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Winning Grants to Strengthen Your Ministry

RECOMMENDED BOOKS  

Winning urbanministry.org/grants" class="" title="Grant Resources">Grants to Strengthen Your Ministry

by Joy Skjegstad (Alban Institute, 2007)

 

Resource Type: Book

 

Main Audience: urbanministry.org/churches-0" class="" title="Church Resources">Church and para-urbanministry.org/churches-0" class="" title="Church Resources">church ministry leaders who need the basics on fundraising

 

Purchase Now

 

Summary:

 

This detailed and readable manual is the essential tool for all ministry leaders at the beginning of their fundraising efforts. It begins by tackling the issue of how biblical fundraising is and moves on from there to assessing your ministry’s readiness to compete for grants. Skjegstad brings a wealth of personal experience as a grant writer and nonprofit ministry director and consultant to this project. She defines different types of grants and walks readers through assessing secular funders. The book is chock-full of useful tips about proposal writing, researching potential donors, and figuring out how to make project timelines and budgets.

 

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Fundraising Bookshelf: An Annotated Bibliography

The Online Directory of Foundations Supporting Christian Organizations

Holding a Silent Auction

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Raising Resources: A More-Than-Fundraising Workshop

Starting a Nonprofit at Your Church


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Starting a Nonprofit at Your Church

    RECOMMENDED BOOKS

Starting a Nonprofit at Your urbanministry.org/churches-0" class="" title="Church Resources">Church

by Joy Skjegstad

Purchase Now!
The Alban Institute, 2002.

Summary:

A former executive director of a urbanministry.org/churches-0" class="" title="Church Resources">church-based nonprofit organization, Joy Skjegstad lays her practical experience and insider perspective on the table in this helpful, easy-to-read how-to book. She addresses such practical topics as defining the organization's mission, setting up a board, raising funds, managing personnel and legal issues, and maintaining a positive relationship with the church.

Why does FASTEN recommend this resource?

Starting a Nonprofit is an excellent resource for congregations preparing to set up nonprofit organizations, and for urbanministry.org/churches-0" class="" title="Church Resources">church-based nonprofit directors interested in refreshing their organizational structures. In addition to useful guidelines, Starting a Nonprofit offers many concrete examples of nonprofit start-ups, including different models of relationships between the church and the nonprofit, and offers numerous insights about board development and personnel and legal issues. The book contains checklists of things to do or consider as you begin, self-assessment tools, sample job descriptions, progress evaluation steps, and suggested answers to common problems that every nonprofit faces. The book also points the reader to a number of practical resources.




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Qualities of Effective Board Members

Maintaining a Positive Relationship Between Your Nonprofit and Your Church

Four Quick Tips for a Positive Church-Nonprofit Relationship

Seven Key Questions for a Good Church-Nonprofit Relationship

Structuring Your Board of Directors

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Community Ministry: New Challenges, Proven Steps to faith-based initiatives

The ABC’s of Community Ministry


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Four Quick Tips for a Positive Church-Nonprofit Relationship

      ORGANIZATIONAL START-UP RESOURCE  

Four Quick Tips for a Positive urbanministry.org/churches-0" class="" title="Church Resources">Church-Nonprofit Relationship

(Adapted from Starting a Nonprofit at Your Church by Joy Skjegstad, The Alban Institute, 2002.  Used with permission. Obtain this item. ­Note: You will be leaving the FASTEN Web site.­)

1. Communicate regularly and effectively with the urbanministry.org/churches-0" class="" title="Church Resources">congregation. Keep the urbanministry.org/churches-0" class="" title="Church Resources">congregation involved in the process so they will get involved and stay involved with the nonprofit in the future.

2. Negotiate communication “space” for the nonprofit. Use the pulpit, the bulletin, and the Sunday School classroom to educate people about the organization and opportunities for involvement.

3. Maintain positive relationships with key church staff. Involve church leaders as part of an ongoing collaborative effort between the church and the nonprofit.

4. Maintain positive relationships with lay leaders. Individuals with influence in the congregation can affect who gets involved and who stays involved with the nonprofit over time.

