FL: A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE (1-800-435-7352) WITHIN THE STATE, REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. THE REGISTRATION NUMBER FOR HEARTBEAT INTERNATIONAL IS CH14778. 

IL: Contracts and reports regarding Heartbeat International, Inc. are on file with the Illinois Attorney General.

MD: A copy of the current financial statement of Heartbeat International, Inc. is available by writing 8405 Pulsar Place, Columbus, OH 43240 or by calling (614) 885-7577. Documents and information submitted under the Maryland Solicitations Act are also available, for the cost of postage and copies, from the Maryland Secretary of State, State House, Annapolis MD 21401, (410) 974-5534.

MI: MICS No. 27401.

MN: Heartbeat International, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) organization located at 8405 Pulsar Place, Columbus, OH, 43240. Heartbeat International, Inc. provides training and education to pregnancy resource centers. Contributions are tax-deductible to the fullest extent permitted by law. 

MS: The official registration and financial information of Heartbeat International, Inc. may be obtained from the Mississippi Secretary of State’s office by calling 1-888-236-6167. Registration by the Secretary of State does not imply endorsement by the Secretary of State.

NC: Financial information about this organization and a copy of its license are available for the State Solicitation Licensing Branch at 919-807-2214. The license is not an endorsement by the State.

PA: The official registration and financial information of Heartbeat International, Inc. may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll-free, within Pennsylvania, 1 (800) 732-0999. Registration does not imply endorsement.

VA: Financial statements are available from the State Division of Consumer Affairs, Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, PO Box 1163, Richmond, VA 23218.

WA: Heartbeat International, Inc., located in Columbus, OH, is registered with the Washington State’s Charities Program as required by law and additional information is available by visiting www.sos.wa.fov/charities or, within the state, calling 800-332-4483.

WV: West Virginia residents may obtain a summary of the registration and financial documents from the Secretary of State, State Capitol, Charleston, West Virginia, 25305. Registration does not imply endorsement.

WI: Heartbeat International, Inc. provides training and education to pregnancy resource centers. A copy of the most recent financial statement disclosing assets, liabilities, fund balances, revenue, and expenses, is available by contacting Heartbeat International, Inc. at 8405 Pulsar Place, Columbus, OH 43240.

Heartbeat International is a tax-exempt organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. All gifts to Heartbeat International are tax-deductible. Thank you for your support.

by Beth Diemert, Director of Affiliate Services
Heartbeat International

As Holy Week is here and Easter is fast approaching, it is a routine occurrence for me to anticipate an Easter celebration that is full of some of my favorite music. One of the songs that is always top of mind is Sandy Patty’s, Was It a Morning Like This? I know I am dating myself a bit, but it is a classic in my mind, as it depicts the scenes of resurrection morning and those who had a part in it. I love imagining those being played out and the raw emotion in it all.

“Was it a morning like this when Mary walked down from Jerusalem? And two angels stood at the tomb. Bearers of news she would hear soon.”

Those scenarios, of course, take a look back, to that glorious morning that changed everything. But this Easter season, my mind is drawn forward to the idea that all of those thousands of years ago, our heavenly Father knew what a “morning like this” would look like in 2023.

“Did the grass sing? Did the earth rejoice to feel You again?

As those who work in pregnancy help, our mornings are currently laced with the reality of a post-Roe America. Chemical abortion, angry legislators, big Abortion, determined politicians, big Pharma, censorship, false rhetoric, big Tech, vandalism, and money that follows an agenda. A lot of money.

And in the mix of all that, we as believers, called to a holy mission, consecrate ourselves, and work to be the gospel to those who are in need, in a valley of decision, desperate for truth, real help, and much love. 

So…let’s start here. That gospel, originated in the Easter story, is as relevant on a morning in 2023 as it was that first morning in Jerusalem. To deliver the hope of the world, to the ones who think they have no hope. No choice. No future.

