Non-profit Ministry Funding Sites

Post a Comment » Written on February 23rd, 2012     
Filed under: Church Finance
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Does your church have a connection to a non-profit involved in healthcare, education, or community outreach efforts? Here are some sites that list funding and grant opportunities.

The Foundation Center offers multiple ways to research fund opportunities. Find listings of organizations that received grants or find listings of foundations who gave grants. Find grant maps that show where grant money is going in the world, or where it is coming from, as well.

Guidestar offers information on non-profit organizations to help donors with their giving decisions. They offer other funding analysis as well.

Grantsmart, now run by Noza (through UC Berkeley) is a site dedicated to providing free foundation information via 990 charitable foundation tax forms. Find information on foundation gifts to other non-profits, as well as other information, such as assets, officers, etc.

Grantmaker Libraries: Find grantmaker affinity groups. This site lists affinity groups where you can find foundations who may fund your outreach efforts. There are many sites like this when you search keyword ‘grantmaker affinity group’.

Foundation and Grant Resources: Find a listing of grant making institutions here.

Here is a blog for those in fundraising roles.

 

 

 

 




Keeping God’s Earth

Post a Comment » Written on April 20th, 2011     
Filed under: Earth Stewardship
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Keeping God’s Earth: The Global Environment in Biblical Perspective
Edited by Noah J. Toly and Daniel I. Block
Order Here
Reviewed by Marianne Peters in The Covenant Companion, she describes it as “a collection of essays from Old and New Testament theologians, environmental policy scholars, Christian biologists, geologists, and environmental scientists. Rather than taking an either/or, science versus religion stance, this collection presents the latest thinking on biblical scholarship side by side with the latest information about climate. The authors reveal what the Bible tells us about God’s plan for redeeming the earth and what the latest studies show us about the consequences of ignoring climate change.”




The Spirit of Food

Post a Comment » Written on April 20th, 2011     
Filed under: Whole Life
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The Spirit of Food, edited
by Leslie Leyland Fields
Order Here

The Spirit of Food is a compilation of essays by 34 writers on the themes of food, fasting, feasting, and the sacrament of the table. Each essay explores food and our relationship with it and offers a recipe at the end. Authors include Lauren Winner, Wendell Berry, Amy Frykholm, and a host of chefs, theologians, pastors, and farmers. From the cover, it is described: “Thirty-four adventurous writers open their kitchens, their recipe files, and their hearts to illustrate the many unexpected ways that food draws us closer to God, to community, and to creation. All bring a keen eye and palette to the larger questions of the role of food—both its presence and its absence—in the life of our bodies and spirits.”




Food for Thought

Post a Comment » Written on November 1st, 2010     
Filed under: Personal Finance, Whole Life
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Here are some links to stewardship-related videos that may be good discussion starters. Enjoy!




Stewardship Events

Post a Comment » Written on October 14th, 2010     
Filed under: Whole Life
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If you know of a great stewardship event in your region, let us know at kerry.staurseth (at) covchurch.org.

  • Stewardship Kaleidoscope, March 11-13, 2013, in St Louis, MO, is a stewardship conference sponsored by the PCUSA denomination. Fundraising emphasis, rather than whole-life stewardship.
  • Good Sen$e was at North Park Covenant Church in Chicago recently. Attendees started the workshop feeling anxiety about their finances, and left feeling “at peace”. I would encourage all of our churches to consider hosting a workshop. Please let us know if you do and we’ll post it here!
  • Visit the Flourish website and check out their creation care calendar for the year!
  • If you live in the Chicago area and are looking for help with managing your finances, Willow Creek offers several Good $ense workshops during the year. Find details here.



Church Tithing and Finances Covenant Companion Articles

Comments Off Written on September 1st, 2010     
Filed under: Church Finance
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Offering a Healing Presence, by Chris Haydon – May 2010

The Narcotic of Prosperity, by John E. Phelan – March 2009

Deregulated, by John E. Phelan – January 2009

The Dow, Debt, and Despair…And the Redemptive Word of God, by Mindi Bach – December 2008

Church Financial Leaders Reflect on Market Crisis – November 2008

Reaping Kernels of Hope, by Matt Enquist – May 2009

When the Market Came to Town, by Lawrence Hudson – June 2009




Church Financial Stewardship Articles

Comments Off Written on September 1st, 2010     
Filed under: Church Finance
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Christianity Today
Wanting More in an Age of Plenty
Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and The Christian Consumer
It Takes More than a Recession to End Consumption
Buy to Be, Be to Buy
Culture in an Age of Consumption
Church Finances: Spotting Red Flags
Is Your Church Fiscally Fit?
Are We Staying on Budget?
Our Interesting Approaches to Tithing
California Dreaming