 

 

Related Articles
Maintaining a Positive Relationship Between Your Nonprofit and Your Church

Seven Key Questions for a Good Church-Nonprofit Relationship

Structuring Your Board of Directors

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Starting a Nonprofit at Your Church


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Seven Key Questions for a Good Church-Nonprofit Relationship

        

ORGANIZATIONAL START-UP RESOURCE

 

Seven Key Questions for a Good urbanministry.org/churches-0" class="" title="Church Resources">Church-Nonprofit Relationship

(Adapted from Starting a Nonprofit at Your Church by Joy Skjegstad,  The Alban Institute, 2002.  Used with permission.  Obtain this item.­)

As you begin planning for your urbanministry.org/churches-0" class="" title="Church Resources">church-based nonprofit organization, it’s important that you keep the lines of communication open between the nonprofit and the nonprofit’s founding urbanministry.org/churches-0" class="" title="Church Resources">congregation. This list of seven questions is designed as a printable resource to help the nonprofit’s board and staff in discussing and preparing effective channels of communication between the nonprofit and the church.

1.  What communication tools will you use to communicate with your congregation?

  • church bulletin
  • church newsletter
  • announcements from pulpit
  • church special events
  • nonprofit’s brochures or newsletters
  • new member class or packets
  • presentations to classes or small groups
  • nonprofit special events
  • church board meetings or committee meetings

2.  What is your schedule for communicating with the congregation about the nonprofit?

3.  Who are the key church staff members you need to stay in close communication with?

4.  What strategies will you use to communicate with them?

5.  Which key church lay leaders do you need to stay in close communication with?

6.  What strategies will you use to communicate with them?

7.  Are there any informal lay leaders of the church who should be “in the loop” regarding the nonprofit?

 

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Structuring Your Board of Directors and Qualities of Effective Board Members

MANAGEMENT & urbanministry.org/leadership" class="" title="Leadership Resources">LEADERSHIP RESOURCE

Structuring Your urbanministry.org/board-development" class="" title="Board Development Resources">Board of Directors

(Adapted from Starting a Nonprofit at Your Church by Joy Skjegstad, The Alban Institute, 2002. Obtain this item. Note: You will be leaving the FASTEN Web site.)

Establishing a nonprofit urbanministry.org/board-development" class="" title="Board Development Resources">board of directors is essentially a two-step process: first, choose the board’s structure, and second, recruit board members. Within those two steps, however, are multiple possibilities. The trick is to select the best options for your organization’s needs.

Step One: The Structure

Model 1: The Church Board Also Serves as the Nonprofit’s Board

Pros of This Model

Cons of This Model

Strong connection to the church and its leadership

Less control over who serves on the board

Can begin work with the nonprofit quickly, do not have to wait to form a board

Church and nonprofit may need different kinds of board members due to:
-different purposes of organization
-different pace of work
-different skills needed
-different networks needed

May be a good way to start: build trust with the nonprofit first, form separate board later

Church board could have little time to devote to the nonprofit, if there is pressing church business

For churches with little organizational experience outside of the church itself, this model is a simple, straightforward way to give the nonprofit instant credibility. Nonprofits directed by a church board have the advantage of a ready-made relationship with the church, and already earned trusts between the board members. Such nonprofits are able to move into their areas of service quickly, without having to wait through the process of forming a board, learn the strengths and weaknesses of the board members, or garner support from the founding church.

However, church board members whose skills perfectly complement the needs of the church may not match so well with the needs of the nonprofit. During times of urgent church business, the dual-acting board may be torn in its loyalties, having to choose between concentrating on church affairs and providing the leadership the nonprofit requires. Inevitably, the nonprofit may be counted the lesser priority, and its capacity for serving the community will suffer.