Over and over like a trumpet underground did the earth seem to pound "He is risen!"

Jesus knew false accusations. Jesus knew persecution.  Jesus knew violation and suffering. And yet, Jesus chose to lay down his life in the greatest sacrifice of all time to bring us everlasting life. Those of us in the life movement should be beholden this Easter season, to revisit the Easter story with intentionality, and glean its power and example, to empower us, in continuing to share, and be, the gospel, in everything we say and do.

Luke 23 teaches us much to this end, but three things I want to specifically draw our attention toward:

1. Verses 28-30 – “But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children. For indeed the days are coming in which they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, wombs that never bore, and breasts that never nursed!'”

Jesus was referring to what he knew was to come in the destruction they would see in Jerusalem, which would surely affect them and their next generation of children. But how interesting that Jesus would emphasize that weeping should not be for him, but for themselves, particularly using the issue of motherhood at this unprecedented time, speaking to what should be the greatest joy of motherhood becoming a great misery.

Fast forward to 2023, and where are we with this direction from Christ?  Could we ever have imagined the calamity that would come upon motherhood and do we realize this is the issue that Christ called out on his way to the cross, telling the women not to weep not for him, but for themselves, his heart breaking in anticipation of future horrific tragedy?

2. Verse 34 -The next words Jesus uttered were to ask the Father to forgive those who were mocking him, blaspheming him. “Father forgive them for they do not know what they do.” Jesus did not fight back, retaliate. His heart was for the forgiveness of those who were committing horrendous acts against Him. Their need, their deception. On a morning in 2023, do we do the same?

3. Verse 43 -The last thing Christ said before he committed his spirit to the Father, was a promise of assurance that the thief hanging next to him, the one who realized truth and knew what Jesus was bringing, asked to be remembered in the kingdom, and Jesus replied, “Truly I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” No further requirements, no questions, no judgment. In 2023, do we freely extend the gospel in the same way?”

“Over and over in a never-ending round "He is risen!"

Daily in the morning, the Heartbeat team meets to pray as pregnancy help organizations are opening in times zones that span the world. We often pray that you all will experience mornings full of connection, empowerment, truth to be shared, and love to be lavished. We pray that your clients & residents will have a life-changing day. 

This Easter week as we devote ourselves to prayer, we rejoice!  For every morning (in 2023 and beyond) we have more than we need.  “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on us, because the Lord has anointed us to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent us to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners…(Isaiah 61:1) The Spirit of the Living God lives with us.

On a morning like this…like a trumpet underground did the earth seem to pound "He is risen!" He is risen! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

From all of us at Heartbeat, Blessed Easter! He has risen, he has risen indeed!

by Sara Dominguez, Heartbeat International

Did you know that April is Abortion Recovery Awareness Month? In a culture where abortion is framed as a “quick and easy” solution to a “temporary problem”, we in the pregnancy help community know that regret is a common experience after an abortion. At times, the regret can be immediate leading women who have taken the first abortion pill to call the 24/7 Abortion Pill Rescue® Network to receive help and healing with the hope of continuing her pregnancy. For others, the experience of hurt and regret may emerge years after the abortion. Regardless of whether the regret after an abortion is immediate or appears later in life, we know that there is hope for healing and recovery after the loss of abortion.

Many organizations affiliated with Heartbeat International either provide abortion recovery programs or point to abortion recovery organizations offering a wide array of opportunities for healing ranging from support groups and retreats to bible studies and one-on-one counseling.

You can explore resources related to Abortion Recovery and the amazing organizations that provide them here.

Abortion recovery resources are not only available to women, but to men as well, and we know the need for abortion recovery healing for men is ever-growing. This month on the Pregnancy Help Podcast, we were blessed to be joined by Jeff Joaquin who shares his story of healing after abortion. The amazing theme that seemed to carry throughout our conversation was about God’s mercy. At times, it can be difficult for me to wrap my mind around the perfect love that we are offered by the One who created us – a love that far surpasses my own feeble attempts at loving. But what hope can be found when we let go of our preconceived notions about the sort of love we “deserve,” and allow ourselves to receive the healing love that our Father offers to us every single day!

