Transforming Trends in Christian Philanthropy

Sponsor of an annual conference for Christian philanthropists shares his thoughts, with a candid assessment of fundamental shifts in the nature of Christian giving. 

The Gathering (EIN 75-2726170 Form 990) is an annual conference of philanthropists who give a minimum of $200,000 annually to Christian causes (or have the potential to do so).  Its president, Fred Smith, offered some views on the future of giving that I thought were worth passing on, as many seem relevant to philanthropy as a whole.  He also has a whopper of a conclusion about a major change in the basis for Christian giving whose full implications are difficult to assess.

Some of the points relate to the difference between giving to churches and parachurches, which are organizations like World Vision that aren't tied to specific denominations or congregations and raise their money from contributions, just like large scale secular charities. 

• An increase of giving by women, which will challenge assumptions about measurement, results, impact, goals and transactional relationships.
• Increased attention to relief and development, the poor, and microenterprise development among evangelical donors.
• The increase in individuals capable of funding their own ministries and organizations.
• More venture philanthropy following the disciplines of investing and investment banking.
• More funding of educational options by evangelicals.
• Emergence of congregation-based foundations with an outward focus (rather than local endowments). 
• Development of specialized staffing to train stewardship in large congregations.
• Emergence of local and national Christian community foundations.
• More family foundations among evangelicals.
• Less competition and more cooperation between congregations and parachurch organizations, which will become a means of delivering programs for congregations
• The creation of new wealth by entrepreneurial Christians will be more important than the transfer of old wealth to heirs.
• The creation of transnational networks of major Christian funders (individuals, families and foundations) for information, idea exchange and "deals" will expand the scope and creativity of global Christian capital.
• A shift from millenial giving based on an expectation of a impending End Times to giving based on engagement with the world as it is, leading to greater emphasis on issues like social justice and ending social abuses. 

Comments

[Richard]

Hi. I know you don't know me but I'm really struggling right now financially. I've been out of a job for nearly three weeks and I have absolutely no source of income coming in. I'm afraid of not being able to pay my bills and help my mother with her rent.

I understand there is a recession and I've been trying to find work. I'm deeply concerned about this and I'm wondering if there is anything to do.

I'm at the point of moving out of Oregon and just go south-east and see where that takes me.

Is there any help you can find me?

Thank you for your time in reading this e-mail. I'm just so desperate right now.

[Wanda Dailey]

Can you tell me where I might find the help I need? Recently, I discovered that the renters of my mobile home had moved out, w/out notice or fulfillment of our lease agreement, and have done serious damage to the home. This means, without warning or time to prepare, I am suddenly faced with the mortgage, taxes and lot rent, along with the damage, that will cost $10,000 - $15,000 to repair, if no other is discovered during repairs. Apparently, my renters went away and turned the heat off, which caused the pipes to freeze and break water over the floor and to spray water on parts of the walls and cabinets, causing mold. They didn't report the damage, but nailed plyboard & carpet to the floor since the water under the original carpeting, caused the sub-floor to weaken, and fall through in places. I am a 61 year old woman without health insurance, retirement, or a home paid in full. This is not the result of my creation, but the result of always having to pay for damages caused by others. I was about 2-4 months away from being able to advance financially, after a very long and difficult 15 year struggle. I've never lived on welfare even though I had to live out of my car for 56 days, while seeking work, due to downsizing. My beacon score is somewhere around 800, I have a clean 53 year driving record, and no criminal record; no alcohol, drugs or tobacco products. If you know of anyone or any group who might consider assisting me, it will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

[coach handbags]

Just for today I will try to live through this day only and not tackle my whole life problem at once. I can do something for twelve hours that would appall me if I had to keep it up for a lifetime.

[Jerry Peterson]

I am seeking christian venture capital in the amount of 420,000 dollars, in order to start a christ centered for-profit business. This venture will aid non-profit enities, employee up to 40 persons within five years, promote Christian values within the workplace structure, offer scholarships and daycare to employees(primarily young moms or families w/children). Profits from this business will be dedicated to supporting Christian organizations.

Full business plan w/repayment of capital is finished.

