An In-Depth, Biblical Guide for Successfully Raising Personal Support Break through the fundraising fears and financial barriers keeping you from full-time ministry. Funding Your Ministry will answer your questions and put you on the biblical path for recruiting and maintaining donor support. Updated, Third Edition International funding coach Scott Morton has expanded his popular resource with new sections on: social media, email best practices, proven principles for gospel-workers around the globe, stewardship and budget management, and a leader’s guide for encouraging fundraisers. Funding Your Ministry will help you become a joyful and courageous fundraiser, develop a Biblical view of requesting support, build long-term donor relationships, overcome fundraising blind spots, strengthen your stewardship, and reach over 100% of your goal.

Fundraising basics for those in ministry.

Money does not have to be the hardest thing you do at church. There is an alternative to nonstop fundraising, convincing people to give more--or simply cutting the budget. This approach lets you discover what you bring to church finances that you already have, rather than simply teaching you the latest fundraising technique. Learn how you can: become more thoughtful about the financial challenges you and your church face; see money--and your own leadership strategies-- from a different perspective; bring more calm and creativity to recurring and unexpected problems in funding ministry; concentrate on long-term ministry goals and strategic persistence to get financial support for those goals; focus on yourself and what you can impact directly rather than trying harder to convince others to give more or make different financial decisions; enjoy the stewardship process rather than dreading it each year; reduce your overall stress about church finance,

What is the bottom line at your church?

A succinct and powerful witness that fundraising is a form of ministry and can be a deeply spiritual experience.

The general practices related to church funding aren’t producing the same results they have in the past. There is a general acceptance that something has changed but little talk or interest is coming from traditional church leader training sources such as denominational entities and seminaries. Pastors are largely left to their own devices to “figure this out.” They need a lifeline. While some churches are experiencing exponential growth, some churches - despite their best efforts - have been unsuccessful at moving beyond survival mode. Coupled with increased competition from other nonprofits and a decline in the commitment to give to the church first, churches risk losing the funding they need. A growing number of leaders are beginning to discover there is another way and are struggling to understand what makes one church generous and another not. There is a need in the market to offer a simple, working definition of “generosity” and reveal the “secrets” some church leaders seem to have simply stumbled upon which are resulting in unexplainable ministry growth and unprecedented church funding even in the midst of tough economic times. The content of this material was developed and refined by Jim Sheppard and Chris Willard through years of ministry leadership in the local church, consulting with church leaders across a broad spectrum of church settings, and through participation in and leadership of the Generous Church Leadership Community facilitated by Leadership Network. Of particular benefit will be the collection of observations and best practices gleaned during the Generous Church Leadership Community that originated within real-life church leadership situations and scenarios by highlighting specific challenges, methods, and successes.