You can listen to Jeff Joaquin’s story here.

And so, let’s spend the month of April sharing the wonderful news that there is hope and healing after an abortion. That the God who created us and who loves us perfectly is ready to meet us right where we are to heal our broken hearts and bind up our wounds (Psalm 147: 3). We can take our time to tell our stories, whether on paper, in the confidence of a loved one, or confidentially in a small group or counseling room. There is powerful healing to be had when we step into the light of His mercy and allow Him to reveal to us how perfectly loved we are in His eyes.

by Tracie Shellhouse, MCLC, LAS, Vice President of Ministry Services, Heartbeat International

As you may know, the 2023 Heartbeat International Annual Conference sold out for in-person experience and had a robust list of virtual attendees. We understand that while we would love to meet you in person, it's not always possible for everyone in the pro-life movement. We're happy to announce the virtual experience again this year for our annual conference.

Don't let the obstacles of not attending in person keep you from joining us virtually. Since we offer workshops for every role in the pro-life movement, we've created options for you to "bring" your whole team!

Two Virtual Options

1. Basic virtual access that provides access to all of the virtual-only conference for 14 days, or
2. Expanded virtual access that provides access to all of the virtual-only conference content and select in-person recorded content for 21 days.

Four Fully Virtual Add-on Options

+ Individual Basic Access - $99 ( Virtual Conference Workshops)
+ Individual Expanded Access - $149 ( Virtual Conference Workshops + Select In-Person Workshops)
+ Group Expanded Access (up to 5) - $479 (Virtual Conference Workshops + Select In-Person Workshops)
+ Enterprise Expanded Access (unlimited) - $989 (Virtual Conference Workshops + Select In-Person Workshops)

Tips to Make it Happen

1. Bring in extra manpower.

   In 2020, an organization where I was Executive Director, was running at a lowered capacity due to the pandemic. Shortly thereafter, to allow staff to engage fully in attending workshops and creating connections, I would bring in extra volunteers to cover the office operations and only set appointments for the virtual attendees outside the conference schedule. Today, your organization may be experiencing a season where it's operating at a lower staff/volunteer capacity. If so, take the next couple of weeks to schedule some extra "manpower" to ensure staff and volunteers have the opportunity to garner the invaluable knowledge provided through our Conference experience.

2. Empower and encourage volunteers to attend.

   I’m convinced that encouraging volunteers to participate has the potential to strengthen your organization significantly. Investing in a few special volunteers willing to commit to the training, will likely produce greater commitment and engagement from them at our center. And, with training available for every role in the pro-life movement, utilizing our comprehensive Agenda, it will be easy to schedule workshops with staff as they pertain to their respective roles.

3. Take full advantage of the training available.

   With enough paid (and volunteer) staff registered, you can make sure they attend all the workshops they don’t want to miss. Next, you can debrief and identify workshops that can be used to train current and future volunteers. Then, order those workshop recordings and use them for in-services and additions to our training curriculum.

Most pregnancy help organizations can’t take everyone to the conference in person; some of us must stay home and keep the centers open and running. Justifying the investments for travel, food, and lodging costs for staff members can also be a challenge. There are still options! Providing training for your team through our virtual conference is a great way to re-inspire and re-ignite passion for the work they are doing. Affirming your teams in this way can transform your organization!

Finally, when we participate in workshops presented by those within the movement, it affirms that God calls whomever He wants. Our experiences, backgrounds, and methods are not the same. Yet here we are, unified by our callings and commitment to the mission of pregnancy help, where we belong.