Model 2: A Completely Separate Board for the Nonprofit

Pros of This Model

Cons of This Model

Creates the opportunity for the church and nonprofit to be in alignment with each other

Can be a challenge to bring together people from inside and outside the church on the board:
-differences in values
-differences in theology
-differences in how they view the community
-differences in work culture/pace of work

Creates natural communication channels between church and nonprofit

A more complicated structure to administrate:
-more reporting requirements
-recruiting board members is more complicated

Can intentionally select nonprofit board members with the right mix of:
-expertise
-community connection
-networks and partners
-fundraising contacts

 

Congregation still feels a sense of ownership for the ministries of the nonprofit

 

In this model, the nonprofit is free to engage board members that best suit the nonprofit’s needs and methods. The disadvantage of this model is that without a direct connection to the church, the nonprofit may struggle to get needed financial and volunteer support from church members. Eventually, the church and nonprofit may sever all ties.

Model 3: A Separate Board for the Nonprofit That Has Accountability to the Church

Pros of This Model

Cons of This Model

Complete freedom to recruit the board members that the nonprofit needs

Harder to stay connected to the church's mission and its leadership

Freedom for the nonprofit to establish its own culture and work at its own pace

Could lead to disunity/split between the church and nonprofit

The third model combines the best aspects of the first two models, creating a structure in which the nonprofit board is distinct in membership from the church board, but the nonprofit board has accountability to the church. The “separate but accountable” nonprofit board can select the best board members for the nonprofit’s needs, without having to settle for a ready-made, ill-fitting church board. The board has the advantage of partnership with the founding church, so that the church congregation feels involved in and somewhat responsible for the nonprofit ministries. The challenges for this model involve the extra effort required to report the nonprofit’s activities and goals to the church, and the extra difficulties of compiling board members of diverse backgrounds and faiths from the church and community.

Step 2: Recruit Board Members

An effective nonprofit board of directors requires effective board members. When setting up a board of directors for your nonprofit organization, equip your board with individuals who demonstrate the following qualities:

  • Integrity.  Effective board members are committed to an "above-board" organization that complies with all laws on all governmental levels.

  • Strategy. Board members prepare and adhere to a sound strategic plan that provides measurable goals and ensures ongoing financial resources to support the organization's staffing and programs.

  • Service. Board members faithfully attend board meetings and special organizational events. They talk with staff members and clients, and sound out problems that need fixing or issues that must be addressed.

  • Commitment. Board members demonstrate their faith in the organization through personal financial contributions.

  • Preparation. Board members do their homework; they come to meetings informed and ready to discuss concerns, questions and disagreements about organizational methods and goals.

  • Enthusiasm. Board members are eager to learn, willing to be team players, and energetic in their service.

  • Scrutiny. Board members audit their records regularly and in detail.

  • Knowledge. Board members know the organization's mission and purpose, and understand how its programs and services support the organization's strategic plan.

  • Diplomacy. Board members represent the best of the organization, and mediate appropriately between the organization and the community it serves.

  • Focus. Board members direct the organization toward its goals without getting tied down in details or sidetracked by non-crucial issues.

  • Diversity. An effective board includes and involves members from various fields of expertise, with applicable degrees of organizational experience, to ensure that the organization is well balanced in its strengths.

  • Accountability. Each board member has a unique function on the board. Board members accept responsibility for their functions and for their actions.

  • Dependence. Board members acknowledge the value of the organization's staff and the need for committed, consistent volunteers.




Related Articles
Qualities of Effective Board Members

Maintaining a Positive Relationship Between Your Nonprofit and Your Church

Four Quick Tips for a Positive Church-Nonprofit Relationship

Seven Key Questions for a Good Church-Nonprofit Relationship

Related Books
Starting a Nonprofit at Your Church


News
Conference Calendar
Forum
Find Others
Ask a Specialist
Weiterlesen

Structuring Your Board of Directors

MANAGEMENT & urbanministry.org/leadership" class="" title="Leadership Resources">LEADERSHIP RESOURCE  

Structuring Your urbanministry.org/board-development" class="" title="Board Development Resources">Board of Directors

(Adapted from Starting a Nonprofit at Your Church by Joy Skjegstad, The Alban Institute, 2002. Obtain this item.)

Establishing a nonprofit urbanministry.org/board-development" class="" title="Board Development Resources">board of directors is essentially a two-step process: first, choose the board’s structure, and second, recruit board members. Within those two steps, however, are multiple possibilities. The trick is to select the best options for your organization’s needs.

