Entrepreneur Program
The Overseas Initiative (TOI) trains Cuban church members to run a small business. Then Cuban trustees approve seed funds, and what comes back stays in Cuba for the next business.
TOI is a 501(c)(3) Christian nonprofit in Birmingham, Alabama. Cubans lead the work, and our board covers all overhead.
Get updates from CubaThe most meaningful help is not a handout. It is an opportunity.
STEP 1
The training runs eight weeks and is taught in Spanish. The first phase is biblical stewardship. The second walks each student through a business plan: a first idea, pricing, break even, profit and loss, and cash flow. It costs $100 per person, which covers meals, travel and the other costs of the course.
STEP 2
Each student ends by presenting a written plan. Those who finish can apply for seed funds, and Cuban trustees approve, modify, or reject each proposal.
STEP 3
Seed funds are capped at $10,000. What comes back stays in Cuba and launches the next business, so one investment keeps working for more Cuban families.
STEP 4
Each entrepreneur is paired with an American business mentor, who walks alongside them by video call.
Where your gift goes
TOI's Executive Director receives no compensation.
TOI's American staff is one part-time employee.
Our Board funds all overhead expenses.
We did that by design, so that 100% of donations go directly to Cuba.
The Overseas Initiative is a 501(c)(3), EIN 92-0668947. We receive no government funding, and TOI complies with all OFAC regulations.
Give nowOur long-term goal is to seed small businesses carried out by Cuban Christians in their own communities. The ultimate aim is for Cuban Christians and churches to sustain their own ministries and livelihood, rather than depending on outside assistance. This allows their dignity to remain intact, while furthering the expansion of the gospel. Some call this business as mission, or faith based microfinance. We call it an opportunity.
What Cuban churches are doing, what to pray for, and how the food and seed funds are going.
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Cuban trustees decide who receives seed funds, Cuban pastors decide where the food goes, and Cuban teachers deliver most of the training. We supply, we mentor, and we get out of the way.
Cuba is in a deep economic crisis. Basic economic principles are not widely taught there, which leaves families with few ways to provide for themselves. Even so, the church in Cuba is growing.
Our desire is to see Cuban Christians become self-sufficient economically, able to provide for their own communities and churches rather than depend on Americans.
22
small businesses funded so far (October 2026).
Mentor. American business professionals already walk alongside Cuban entrepreneurs by video call. If that is you, write to us at info@theoverseasinitiative.org.
Pray. For the entrepreneurs in training and the businesses they are building.
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