And that, perhaps more than anything, is the true value of participating in the Virtual Conference. 

by Ellen Foell, International Program Specialist
Heartbeat International

If there is one word to describe the world today it might be divided. Actually, we might even be divided about that! Some people might use the words fractured, broken, or disintegrating. The reality is, we see evidence of division all around us, politically, racially, nationally, even within individuals.

None of that sounds like good news.

But in the midst of the bad news, and the division, we see good news.

The night before Jesus was betrayed, he had a meal and a very long conversation with the disciples. The meal was familiar and traditional, a Passover meal. A meal that each of the disciples had eaten many times in their lives, filled with history, song, and prayer.

But the conversation was not so familiar. Jesus did things that disrupted the evening with hard sayings about leaving, about vines and branches, betrayal. He even said one of the friends sitting at the Passover meal would betray him. He washed everyone’s feet which shocked them and then said they would learn to wash one another’s feet as well.  

In the middle of that last conversation and meal Jesus shared with his disciples, he stopped to enter into a conversation with the Father. He did not preface the interruption with “everyone please bow your heads.” No dramatic pause for effect. He simply started praying to the Father as if the Father was a participant in the rest of the conversation, had been there all along. And, of course, He was. But the prayer Jesus prayed was not the overthrow of the Roman oppressors, nor was it for the disciples’ prosperity, or for methods to spread the message.

His prayer was pointed and focused: the unity of the disciples, both the ones present in the room, and the ones who would one day also believe because of the message carried by the ones in the room. He asked the Father, in the presence of the disciples:

My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. (John 17:20-23)

This was the last major discourse with the disciples, and the last major prayer time between the Father and the Son to which they would be witnesses. Because, as we know, they slept through the next prayer time on the Mount of Olives. In this little passage, the disciples overheard Jesus talk to the Father about the who, what, how, and why of unity. We need to pay attention to the matters of unity because unity matters.

The Who

When Jesus talked to the Father about unity for the disciples, he was inclusive. He prayed beyond the eleven disciples present in the room (Judas had already left). It was a prayer for those who would believe in Jesus through the testimony and witness of the ones in the room. And any single one of us reading this as well as the billions who follow Jesus around the world, are part of the “those who will believe in me through their message.” Jesus’ prayer to the Father reached down through generations and across the globe. He prayed across time and space.

The What

Jesus interceded to the Father that all of them, all of us may be one: “Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.” He wanted more than all of us being in the same room, more than gathering around the worldwide campfire and singing the same song. He prayed for oneness.

Oneness goes beyond togetherness, friendship, partnership, or collaboration.  Oneness carries with it the same meaning as used in marriage-that the two become one. Total intimacy of two still distinct individuals. As the Father and the Son and Spirit are one, Jesus asked God to make us, as Jesus followers, one, in the same way that the Father and the Son are one. The concept is already beyond our human comprehension, so he gave us an example of oneness and intimacy in relationship: just as you are in me and I am in you.

The Father and Son are so united that Jesus told Philip, “if you have seen me, you have seen the Father.” Jesus wanted for us the unity the Son and the Father enjoy. That seems like an impossibility. How can we, as flawed human beings, from different races, ethnicities, geopolitical borders, with individual interests, needs, levels of income and desires enter into that kind of oneness?

The How

How on earth could Jesus pray for the impossible? As he said in another time to the disciples, with men and women, in the flesh, this is impossible, but all things are possible with God (MT 19:26). We cannot strive for unity as the world strives for it. Our unity is in the Father, Son and Spirit. Jesus asked the Father, “may they also be in us.” Our unity as Christians, and by extension, as the pregnancy help movement, must be found in, and founded in, the way of Jesus.

Thousands of years earlier, there was another great movement toward unity. It was a monumental effort of the entire world that was united by speech. In Genesis 11, people came together as one and determined to build a name for themselves by building a tower that reached to heaven. The effort failed because of pride and arrogance against God. But in that same passage we see that there is no limit to what could happen if people are united.