Realizing to him who much is given, much is expected.

In Christ,
Jerry Peterson
email apjp@daca.net

[Barbara and John Williams]

My husband and I are trying to start out in the ministry. We have been involved in a small ministry in Maine that has closed its doors. We are trying to move west to be closer to my elderly mother and get involved in a ministry there where we can help it grow and branch off from there. We need moving expenses and housing expenses (to get settled). We have a small income once we are there - I am on disability). We would appreciate any help that could be given. We would need a vehicle, moving van, and housing. Approximately $20,000 would be wonderful.

Thank you for your consideration,
Rev. and Mrs. John Williams
reverendjohnwilliams@gmail.com

[Armin Peter]

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen, dear friends,
my wife and I are members of a German association called Romanes-Arbeit-Marburg e.V. (This is a tax-exempt and non-profit association with 20 members).

RAM’s goal is that the Greek New Testament and the Hebrew Bible will be translated into the language of the Sinti Gypsies (80.000 in Germany, 120.000 in France; they are also to be found in other countries of Europe, in the US and in Canada).

We are in this kind of translation work since 1995. RAM was founded by an old deaconess (Sr. Luise Sartor) in 1994. She has always been the "motor" of this Bible translation project for the Sinti Gypsies until the age of 92. She died 5 years ago. Since her death our financial support has decreased considerably, so that we are now in urgent need of financial support.

The translation of the Greek New Testament for the Sinti has been completed by us in June 2010 and has been sent to the printer in South-Korea.

About 70% of the Hebrew Bible has already been translated as a first draft by the Sinti mother-tongue speakers. These translated texts need to be examined by us, compared and adapted to the Hebrew Bible, and often re-translated by us because our Gypsy "translators" - age 35 or 59 - have only gotten about 1 or 6 years of schooling in their whole lifetime.

Now we like to begin our work on the translation of the Hebrew Bible into Romany of the Sinti.

Because of the German history of the Nazi regime around World War II (about 400.000 Sinti have been killed by the Nazi), it is presently not possible to get financial support for this Bible translation project neither from a German government agency nor from a recognised Sinti agency. Moreover, German Christians do not really like to support Bible translators as we are working within Germany (it would be quite different if we worked in an Asian or African jungle). Therefore we do have big difficulties to find financial support for this Bible translation project in Germany.

As you certainly know: In many small people groups in the world Bible translation is the very first step to analyse and to write down the language of such a people group, to give them an appropriate orthography (my wife – PhD in linguistics – wrote already a Primer for Sinti children), and to make them read, write and understand their own language (we are also developing grammatical lessons). All this has just began in the Sinti Gypsy group and it would be a great pity, if we could not continue our work. This is the reason why I write you this inquiry: Would you like to support this project financially?
I ask you from all of my heart: Please help us.

In case you need more information about our project or about our association, please inform us.

I would be very glad to hear from you.

Yours sincerely,
Dr. Armin Peter
Romanes-Arbeit-Marburg e.V.
Schillerstrasse 1A
35606 Solms
Germany

[Rick Linet]

I am embarking on a project that is the culmination of many of the things and am looking for a source of funding and contacts.

Over the past couple years, I explored/researched the feasibility of a Basketball Academy, Charter/Private School, Sports Complex. Well this all seems to be coming together in the following plan.


This is my vision:

Property would contain spaces for :

1. Sports: Basketball,Volleyball,Soccer,Flag Football,Batting Cages,Lacrosse,Hockey.
2. Offices
3. Health/Sports Medicine
4. Wellness
5. Retail
6..Education: there is room to have a Private Christian School to include Boarding
7. Conferences

This would allow us to have an IMG like Academy with private paying students, Boston/other US City students who need to get out of their environment and a Ministry for International students looking for an opportunity. These students would like the ability to study at a school where they would receive training for Sports and Top Level Academics, and general ed students for the same. The Academy would have the best curriculum, based on a Christian view and also include top level technology.

