Monday, February 25, 2013

20 Biggest Grant Making Foundations For Christian Organizations

The question of what foundations to turn to for funding is one Christian ministries and churches ponder over all the time. There are of course various factors to consider. The degree of compatibility between your mission and the aims of a foundation remains the most important consideration. But at a time when foundation funding is declining, it helps to know which foundations are giving the most - along with knowing a little about their overall purpose, the kinds of Christian organizations they fund, and the kinds of programs that interest them.

The following are the top 20 Christian grant funding sources in terms of funding generosity.

1. Of all the Christian grant foundations accepting applications at this time the Alharetta, Georgia-based National Christian Foundation (NCF) provides the most funds. Seeking to further the gospel of Jesus Christ, its funding territory is national. This is largely a donor advised fund. A donor-advised fund is a charitable giving vehicle administered by a third party and created for the purpose of managing charitable donations on behalf of an organization, family, or individual. A donor-advised fund offers the opportunity to create an easy-to-establish, low cost, flexible vehicle for charitable giving as an alternative to direct giving or creating a private foundation.

20 Biggest Grant Making Foundations For Christian Organizations

NCF helps individuals and families plan their giving through such programs as the Legacy Fund (after death giving). It advises them on asset giving (cash, stocks, real estate, business interests, restricted securities) and shows them how to balance income needs and estate planning goals (through charitable trusts and charitable gift annuities.)

The Single Charity Fund allows supporters to donate all kinds of assets; the Professional Advisors group - comprised of financial planners, CPA's, attorneys, and more - advises supporters in the art of tax-efficient giving.

2. The Christian Aid Ministries is a foundation based in Berlin, Ohio. Having an international gift giving scope, the Ministries seeks to "provide spiritual and material assistance such as food, clothing, medicine, and Christian literature to needy people in various countries." It also provides emergency funds and in-kind gifts. The Ministries supports Amish, Mennonite, and other conservative Anabaptists as they minister to the physical and religious needs of people worldwide. It aids victims of war, famine, and natural disasters.

3. The Nehemiah Corporation is a foundation out of Sacramento, California. Its mission is to facilitate "home ownership and asset development opportunities for diverse populations in underserved neighborhoods across the U.S., while maintaining a commitment to successful, responsible homeownership." It gives mostly to California foundations and individuals and to Christian organizations that support its mission.

4. The Trinity Christian Center of Santa Ana is a foundation from Tustin, California. It supports Christian services and organizations that seek to spread the gospel around the world. It provides care, comfort, and emergency aid to the sick, the disabled, the homeless. It is also known for producing televised religious broadcasts for ministries that spread the gospel worldwide.

5. The Barnabas Foundation is a foundation from Tinley Park, Illinois that supports its nearly 200 member Christian ministries through planned giving and estate planning. Its participating churches include Legacy Churches, Good Steward Ministry Churches, Member Asset Management Churches, Member Churches. It also offers stewardship education as well as development programs that facilitate stewardship "based on God's ownership of all gifts."

6. The J. Bulow Campbell Foundation is an independent foundation from Atlanta, Georgia. The foundation seeks to uplift "intellectual and spiritual life, preferably projects of a permanent nature or for capital funds." It does not fund operating expenses or recurrent programs except in cases where funding might allow a significant new program to succeed without continuing support from the foundation. It gives anonymously to church-related agencies of the Presbyterian Church, but not to congregations. It mostly supports organizations in Georgia, though it does give to organizations in Alabama, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.

7. The Rupert H. Johnson Foundation is an independent foundation in San Mateo, California that generally funds only educational programs in California and Virginia. Only Christian organizations seeking grants for education programs in these two geographic regions would be eligible for funding.

8. The Rees-Jones Foundation, a family foundation based in Dallas, Texas, funds "programs that help improve the quality of life for the underserved of north Texas." It provides employee/matching gifts and funds capital campaigns, general operations, management and program development, and scholarship funds. It supports churches that seek to relieve hunger, and it provides medical care for the mentally and physically disabled, educational opportunities for youth, and affordable housing, shelter, and spiritual development for those left behind.

9. The Poplar Foundation is an independent foundation that mostly gives within its base of Memphis and the metropolitan area. It funds mostly youth services and education. Ministries that focus on these two areas are eligible for funding.

10. The Wege Foundation, an independent foundation in Grand Rapids, Michigan, gives mostly within Kent County and above all in Grand Rapids. Christian agencies that provide health, human services, and education are likelier to receive funding from the foundation than those that do not. It funds annual campaigns, building/renovation, capital campaigns, curriculum development, endowments, equipment, matching/challenge campaigns, and program development.