Step One: The Structure

 

Model 1: The Church Board Also Serves as the Nonprofit’s Board

Pros of This Model
Cons of This Model
Strong connection to the church and its leadership
Less control over who serves on the board
Can begin work with the nonprofit quickly, do not have to wait to form a board
Church and nonprofit may need different kinds of board members due to:
-different purposes of organization
-different pace of work
-different skills needed
-different networks needed
May be a good way to start: build trust with the nonprofit first, form separate board later
Church board could have little time to devote to the nonprofit, if there is pressing church business

 

For churches with little organizational experience outside of the church itself, this model is a simple, straightforward way to give the nonprofit instant credibility. Nonprofits directed by a church board have the advantage of a ready-made relationship with the church, and already earned trusts between the board members. Such nonprofits are able to move into their areas of service quickly, without having to wait through the process of forming a board, learn the strengths and weaknesses of the board members, or garner support from the founding church.

However, church board members whose skills perfectly complement the needs of the church may not match so well with the needs of the nonprofit. During times of urgent church business, the dual-acting board may be torn in its loyalties, having to choose between concentrating on church affairs and providing the leadership the nonprofit requires. Inevitably, the nonprofit may be counted the lesser priority, and its capacity for serving the community will suffer.
 

Model 2: A Completely Separate Board for the Nonprofit

Pros of This Model
Cons of This Model
Creates the opportunity for the church and nonprofit to be in alignment with each other
Can be a challenge to bring together people from inside and outside the church on the board:
-differences in values
-differences in theology
-differences in how they view the community
-differences in work culture/pace of work
Creates natural communication channels between church and nonprofit
A more complicated structure to administrate:
-more reporting requirements
-recruiting board members is more complicated
Can intentionally select nonprofit board members with the right mix of:
-expertise
-community connection
-networks and partners
-fundraising contacts
 
Congregation still feels a sense of ownership for the ministries of the nonprofit
 

 

In this model, the nonprofit is free to engage board members that best suit the nonprofit’s needs and methods. The disadvantage of this model is that without a direct connection to the church, the nonprofit may struggle to get needed financial and volunteer support from church members. Eventually, the church and nonprofit may sever all ties.

Model 3: A Separate Board for the Nonprofit That Has Accountability to the Church

The third model combines the best aspects of the first two models, creating a structure in which the nonprofit board is distinct in membership from the church board, but the nonprofit board has accountability to the church. The “separate but accountable” nonprofit board can select the best board members for the nonprofit’s needs, without having to settle for a ready-made, ill-fitting church board. The board has the advantage of partnership with the founding church, so that the church congregation feels involved in and somewhat responsible for the nonprofit ministries. The challenges for this model involve the extra effort required to report the nonprofit’s activities and goals to the church, and the extra difficulties of compiling board members of diverse backgrounds and faiths from the church and community.
Pros of This Model
Cons of This Model
Complete freedom to recruit the board members that the nonprofit needs
Harder to stay connected to the church's mission and its leadership
Freedom for the nonprofit to establish its own culture and work at its own pace
Could lead to disunity/split between the church and nonprofit
 

 

 

Related Articles
Qualities of Effective Board Members

Maintaining a Positive Relationship Between Your Nonprofit and Your Church

Four Quick Tips for a Positive Church-Nonprofit Relationship

Seven Key Questions for a Good Church-Nonprofit Relationship

Related Books
Starting a Nonprofit at Your Church


News
Conference Calendar
Forum
Find Others
Ask a Specialist
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Estructurando su Junta Directiva y Cualidades de los Miembros en una Junta Directiva Efectiva


Estructurando su Junta Directiva

(Adaptado de Empezando una Organización no lucrativa en su Iglesia por Joy Skjegstad, El Instituto Alban, 2002. Usado con permiso. Obtenga (http://www.alban.org/BookDetails.asp?ID=860)

 este urbanministry.org/arts_social_justice" class="" title="Arts & Social Justice Resources">artículo. Nota: Usted dejará la página de internet de FASTEN.)

