• The Conversation
  • Bookstore
  • Education
  • Consulting
  • Connect with Alban
Loading...

Starting a Nonprofit at Your Church

Joy Skjegstad

A large and growing number of congregations are setting up church-based nonprofit organizations in order to operate community development or educational programs. Once formed, the nonprofit structure allows for new opportunities for accessing additional funding and drawing new collaborative partners and volunteers into the ministry. Joy Skjegstad outlines the step-by-step procedures for setting up a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization connected to a congregation using simple, easy-to-understand terminology and plenty of examples from churches that have already taken on this task.

In addition to accessible and specific information on the legal aspects of a church-based nonprofit, topics include:

  • Why set up a nonprofit?
  • Advantages and disadvantages to setting up a nonprofit
  • Assessing readiness for the challenge
  • Defining the nonprofit’s mission and niche
  • Accountability and control
  • Establishing a board structure and defining board roles
  • Maintaining a positive relationship with the congregation
  • Personnel issues
  • Developing a fundraising plan
  • Ongoing evaluation

Whether a congregation is setting up a new program or has an established nonprofit that needs to be restructured or redefined, congregations will find helpful guidance in this practical, experience-based book.

Foreword by Mary Nelson, President, Bethel New Life, Inc., Chicago.

Share|

Praise for the Book

“If you are thinking about starting a nonprofit at your church, this book is an invaluable resource. Drawing on years of practical experience, Joy Skjegstad states the pros and cons of incorporating as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. She then deals with the nitty-gritty issues of defining the organization’s mission, setting up a board, raising funds, dealing with personnel questions, and maintaining a positive relationship with your church. The book is highly readable. It contains checklists of things to do or think about, job descriptions for personnel, and common problems that confront every nonprofit. I believe that executive directors working in church-relate programs—as well as Christians with a vision to start a new program in their community—will find this book extremely useful.”— Donald E. Miller, Executive Director, Center for Religion and Civic Culture University of Southern California

“Starting a Nonprofit at Your Church is readable, practical, and thorough. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is thinking about whether setting up a nonprofit corporation is in a congregation's best interest. Commendations to Skjegstad for taking an intensely complicated subject and presenting it in such a way that churches of all income and educational levels can benefit from her insights.” —Rev Dr. Wallace Charles Smith

“Often I am asked about the benefits of beginning a ministry, or spinning off a ministry into a separate nonprofit organization. Until I find something better, this book will be my 'go to' book that folks should read as they ponder the question, 'Should we? or 'shouldn’t we?' Joy gives us a complete book that includes evaluative questions, forms, legal issues, pay guidelines, the role of various types of boards etc. There is nothing one needs to start a 501(c)(3) that is not included in this fabulous little gem.” —Eric Swanson, Leadership Community Director at Leadership Network

About the Author

Skjegstad,Joy Joy Skjegstad , author of Starting A Nonprofit At Your Church  (Alban Institute, 2002) and Winning Grants to Strengthen Your Ministry  (Alban Institute, 2007) is a national speaker and consultant on nonprofit management and ministry development. She has 20 years of experience starting and growing nonprofit organizations, with a special focus on faith-based groups, youth development and the arts. She has served as the President of Sanctuary Community Development Corporation, the nonprofit connected to Sanctuary Covenant Church in North Minneapolis and is a founder of the Institute for Ministry Leaders, a university-based training program that builds the management capacity of churches and other ministry organizations. She also served as the Executive Director of the Park Avenue Foundation at Park Avenue United Methodist Church and has held a variety of other leadership positions with nonprofits in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area.

top of page  |  Bookstore

Create your own review