Building a "Fundable" Faith-Based Organization

A free workshop offered by NSC and MFH

The Missouri Foundation for Health (MFH) has partnered with NSC to offer a free workshop called Building a “Fundable” Faith-Based Organization presented by Sherrye Willis, founder and president Faith & Philanthropy Institute.

Because faith-based organizations serve an important role in the life of many communities as part of their ministry or service, they are often involved in health-related activities, both preventative and clinical.  Many comprise a non-traditional resource for addressing health needs and issues in their respective communities. In recognition of those efforts, MFH developed “Health Interventions in Non-Traditional Settings” (HINTS) which provides funding to eligible nonprofits not typically considered “traditional” health organizations. The intent of the funding is to assist these organizations in establishing new health programs, or supporting and expanding existing services to improve community health.

NSC, a nonprofit support organization serving Missouri nonprofits, has developed a unique training curriculum to help strengthen the capacity of health service efforts undertaken by faith-based organizations. If your congregation offers or is interested in offering health-related activities, please register with NSC to attend this special workshop from 9:00 a.m. — 4:00 p.m. at one of the following locations:

Attending the workshop by no means guarantees funding, however, participants will gain understanding of:

• The challenges and characteristics of faith-based organizations

• The need for faith-based organizations to develop organizational readiness in order to be effective and fundable

• The importance of and method of assessing their community and its needs

• The need to clearly define their ministry program strategy and activities

• The need to develop clear mission and values statements for their social ministry

• The budgeting and legal issues that need to be addressed to be a fundable organization

• The role of an active board in upholding the ministry mission and spearheading fundraising activities

• The need for qualified staff members to manage the grant process and funded programs

• The advantages of community collaborations in seeking funding

More on the presenter:

Sherrye Willis is founder and president Faith & Philanthropy Institute (2001). Faith & Philanthropy Institute’s mission is to strengthen churches, ministries, and leaders to transform communities through training, consulting services and resource information.  Ms. Willis has over 20 years of experience in the philanthropic and consulting field. Her experience is broad in scope, including but not limited to work in private foundations, higher education, major art institutions, nonprofit management, and human resources.

A graduate of Northwood University with honors (summa cum laude), Sherrye is a certified trainer (University of Oklahoma) in facilitative learning. She is currently attending Westminster Theological Seminary in Dallas, TX completing a Master of Divinity in Urban Ministry. Sherrye is a member of the Alban Institute and the Nonprofit Alliance Faith-based Capacity Builders. Sherrye and her husband, Joe, have been married for eighteen years.