 

Estableciendo una junta directiva para una organización no lucrativa (ONL), es esencialmente un proceso de dos pasos: primero, elija la estructura de la junta directiva y segundo, contrate miembros de la junta directiva. Dentro de esos dos pasos, no obstante, hay múltiples posibilidades. El truco es el de seleccionar las mejores opciones para las necesidades de su organización.

 

Paso uno: La estructura

 

Modelo 1: Los miembros de la Junta Directiva de la iglesia, también sirven como directores en la organización no lucrativa.

 

Pros de este modelo                                   Contras de este modelo

 

Sólida conexión con la iglesia y                 Menos control sobre quién sirve en la

sus líderes.                                           Junta Directiva

 

Pueden empezar a trabajar con la             Iglesia y ONL podrían necesitar diferentes

ONL rápidamente, no tienen que               tipos de miembros en la Junta Directiva

Esperar a formar una Junta Directiva         debido a:

-         Diferentes propósitos de la organización

-         Diferente ritmo de trabajo

-         Diferentes habilidades necesarias

Podría ser un buen tiempo para                La Junta Directiva de la iglesia podría

empezar: construir confianza con             tener poco tiempo que dedicar a la ONL,

la ONL primero, formar una Junta              si hay asuntos más urgentes en la iglesia

Directiva, por separado después.

 

Para iglesias con poca experiencia organizacional fuera de la misma iglesia, este modelo es una forma simple y directa de dar a la ONL credibilidad instantánea. ONL dirigidas solamente por la directiva de la iglesia, tienen la ventaja de una relación ya hecha con la iglesia, y confianza ya adquirida con los miembros de la directiva. Dichas ONL son capaces de moverse en sus áreas de servicio rápidamente, sin tener que esperar al proceso de formar una junta directiva, aprender las cualidades y flaquezas de los miembros de la junta, o ganar apoyo de la iglesia fundadora.

 

Sin embargo, los miembros de la junta directiva de la iglesia cuyas cualidades complementan perfectamente las necesidades de la iglesia, podrían no encajar muy bien con las necesidades de la ONL. Durante tiempos de negocios urgentes de la iglesia, la directiva de acción doble podría estar dividida en sus lealtades, teniendo que elegir entre concentrarse en asuntos de la iglesia y proveer el liderazgo que la ONL requiere. Inevitablemente, la ONL podría ser contada como la menos importante, y su capacidad de servir a la comunidad sufriría.

 

Modelo 2: Una Junta Directiva Completamente Separada de la Organización no Lucrativa

Pros de este modelo                                   Contras de este modelo

 

Crea la oportunidad para que                   Podrían ser un desafío traer juntas a

la iglesia y ONL estén alineadas                personas dentro y fuera de la iglesia a la Junta Directiva:

-         Diferencias en valores

-         Diferencias en teología

-         Diferencias en cómo ven a la comunidad

-         Diferencias en cultura/ritmo de trabajo

 

Crea comunicación natural entre               Una estructura más complicada para

los canales de la iglesia y la ONL               administrar:

-         Más requerimientos de reporte

-         Contrato de miembros de la junta es más complicado

 

Puede intencionalmente seleccionar

miembros de la junta de la ONL con

la mezcla apropiada:

-         Experiencia

-         Conexión con la comunidad

-         Redes y socios

-         Contactos para recaudar fondos

 

La congregación todavía se siente como

propietaria de los ministerios de la ONL

 

En este modelo, la ONL es libre de involucrar miembros de la junta que mejor sirve sus necesidades y métodos. La desventaja de este modelo es que sin una conexión directa con la iglesia, la ONL podría tener dificultad en obtener apoyo financiero necesario y apoyo de voluntarios entre los miembros de la iglesia. Sin esto, la iglesia y la ONL podrían romper todos los lazos.

 

Modelo 3: Una Juntad Directiva Separada para la Organización no Lucrativa que tiene responsabilidad con la iglesia.

