Non-Profits
The Care and Feeding of Volunteers
The church is the largest “volunteer” organization in the world. How are we treating our volunteers? How can you get more people to share the load? A volunteer is a person who willingly serves. Their livelihood does not depend on their serving. Sometimes leaders in the local church (most of whom are also unpaid volunteers) […]
Thanks, Gracias, Merci!
Once you have received the gift that you were seeking, you may think that your work is done. However, the most important part of you work has not even happened yet. Now, you need to say thanks. Many donors tell me that they just can’t believe that they gave a gift to XYZ organization and […]
Building an Effective Sponsorship Program
Are you looking for a way to generate additional revenues for the nonprofit or ministry without going back to your faithful donors? Sponsorships are a great way to bring in additional funds for nonprofits and ministries. Let’s begin by developing a definition of sponsorship to ensure we are all on the same page. A sponsorship […]
The Nonprofit’s Greatest Asset
The unique value of a nonprofit organization lies in its people. Nonprofit executives and employees bring to the table the combined power of a generous spirit and an unflagging commitment to the cause. The paradox arises in that in order to maximize the effectiveness of this nonprofit spirit, you still need to “run it like […]
Five Things You Need To Know About Grant Funding
Once an organization obtains its 501(c)(3) nonprofit status, immediately the thought goes to funding and how can we find funding to support all the great work we want to do. Before you go off to begin writing grant proposals, here are five things you need to know. Grant funding cannot be the only source of […]
Funding for Faith
Ministries and faith based organizations frequently ask whether or not grant funding can be part of their funding plan. An equal number of ministries tell me: “Oh, no we don’t accept grant funding.” Grant funding should never be considered the only source of funding for an organization. However, it can be one source of funding […]
Becoming an Active Agent of Transformation
“The relationships Christians have with the people around them are key to reaching the world for Christ,” says Mark Greene, respected speaker and pioneer in workplace ministry for two decades. “Mission research reveals that the key element in most people’s conversion to Christianity is a relationship with a person.” Greene serves as the executive director […]
Faith Based Organizations: Fighting Poverty or Cultural Wars?
A mid-May, 2015, Catholic-evangelical summit brought together President Obama, academic experts, and faith leaders to consider how to more effectively address persistent poverty. Was this a u-turn from the churches’ focus on pro-life and marriage crusades? The Catholic-Evangelical Leadership Summit on Overcoming Poverty, at Georgetown University, co-sponsored by Georgetown’s Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public […]
Are You Drifting?
Why was your nonprofit formed? Is this still the focus of the work of the organization? Mission drift occurs when the organization begins to “drift” away from the purpose or mission of the organization. The mission statement is the statement of purpose for the organization and sets your organization apart. Does it matter if the […]
Four Foundation Funding Myths
Many nonprofits seek foundation funding to support the mission of their organization. However, many grant seekers frequently become discouraged and frustrated — often because they have bought into one of the common myths about foundation funding. Myth 1: Funders are clear about what they want to fund. Because funders have the money, they are always […]
