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* The increase in giving by women will affect both churches and
parachurch organizations. Women outlive men by an average of seven
years and respond to giving differently than most men. More and more
women are major donors to ministries.
* The increase in fewer gifts but larger gifts.
Fewer people are giving generously to Christian causes but the gifts
that are coming in are larger. It used to be to raise a million
dollars you would hope for some large gifts of around $250,000 and a
lot of smaller gifts. Now, if you are looking to raise a million
dollars you find the person who can give the million-dollar gift.
* The increase of wealthy individuals starting
and funding their own ministries. Many people have done well
financially and want to begin their own ministries with funds they
have accumulated.
* The increase of congregations creating their
own foundations to fund ministries outside their church.
Mega-churches are beginning to do this and have the ability. These
churches are also willing to make large financial commitments to major
Christian projects in their communities and overseas.
* The creation and increase of local and
national Christian Community Foundations to create pools of funding
through donor advised funds, area of interest funds and non-restricted
funds for local ministry in communities. The largest of these is the
National Christian Charitable Foundation.
* The
increase in family foundations among evangelicals. As with secular
foundations, these family foundations are being created with
appreciated assets that are truly startling for a beginning
foundation. Family foundations are the largest growing segment of
foundations.
* An increase in networks of major Christian
funders sharing ideas, concerns, and funding opportunities. The
Gathering, an association of individuals, families and foundations who
each give in excess of $200,000 annually to Christian ministries
around the world is one example of this.
* The continuing increase in giving donations
electronically. More and more people are embracing the idea of giving
their tithe and/or donation electronically either through on-line
giving or electronic transfers from their account.
WEBSITE TO CHECK OUT…
If you haven’t done so I would encourage
you strongly to check out
www.generousgiving.org This is a great Christian site that allows
ministries to submit grant proposals on-line for generous Christians
to see and possibly fund. When you get to the site click on the
“Marketplace” link and fill out the information. This is a win-win
for both the donor and your ministry.
Check out
Christiangrants.com to
order your copy of the “Directory of Foundations Supporting Christian
Organizations”. Many ministries have used the directory to find grant
funds for their ministries. You can also find on the website and
archive of recent Grant Alerts and testimonials. As I mentioned in
last months Special Grant Alert I will be in Erie, Pennsylvania
from May 1-2 for a conference on federal giving to faith-based
agencies. I will report on this in next month’s Grant Alert.
God Bless,
Timothy Boling
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