Short Term Plan: Months 1-3

1. Establish a Board to include, Religion, Law, Construction, Health, Education
2. Poll Christian Churches for Need
3. Strategize about funding
4. Fund feasibility study
5. Poll organizations for leagues, conferences, tournaments

Long Term: Months 4-12

If all above is positive:

1. Craft lease with property
2. Establish funding
3. Hire Consultant for:
Architect
Contractors
4. Hire staff
5. Marketing

Please let me know your thoughts and possible abilities to help line up contacts, especially funding. I have contacts for feasibility study who have done many of these projects already.

This project will be a way of expanding much needed Christian presence in New England and spreading God's Word around the region and connecting Nationally/Internationally.

I look forward to your comments.

[Malvrick Lomotey]

hi, am new to this site but after reading a few lines i thought of writing this message to you. i am a christian in ghana who loves street evangelism with my group of six equally dedicated christian brothers and sister. we have won a lot of souls on the street but struggling with helping them to stay in the faith. i thought u could help us with some bible and tract for them to start with. email malvrickl@yahoo.com or facebook me, malvrickl

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[van leasing]

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[Ken]

Please come to my site that someone set up for me and see about my family and our medical condition. If you care to donate you will see in the site where you can do so. It will also explain where the money will go. I have a plan to start a website that will help people all over the world. I need your help to do that for my family and others. Thanks

[elijah dugbah narh]

support education in ghana.
sky high schools need your help. www.skyhighschools.webs.com

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Feasibility study report is engaged in a kind of economic activity (investment), both sides before from economic and technology, production, supply and marketing until all kinds of environment, legal and social factors are specific investigate, research, analyze, determine the favorable and unfavorable factors, the project is feasible, estimate the success rate size, economic benefit and social effect degree, the competent authority for examination and approval for policy makers and report documents.

[Private Jet Services]

An increase of giving by women, which will challenge assumptions about measurement, results, impact, goals and transactional relationships.

[Office Filing Systems]

Increased attention to relief and development, the poor, and microenterprise development among evangelical donors.

[DEACON NATHAN T.PAJIBO]

Christian Friends, for some time now, we have been trying to set up a christian FM Radion Station in the rural part of Liberia, West Africa.

The sole reason for the establishment is for evangelism. The main location is the center of south-easth Liberia with the population of 3,000 persons including some areas in the Ivory Coast. Funding this project in Post-war Liberia will be a worth cost.

[バーバリーマフラー]

ところが、十津川村野尻では増水した川が村営住宅２棟をのみ込んで２家族が流され、五條市大塔町宇井では多数の行方不明者が出ていたことなどから、川上村の被害が広く知られることはなかった
今も現場は土砂に覆われたままだが、迂回（うかい）路も通り、土砂の除去も少しずつだが進む。管轄の吉野土木事務所は「来年４月中旬ごろをめどに、崩落箇所に仮の橋をつくり通行できるようにしたい」としている。
こうした復興のつち音は響いているものの、観光への風評被害は続く。村の観光の中心でもある「ホテル杉の湯」などは通常通り営業しているが、迂回部分に立地するため見逃されがち。

[http://www.audikol.co.il/]

Its leader, Michael Jackson, provided some landscapes on the long run of providing that I thought were truly worth driving on, as many seem appropriate to philanthropy as a whole.

[ティンバーランド]

ティンバーランド１２日に判明した政府の社会保障分野の一体改革素案（骨子案）は、来年の法案提出を検討してきた受診時定額負担制度の見送りを容認するなど、負担増を先送りしようとする民主党の主張に大幅に譲歩する内容となった。公務員の特権に切り込むことが期待された被用者年金一元化でも、公務員の優遇措置の存続に道を開く文言が盛り込まれた。「公平な負担」を旗印とした社会保障改革の看板は大きくゆがみつつある。

　ティンバーランド骨子案は、病院を訪れるたびに患者が１００円を上乗せして支払う受診時定額負担制度について「（導入見送りを掲げた）民主党ワーキングチームの報告を踏まえる」と記した。７０～７４歳の窓口負担の２割への引き上げでは「平成２４年度の対応については調整」と、その後の引き上げに含みを残したが、党側の猛反発で撤回に追いやられるのは確実な情勢だ。