Starting a Nonprofit at Your Church

A couple months ago... Joy Skjegstad, recognizing that we connected around externally focused churches, contacted me asking me to review her book, Starting a Nonprofit at Your Church (with a forward by Mary Nelson). Today I finished the book and the one word that came to my mind was the word, “Stop!” If you are thinking about starting a 501(c)(3) from your church or independently this book is a “must read.” Joy writes from the strength of serving as Executive Director of a nonprofit for 5 years and is more than well-versed in the ins and outs of nonprofits. 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