 

Pros de este modelo                                   Contras de este modelo

 

Completa libertad para contratar              Más difícil de permanecer conectados a la

los miembros de la junta directiva             misión de la iglesia y sus líderes

que la ONL necesita

 

Libertad para la ONL para establecer         Podría llevar a la desunión/división entre

su propia cultura y trabajo a su propio       la iglesia y la ONL

ritmo

 

Este tercer modelo combina los mejores aspectos de los primeros dos modelos, creando una estructura en la cual la directiva de la ONL es distinta en su membresía con la directiva de la iglesia, pero la directiva de la ONL tiene responsabilidad con la iglesia. La “separada pero responsable” directiva de la ONL, puede seleccionar los mejores miembros de la directiva para las necesidades de la ONL, sin tener que quedarse con la ya establecida de la iglesia que no se adapte.

La directiva tiene la ventaja de asociarse con la iglesia fundadora, para que su congregación se sienta involucrada y algo responsable de los ministerios de la ONL. Los desafíos para este modelo incluyen el esfuerzo extra requerido para reportar las actividades y metas de la ONL a la iglesia, y las dificultades extras de combinar miembros de la directiva con diversos pasados y su fe hacia la iglesia y su comunidad.

 

Averigüe más acerca del Paso 2: Contratando Miembros para la Junta Directiva



l

r

Cualidades de los Miembros en una Junta Directiva Efectiva

Estableciendo una junta directiva para organizaciones no lucrativas es esencialmente un proceso de dos pasos. Primero, usted debe elegir la estructura de su directiva y luego, contratar a sus miembros.

 

Paso 2: Contratando Miembros para la Junta Directiva

 

Una junta directiva efectiva de una organización no lucrativa, requiere miembros efectivos. Cuando esté formando una comitiva de directores para su ONL, equípela con individuos que demuestren las siguientes cualidades:

 

  • Integridad. Los miembros efectivos de la junta directiva están sometidos a una organización o “comité superior” que se acata a todas las leyes en todo nivel gubernamental.
  • Estrategia. Los miembros de la junta directiva se preparan y adhieren a un plan estratégico sólido que provee metas sensibles y asegura recursos monetarios consistentes, para sostener al personal de la organización y sus programas.
  • Servicio. Los miembros de la junta directiva atienden reuniones de la junta directiva y eventos especiales de la organización. Ellos hablan con los miembros del personal y clientes, y sondean los problemas que necesitan arreglo o asuntos que deben ser discutidos.
  • Compromiso. Los miembros de la junta directiva demuestran su fe en la organización a través de contribuciones monetarias.
  • Preparación. Los miembros de la junta directiva hacen sus tareas; atienden reuniones informados y listos para discutir preocupaciones, preguntas y desacuerdos, acerca de los métodos y metas de la organización.
  • Entusiasmo. Los miembros de la junta directiva están deseosos de aprender, dispuestos a ser parte del equipo y dinámicos en su servicio.
  • Escrutinio. Los miembros de la junta directiva hacen una auditoria de sus archivos regular y detalladamente.
  • Conocimiento. Los miembros de la junta directiva saben la misión de la organización y su propósito, y entienden cómo sus programas y servicios soportan el plan estratégico de la organización.
  • Diplomacia. Los miembros de la junta directiva representan lo mejor de la organización, y hacen de intermediarios apropiadamente, entre la organización y la comunidad a la que sirve
  • Enfoque. Los miembros de la junta directiva dirigen la organización hacia sus metas, sin amarrarse a detalles o distraerse con asuntos que no son cruciales.
  • Diversidad. Una junta directiva efectiva incluye e involucra a miembros de varios campos de experiencia, con grados aplicables en organizaciones, para asegurar que la organización esté bien balanceada en sus cualidades.
  • Responsabilidad. Cada miembro de la junta directiva tiene una función única en el comité. Ellos asumen responsabilidad por sus funciones y por sus acciones.
  • Dependencia. Los miembros de la junta directiva reconocen el valor del personal de la organización y la necesidad de voluntarios comprometidos y consistentes.

 

Encuentre más acerca de Paso 1: Eligiendo la estructura de su Junta Directiva

 

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Volunteer Opportunities: Joy Skjegstad

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