The problem was not that the people were united with one another. The problem was that the people were not united with God. Their unity was for the purpose of being like God (sounds like the Garden all over again).

The Why

Unity is not the end goal. Unity with the triune God has a beauty, joy and wonder all its own. But unity also has a purpose. “Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” We work for unity so that the whole rest of the world will know that the Father sent the Son out of love. It is so that all those generations since the eleven in the room with Jesus would know the lifesaving truth that Christ came into the world for sinners, to restore relationship, and for unity with the Father, even as the Father and the Son are one.

Psalm 131 says that where the brothers dwell together in unity, it is good and pleasant. Even more than that, God commands a blessing (Psalm 131:1-4). I have four children and honestly, when I see our children getting along, dwelling together in unity, I want to bless them because their unity blesses me. We want to bless our heavenly Father with our unity in the same way.

The pregnancy help movement is spread across the globe. Heartbeat International is currently serving affiliates in 90 nations. We do so in partnership and collaboration with nine different networks. Yet, approximately 30% of Heartbeat's international affiliates are not in networks. They labor sometimes as the only pregnancy help center in the nation. Some centers may be the only place for a woman in an unexpected pregnancy in a radius encompassing 2 or 3 or 4 million people.

Each center looks different. The languages are different. Some centers are urban, some rural, some are Catholic, some evangelical, some Orthodox. Pregnancy help centers hold out the word of life in peace and in war, in famine and in feasting, in sickness, through the pandemic, and in health. We are united with one another, and with the triune God.

Unity is hard. The culture of individualism and personal rights can stand against unity. Our “me” gets in the way of “we.” But if we can pray toward, work toward, and move toward unity, as the pregnancy help movement, the world will know, even as it sees us as a movement, that the Father sent the Son, that the Father loves them, even as He loves the Son. And then, the world might believe.

Society today places so much emphasis on scientific data as the only reliable source to any subject. Truth be told, when it comes to human sexuality, science speaks for itself. Dr. Joe Malone, Sexual Integrity Scientist, helps us understand why on Valentine’s (and every other) day!

TRUE LOVE AND MARRIAGE

Some in our 21^st century Western culture are advocating many new relationship types. These include hookups, friends with benefits, throuples, cohabitation, polyamory, and more. They say that we need to be liberated from our sexually repressed lifestyles. The philosophy is that if it feels good, we should do it with as many different people as we choose. When it stops feeling good or gets old, we can switch to another or others. Being personally happy is the ultimate goal in life for each individual and the most important gifts are the ones we give to ourselves in the pursuit of pleasure, no matter how it affects the other people in our lives. Many of those we serve in the pregnancy help community have adopted this thinking. But we have a unique opportunity to share a vision of marriage, true love, and real sex with them. Consider this.

A CHRISTIAN DISTINCTIVE

An outstanding hallmark of Christianity from the beginning has been monogamous marriage. Christians stood out within their communities because of it. Contrastingly to the above thinking and practice, think of Valentine’s Day and the giving and receiving of a gift with the one we love. We may not realize all the value of the gift, when the gift is sex in a loving monogamous relationship that we can share with the love of our life, our spouse. There are so many benefits to sex within monogamous marriage. Let’s take a look at some of them.

BENEFITS ON MANY LEVELS

Sex within marriage leads to greater and greater levels of intimacy. You get to know each other better and better in a way that no one else on earth does. This helps develop a trust relationship that is sure and steady. In happy marriages this can have interesting physical benefits. Happily married couples blood pressures drop when they sleep together. Their heartbeats synchronize as well. Sex is a great releaser of stress!

Sex within marriage also doesn’t carry all of the negative baggage that sex previous to, or otherwise outside of marriage carries like guilty feelings, regret, worry about STIs or an unwanted pregnancy with someone who is not your spouse.

