Some of my friends and colleagues are disturbed by my suggestion that new ministries should be chartered as for-profit corporations, not 501c3 or 4. They don’t yet realize what a plus this is for ministry, and the benefits available for revenue generation to fund the ministry. I saw a coffee house that ran like a mini-Starbucks with the intent of it being a church. It ran successfully for several years, gathering all kinds of people together, until a flood wiped out the whole street and they moved elsewhere. It solved the revenue problems, building problems, afforded the two women who ran it a good living, met people where they were, closed on Sunday for church held in the dining area….good coffee, too!
so sorry to hear about the flood! but yes - a great idea for sustainable ministry.
and I agree - somehow, lots of church people think that congregations *must* be non-profits.
I always say: look at all those thriving mega churches. LLCs, every one!
part of this is that when you think like a business, you think about what keeps you in business, and you do more of that!
I think the fear comes from the word 'non-profit'. That somehow, people think we can't/shouldn't make money as the church (even though that's not true of non-profits...).
Money isn't the *first* thing that motivates us in ministry. but if we're not motivated at least in *part* by making money ... we won't be able to stay in business!
that's the simple equation the church is seeing now as it continues to fail...
I also think that a for-profit status grants greater freedom to conduct your ministry. For-profit organizations can speak more freely than non-profit, which is very important in a time when we need to speak prophetically.
Some of my friends and colleagues are disturbed by my suggestion that new ministries should be chartered as for-profit corporations, not 501c3 or 4. They don’t yet realize what a plus this is for ministry, and the benefits available for revenue generation to fund the ministry. I saw a coffee house that ran like a mini-Starbucks with the intent of it being a church. It ran successfully for several years, gathering all kinds of people together, until a flood wiped out the whole street and they moved elsewhere. It solved the revenue problems, building problems, afforded the two women who ran it a good living, met people where they were, closed on Sunday for church held in the dining area….good coffee, too!
so sorry to hear about the flood! but yes - a great idea for sustainable ministry.
and I agree - somehow, lots of church people think that congregations *must* be non-profits.
I always say: look at all those thriving mega churches. LLCs, every one!
part of this is that when you think like a business, you think about what keeps you in business, and you do more of that!
I think the fear comes from the word 'non-profit'. That somehow, people think we can't/shouldn't make money as the church (even though that's not true of non-profits...).
Money isn't the *first* thing that motivates us in ministry. but if we're not motivated at least in *part* by making money ... we won't be able to stay in business!
that's the simple equation the church is seeing now as it continues to fail...
I also think that a for-profit status grants greater freedom to conduct your ministry. For-profit organizations can speak more freely than non-profit, which is very important in a time when we need to speak prophetically.