11. The Hope Christian Community Foundation is a Christian public charity community foundation in Memphis, Tennessee that "helps Christians share their wealth with others in the most thoughtful and efficient ways." It serves ministries by administering and managing agency funds, offering a cash management pool, investing endowments, and making grants through the Hope of Memphis Fund. It partners with churches to serve the community, administer church and donor-advised funds for church members, and offer a cash management pool.

12. The Maclellan Foundation is a Chattanooga, Tennessee-based independent foundation. It gives internationally and nationally, stressing Chattanooga. It is the largest of a group of four family foundations that are committed to "fulfilling the Great Commission of Jesus Christ through strategic giving." The foundation provides financial and leadership training to local organizations that enhance the spiritual wellbeing of the Commission by working "to extend the Kingdom of God to every tribe, nation, person, and tongue." Toward that end, the foundation offers consulting services, equipment, general/operating support, program development and evaluation, and seed money to Christian organizations.

13. The New York City-based American Bible Society is a foundation that translates, publishes, and distributes the Bible in every language it can. The Society wants every person "to experience the Bible's life changing message." It collaborates with other Christian organizations including Faith Comes by Hearing, the creator of an audio version of the Bible. Other partners are Feed the Children, the Military Ministry, Mission Year, Samaritan Purse/Operation Christmas Child, United Bible Societies, and the National Association of State and Regional Bible Societies.

14. The National Endowment Association is a public charity in Princeton, Indiana that helps small to mid-sized charities in the United States, mostly religious ministries, endow funds. The objective is to free ministries from the constant demands of fundraising so they can devote more time to their missions. The association helps them solicit long-term planned gifts, something the larger charities already have the means to do. It helps them tap into larger funding sources through tax-exempt planning. It also helps them promote their charity by offering website templates, educational classes, marketing material templates, marketing/fundraising consultation, and donor/consumer seminars.

15. The Harold Simmons Foundation of Dallas, Texas is a company-sponsored foundation. It provides grants that support zoos, arts and culture, education, energy, health, substance abuse treatment, HIV/AIDS treatment, disaster relief, athletics, human services, human rights, community development, programs that address women's issues, and Christian organizations. It gives mostly in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.

16. The Norcliffe Foundation is an independent foundation in Seattle, Washington. It gives to organizations that benefit the arts and cultural organizations, hospitals, early childhood development, higher and secondary education, and historic preservation. It also supports medical research and health associations, hospices, the environment and conservation, and social services that include programs for the disabled, the homeless, child welfare, youth agencies, and the aged. The foundation's Christian grantees are the Roman Catholic Church and religious associations. It gives mostly in the Puget Sound area of Washington, especially in Seattle.

17. The Stephen and Mary Birch Foundation of Wilmington, Delaware is an independent foundation that gives throughout the United States. It supports nonprofit institutions, communities, and organizations that support research, medical, health, educational, sports, social services, and artistic programs in communities across the nation. Christian organizations that work in any of these areas are eligible for funding.

18. The Harry J. Lloyd Charitable Trust in Overland Park, Kansas "supports God's work as described in the Great Commission by spreading evangelism throughout the world." It primarily supports organizations and programs that further this mission. The Trust provides grants that help start new ministries or new programs or expand current programs. It funds organizations that are creative, accountable, stable, and effective. It also funds Christian programs that provide housing, food, medical assistance, and education for the poor. It may also support medical research in different areas.

19. The Lynn and Foster Freiss Family Foundation is an independent foundation out of Jackson, Wyoming. It mostly funds faith-based entrepreneurial programs, especially one-one-one mentoring. The foundation provides general/operating support, matching/challenge support, and program-related investment/loans.

20. IBS-STL is a foundation from Colorado Springs, Colorado. It came about in 2007 from a merger of the National Bible Society and Send the Light. It gives nationally and internationally to Christian organizations that further its mission of translating, interpreting, and publishing the Bible. Its goal is to give more and more people throughout the world the opportunity to experience the Bible.

Some foundations exist solely to benefit Christian ministries and churches. Others lack a direct connection to Christianity but work to solve problems that are at the core of Christian concern. Some have a limited geographic focus; others have a national focus; still others have an international focus. But wherever your organization operates, and whatever programs it has, many (if not most) of these foundations are viable funding possibilities for your organization. And there are countless other possibilities. The Christian Funding Directory (CFD), Foundation Directory Online, and Foundation Search are the most valuable sources of information about foundations.