The physical contact involved in sex helps us to bond more strongly all of the time. There are endorphin receptors throughout the skin covering of the body and they react to intimate and loving touch, which generates endogenous (or internal) endorphins, a kind of super relaxant. Hugs contribute to this, and married couples are encouraged to hug each other at least eight times per day. Their hearts literally beat as one because of the assurance that they have that their spouse loves them absolutely and has their back at all times.

LIFE LENGTHENING AND ENHANCING

Another great benefit of married sex is that it is antiaging! Cells in the body that are anti-inflammatory are released during sexual activity. This helps the body to be able to repair more effectively and seems to be a built-in way that the wellness and well-being of the married couple is enhanced.

Sex within marriage raises our immune system by causing the release of an antibody called immunoglobin A. This helps protect our bodies against invasive bacteria and viruses. A lifelong marriage is a very holistic stabilizing factor physiologically for a couple.

SLEEP

An awesome married sex life helps us to sleep better because oxytocin is released substantially after sex. Cuddling afterwards and going to sleep is very natural and healthy. It helps us to have healthier looking skin as it promotes blood circulation, and it even helps women to have lighter periods. Sex within marriage raises our moods and gives us a more positive outlook on our spouse as we bond.

GOD’S WAY IS ALWAYS THE BEST WAY

If we are reflective, we see that its benefits go far beyond immediate pleasure and even increased physical and mental health. When we look at the physical fruits of married sexual relationships - children - it is obvious that this is definitely one of God’s most important gifts to us. After all, his first words to humanity were to go forth and multiply.

Married sex is a wonderful example of men and women displaying consistency, intentionality, and most of all faithfulness. This is what God intended for humans and without a doubt, it is best for us.

Marriage pays dividends multi-generationally to a family and then to all of the lives that a family influences in their lifetime. As we have seen before, it is always in our best interests to do things God’s way. Profound and magnificent blessings follow in that pathway. One path leads to death, the other path leads to life. Let’s help them choose life! Let’s give our clients a gift that keeps on giving, as we share the vision (and science!) of marriage, empowering them to experience one wonderful and memorable Valentine’s Day after another, year after year, and decade after decade.

Key Dates

• The Spring 2025 Empower Life Grant application window opens January 13
• Spring 2025 Empower Life Grant applications are due by February 14

Before You Apply

What qualifies my organization for this grant? Are we a good candidate?

The Empower Life Grant is available to pregnancy centers that are affiliated with Heartbeat International, are complying with the Commitment of Care and Competence, and are committed to sharing the Gospel with clients. The pregnancy center must also have a mission focused on clients at risk for abortion. The goal of sharing Christ with clients and agreement in particular with the birth control statement in the CCC are very close to the heart of the anonymous donor. The Empower Life Grant is not currently available to maternity homes or abortion recovery organizations.

Is this a grant just for new pregnancy centers? What if I’m serving in a rural area? An urban area?

 This grant is for more than startups! Whether well-established or very new and whatever demographic you’re serving, if your center qualifies (by the criteria above), we encourage you to apply!

Why haven’t I been invited to apply yet?

As of 2024, pregnancy help centers in all 50 states and Washington, DC have been invited to apply at least once. What state your organization is in will determine whether you receive an application in the Spring or Fall cycle (see map below). If your pregnancy center is located in the United States and has not had the opportunity to apply for the grant, Heartbeat may not have your updated contact information. You can confirm your organization’s or your personal contact information from your Affiliate Dashboard if you are a current affiliate of Heartbeat. Reach out to Camille Cisneros at ccisneros@heartbeatinternational.org if you think your pregnancy center may qualify but hasn’t received an invitation.

What if my organization is a pregnancy center that has a maternity home?

Pregnancy centers that happen to run maternity homes are welcome to apply, but are asked to only include client statistics and financial information that apply to the pregnancy center portion of your ministry in the application. Additionally, if a grant is awarded, the funds are to be used for general operating expenses for the pregnancy center.

I am based in the United States, but I have international satellite offices. Can I still apply?