Leadership Network
The Genesis of Generosity
Generosity Needs More Than a Sermon

Your Church
Building Better Budgets
Surviving a Church Financial Audit

Other publications
Seven Ways Home, by Jill Shook, Sojourners (Ideas to keep housing affordable)
Ways of Giving, by Brad Hill, Christian Century
Irrational Act, Forbes
Scarcity and Generosity, Sojourners
Stewardship and Simple Thinking, Alban Institute
Safeguard the Church Treasury, Church Finance
New Study Shows Trends in Tithing and Donating, – Barna Update
Economics for Disciples, Christian Century




Personal Finance Covenant Companion Articles

Comments Off Written on September 1st, 2010     
Filed under: Personal Finance
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The Narcotic of Prosperity, by John E. Phelan – March 2009

Deregulated, by John E. Phelan – January 2009

Thrifty Thoughts, by Heidi Griepp – December 2008

The Dow, Debt, and Despair…And the Redemptive Word of God, by Mindi Bach – December 2008

Church Financial Leaders Reflect on Market Crisis – November 2008




Tithing and Finances Articles from Covenant Newswire

Comments Off Written on September 1st, 2010     
Filed under: Church Finance
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Year-end Mission Appeal Seeks to Ease Recession’s Pain
This article is available from Covenant Newswire, December 23, 2008. Although the global financial crisis has challenged most families in the United States, it has devastated families in other parts of the world.

Generosity: Tough Sell in Troubled Economy?
This article is available from Covenant Newswire, October 16, 2008. Using secular standards, some suggest the notion of generosity is an increasingly tough sell in today’s economy.

Teens, Children Feel the Stress in Financial Crisis, Too
This article is available from Covenant Newswire, October 10, 2008. Adults are not the only people feeling the emotional strain of the current financial crisis. So are teens and younger children.

Covenant Investment Leaders Reflect on Market Crisis
This article is available from Covenant Newswire, October 6, 2008. Leaders of the Evangelical Covenant Church say their approach to financial and investment management is helping ministries related to the denomination weather the volatility of the current world financial crisis.

North Park Offers Online Church Administration Course
This article is available from Covenant Newswire, September 15, 2008. The School of Business and Nonprofit Management (SBNM) at North Park University has introduced a new graduate certificate in church administration that may be completed entirely online.

Ease of Auto Withdrawal Tithing Hasn’t Swayed Most Covenanters
This article is available from Covenant Newswire, August 22, 2008. Several Evangelical Covenant churches have started giving congregants the option of giving through automatic withdrawal or bill pay from their bank accounts, but response has been less than enthusiastic so far, they say.

Church Radically Changes Budgeting Process
This article is available from Covenant Newswire, March 27, 2008. A change in the way Montecito Covenant Church developed its budget for this year has enabled the congregation to more closely align its expenses with ministry priorities, says pastor Don Johnson.




Life Stewardship Articles and Websites

Post a Comment » Written on August 31st, 2010     
Filed under: Whole Life
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Sabbath Manifesto From once a week to once a year, this site is dedicated to encouraging all to unplug and slow down, to bring a traditional, ancient practice back to life.

Stewardship of Life is a site covering all aspects of stewardship, from tithing to earth care, to sabbath and much, much more. Find prayers, liturgies, articles, verses, quotes, and more on all stewardship topics.

Christianity Today
How Do I Uncover My Spiritual Gifts?
Spiritual Gifts
Maturing in your Spiritual Gifts
Leaving Room for Spiritual Gifts
Are You a Good Steward of Your Time?
Shaping Your Ministry Plan
Recruitment’s Missing Link
Keeping Sabbath: Reviving a Christian Practice
Relationship That Leads to Life

Christian Century
Too Much Practice: Some Thoughts on a Theological Movement
God the Insomniac
You’re Lonely, I’m Lonely

Other publications

On This Foundation: Q&A with Mary Chase-Ziolek, Mary discusses faith and health in ministry contexts and how to establish them.
Nurses’ Perspectives on the Distinctive Aspects of Providing Nursing Care in a Congregational Setting, a JSTOR article accessible through your library.
For God so Loved the Dirt…
, Norman Wirzba, Sojourners
Keeping Sabbath: Christian Ethics for the 21st Century, Christian Ethics Today
All Who Labor, by Lauren Winner in Sojourners
Celebrating Vocation in Worship, Craig Satterlee, The Alban Institute
Consider the Turtles of the Field, Brian McLaren, Sojourners
Why Sharing is a Beautiful Thing, CNN Opinion
A Guided Sabbath, Sarah MacDonald and Jay Sivitz

Just Eating, Practicing Faith at the Table, a seven-week curriculum created by Advocate Health Care and Church World Services and provided through the Presbyterian Hunger Program.