Non-Profits
Family, Friends and Fools: Understanding Business as Mission
The last edition of CPN OnPoint presented an introduction to Business as Mission (BAM), as a means of gaining access to strategic and unreached places through building businesses worldwide. This article takes that discussion to the next and practical level. Socrates said that “the unexamined life is not worth living.” Every follower of Jesus should […]
Business as Mission
Many business professionals and church leaders today are hearing of the term “Business as Mission”(BAM). While there are many variances to a perfect definition, I like the expression of J.D. Greear of the Summit Church in Raleigh-Durham, NC, “Christians in the marketplace today are able to gain access more easily to strategic, unreached places. Globalization, […]
Church Branding: True “Branding” Is More Than Skin Deep
It seems like churches these days have seen the power of marketing and branding just enough to jump onto the bandwagon. Churches everywhere are sliding onto the re-branding table and looking for a quick-fix for their “growing” concerns. A few recent conversations have illustrated the missing link in a church’s preparedness to go under the […]
The Outcome Oriented Non-Profit Organization
Donors and the public are increasingly expecting non-profits to demonstrate that their work is making a measureable difference – to be outcome oriented and not just ministry oriented. Simply put, outcomes answer the question, “what have we accomplished?” Clearly, the purpose of a nonprofit is to change something or make a difference, so when we […]
American Charities Study is Essential Reading for Non-Profits
American Charities has released its “Snapshot 2014” study, concerning what motivates donors to give to a particular charity. The title of the study is “Rising Tide of Expectations” and it documents what many non-profits are experiencing: that “donors and the public expect charities to demonstrate greater accountability, transparency, and evidence that their work is making […]
Evaluation: Non-Profits Measure What is Important to Us
Many nonprofits struggle with evaluation. I often hear complaints that evaluation is simply too difficult, that it is impossible to measure the effects of programs and services and that evaluation takes too much time and money. However, to be successful in today’s world of accountability and transparency, evaluation is necessary and can help you to […]
So Your Church Needs Capital Funds
Church projects are jumping. Whether constructing new environments, renovating space, going multi-site or expanding missional outreach, churches are shaking off the doldrums and moving forward. These projects usually need increased funding from the congregation. As leaders evaluating the process and options, what are the trends and expectations you should consider moving forward with a project […]
Board Roles and Responsibilities in a Non-Profit Organization
A nonprofit board of directors has three roles: (1) Setting organizational direction; (2) Ensuring the organization has the necessary resources to do its work; and (3) Providing oversight. Setting Organizational Direction It is the responsibility of the board to establish the mission of the organization and to write a mission statement. The mission statement should […]
Rethinking Political Speech for Non-Profit Organizations
An advisory commission of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability has recently released recommendations for reforming the ban on electioneering by churches and other 501(c)(3) organizations. The commission has recommended that the it ought to be up to the organizations themselves to decide whether to speak about candidates. The Commission on Accountability and Policy for […]
Understanding Your Volunteers: The Unpaid Yet Invaluable “Employees” of Your Organization
One important factor for those who want to start a nonprofit organization or for those who want to grow their established nonprofit, is to understand the value of volunteers to their mission. For many nonprofit organizations, volunteers are truly the heartbeat of the organization. They keep many organizations going by providing high quality services to […]