As long as you are incorporated in the United States and offer active client services through a physical location in the US (whether brick-and-mortar or mobile unit), you are welcome to apply during the appropriate cycle for your state. However, the anonymous donor requires that client statistics and financial information provided in the application include only the US portion of your ministry. Additionally, if a grant is awarded, the funds are to be used for general operating expenses for the US portion of your ministry.

How much am I likely to receive if I do get a grant?

If an organization receives the Empower Life Grant, the minimum amount they will receive is $2,500 in operational funds. Some organizations receive $5,000, $10,000 or even more at the donor’s discretion.

Getting Ready to Apply

Where exactly do I apply?

Whether you've applied in the past or are applying now for the first time, the application is only available once you've completed the tutorial. Once you have completed the training, you will be able to click through to the full grant application for the current application window. The training is short, simple, and designed to help you show your organization in the best light possible for this grant (and hopefully others!). If you've applied before, pay close attention to recent clarifications as we continue to improve our process. Just remember to use the passcode from your email invitation!

Tell me more about the training/tutorial. 

We know that many pregnancy help centers have not had the opportunity to spend the time and energy to apply for a grant. Or perhaps you did once, but didn’t get the grant and haven’t tried again. That’s why we’ve made it as simple as we possibly can to represent your organization well for the Empower Life Grant in particular, and other donors or grantors in the future. The training is a brief walkthrough of how to put your best foot forward when applying for grants that specifically addresses categorizing expenses appropriately and arming yourself with powerful metrics. With these tools, you’re that much closer to winning any grant proposal - and it makes the Empower Life Grant application easy. 

How much time will I need to dedicate to this grant application?

In many ways, this depends on how easily you are able to pull stats for your center. It can take more or less time depending on whether you’ve done similar applications in the past or how you keep your budget and client information. Assuming your statistics are not too difficult to gather, we expect the entire process from the time you start the training to the time you submit an application to take about 90 minutes.

Application Questions

Where do I find my passcode?

Check your invitation email for your unique application passcode. You should be able to find your invitation by searching "Empower Life Grant" and looking for an email from our Vice President, Tracie Shellhouse. The passcode allows you to access your organization's personal application, which means you can start today, save your progress, and finish tomorrow if you need to. 

Why doesn't my passcode work?

First, confirm that the passcode you've entered matches the code provided in your invitation email. If you still receive a message that your passcode is invalid, confirm that the current application window is open for organizations in your state (see map above). If you still believe there is an error and your passcode is not allowing you to progress, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for assistance completing this application.

I'm confused about program expenses. What are program expenses and what is overhead?

Here's the short answer: program expenses are costs related to direct service of your clients, while overhead is not. There are easy expenses (like your curriculum, pregnancy tests, or ultrasound machine) that you know should go under program expenses, but don’t forget to include the salary of staff members providing client services or the cost of space where you provide services. For example, if your executive director works 25% of the time with clients and 75% of the time fundraising, put 25% of her salary under program expenses. You can also do this with your building. If 60% of your space is used directly in client services, you should allocate 60% of your rent or mortgage payment to program expenses. Insurance and membership dues are not program expenses since they do not directly serve clients. Have you read Jor-El's explanation of overhead and the reason major donors ask this question? Click here to read more! (Pro tip: This topic is explored in great detail in the grant training.)

I'm getting an error in the At-Risk Client Intentions section. What am I doing wrong?

The client intentions you are reporting on should only be those that were at-risk, so the total number of life, abortion, and unknown/undecided intentions should total the number of at-risk clients in the above section. If these numbers do not match, you will get an error! (NOTE: The number will not match your reported number of pregnancy tests.)

After You've Applied

How do I know if Heartbeat received my grant application?

After completing and submitting your application, you will receive an email confirmation. If for any reason you're not confident your application was successfully submitted, contact Camille Cisneros at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

How will I know if my organization receives a grant?

When the application window closes, the anonymous donor will choose grant recipients from the pool of qualified applicants and notify Heartbeat who will receive grants. We will then notify applicants whether they will receive grants or not for the current cycle (typically in May for the Spring or November for the Fall). More specific dates are provided in your invitation email.

When will I receive my grant award?

Grant monies are typically awarded in May for the Spring cycle or December for the Fall cycle. 

Are there any reporting requirements?

A year-end report will be required and details are provided to those who receive grants at the time of award.

by Jor-El Godsey, President
Heartbeat International

Do you ever have one of those moments when you hear a little bit of current culture while reading scripture that was written two and three millennia ago?

I do.

Usually, it happens when I remember that a phrase we commonly use today actually comes to us from scripture. Such as when I hear, or speak, phrases like “the skin of my teeth” (Job), or “handwriting is on the wall” (Daniel 5).

Then there are sayings that aren’t direct phrases from scripture but lean into biblical principle(s). An overly used one in recent years is when business conversations include the phrase, “come-to-Jesus moment.” When said in these contexts they really don’t want Jesus involved (mercifully) but want to have an intense conversation with an intended course correction. Of course, ironically, this leverages the very nature of a true encounter with Jesus which should inspire confession, repentance, and an intentional move toward righteousness.

Just today, while reading through the book of Job, a phrase jumped out at me. To be clear, the phrase itself, does not have traction in our modern lexicon. Though it does rhyme with a phrase used by rockers and is similar to one made popular by some Saturday Night Live characters.

Job is in dialogue with his “friends” who come to his side in his despair at losing everything important in his life (read Job 1-2 to set the scene). His companions spend much of their dialogue suggesting Job’s problems are his own doing. As their rant goes on, Job gets more and more exasperated at them and their accusation which he is certain is not true.

One of Job’s responses reveals his frustration.

“Bear with me, and I will speak, and after I have spoken, mock on.” (Job 21:3)

“Mock on.”

Can you hear your heavy metal friend say, “Rock on?” Or Wayne and Garth with their “Party on!?”

I did when I read that scripture. (Don’t judge me!)

But what I also heard was the exasperation of my own heart.

Job cannot fathom why he’s in such dire straits and attacked, seemingly, from all sides including heaven. He had been faithful to God and was “blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil.” (Job 1:1, see also 1:22, 2:9-10). Those speaking to him and about him are not being helpful.

In the pregnancy help community we have been about the business God has called us to. We have been diligently laboring in the mission field created by abortion to champion the value and worth of each woman, the intrinsic sanctity of life, and the importance of God’s gift of family. And we have done this for each life we encounter without thought of compensation, but only thinking of what we know is God’s best for them.

And yet there are powerful and persistent voices that mock what we do. They fabricate scenarios intended only to defame us and our work. They invent narratives that serve their avarice and ambitions. Some of these voices likely won’t be satisfied until we, like Job, have been stripped of every good thing we have and know.

Not unlike the real antagonist in the book of Job (read Job 1) our detractors today have actively aligned themselves against God’s handiwork. That includes the good work of God that is pregnancy help. That means we can take heart with what Job eventually learns when God enters the conversation. That God’s power and sovereignty are not lessened when we encounter trials and tribulations.

Job’s closing comments inspire us with exactly what we need to remember for our current challenges. We can look to the Lord with the same confidence of Job when he says, “I know that You can do all things, And that no plan is impossible for You” (Job 42:2). Indeed, the Lord will hear us as He did Job, who said (v. 4) “Please listen, and I will speak; I will ask You, and You instruct me.”

Let us take heart! The Lord will set a table full of provision before our enemy (Psalm 23). He will supply all that we need for the work He has called us to (Philippians 4:19). Our greatest success is found, first, in our faithfulness to Him.

So to our detractors, we can say, like Job, “mock on.” Knowing that our God is mindful of those who mock Him and His work (Galatians 6:7).