20 Biggest Grant Making Foundations For Christian Organizations
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Jeffrey J. Rodman is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) and a Certified Grants Specialist (CGS). He is an experienced grantwriter, fundraiser, nonprofit executive, and public speaker who operates Here-4-You Christian Grant Consulting and Church Grant Writing providing consultation for grant writing and funding development worldwide.Jeffrey has supervised a team of writers, researchers, editors, and administrative staff in providing consultation for grant proposal writing, nonprofit development, and fundraising in almost every state and a dozen foreign countries and has worked on proposals to Federal, State, and Local government as well as to Foundations, Civic groups, and many others. Jeffrey received his BS and his M.Ed. from George Mason University. He has written 100's proposals, secured millions of dollars in funding, and maintains a funding rate of nearly 80%. He has successfully managed over 25 different grants as a grant administrator and has also served as a grant reviewer on a state, federal, and local level as well as on foundation review panels. Jeffrey is an experienced speaker and is a Certified National Trainer for programs in Ohio, Indiana, Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Florida.

Jeffrey is heavily involved in his church particularly in areas concerning growth, outreach, and finance. He is involved with a number of local and national ministries including Teens Opposing Poverty. Jeffrey loves to play games with his kids and enjoy time with his family. Although he grew up in New York, he has lived in Virginia for almost since 1996 where he and his wife, Terri home school their four children, Alexandra (12), Mackenzie (8), Christian (6) and Kaitlyn (3).

Here-4-You Christian Grant Consulting & Church Grant Writing
Jeffrey J. Rodman, CFRE, CGS, M.Ed.
President & CEO
Website: http://www.npfunds.com
Blog: http://npfunds.com/blog
Phone: 1-866-HERE-4-U-1

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Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Offshore LLC Versus International Business Company - Offshore Limited Liability Company Advantages

Tax minimization and simplification of operation just about sum up the advantages of the foreign offshore LLC (limited liability company) for U.S. residents, especially with the latter benefit being true for people of any nationality. Furthermore, when used with an offshore grantor trust this combo assures excellent asset protection also and satisfies the taxing authorities. But first of all, what is an offshore LLC, who is it good for, and how does it differ from the more popular international business company?

A foreign offshore LLC ( limited liability company or limited life company in some jurisdictions ) is an unincorporated business entity which is a cross between a partnership and a corporation. Like an international business company, it protects its members from personal liability for the obligations and debts of the entity they are conducting business through. But like a partnership, the expenses and income flow directly through to the individual members. LLCs typically enter into an operating agreement, which states how the members relate to each other and how the company is managed. While the offshore limited liability company is liable for its operating debts, the members are NOT liable for any of the LLCs obligations.

The main benefit of an offshore LLC structure is that it provides a layer of legal separation between the owners of the foreign offshore limited liability company, the company itself, and the business it conducts. The offshore LLC can be the "poor mans grantor trust" in that it provides fair asset protection to the person with modest assets to protect but not enough money to justify purchasing an offshore grantor trust which typically costs about ,000 and 00 per year after the initial purchase to maintain. But like the offshore grantor trust, the offshore foreign LLC when filed as a disregarded entity using form 8832, will allow profits from the assets it holds to flow onto the 1040 tax return of the U.S. owner. This allows the foreign company to function as a tax minimizer since the tax rate can be lower than that of an international business company ( ibc ).

Offshore LLC Versus International Business Company - Offshore Limited Liability Company Advantages

Another benefit of the foreign offshore LLC over the international business company is that a person or entity can get a court order that allows it to seize the stock certificates of the IBC and thereby the creditor gains control over the assets of the foreign company. But with the foreign offshore limited liability company, if a creditor claims a judgment against a member, they are only entitled to a charging order. The charging order gives the creditor the right to receive distributions from the offshore LLC that the member would have received. But these profits become available only if the other members elect to make the distribution. The charging order does not give the creditor the right to obtain the voting or management rights. So the members can decide not to make a distribution and the charging order remains ineffectual and the member's assets are protected.

For the U.S. person the primary difference between international business companies and foreign offshore LLCs is the way they are treated by the I.R.S. and their subsequent tax exposure for either the shareholders or members. At the end of 1996 the U.S. elected that both domestic and foreign corporations were to be taxed at the rate of 35% and could not elect to be taxed otherwise. In contrast, the sole member of the offshore limited liability company can elect to have the the taxes flow onto their personal tax return when the offshore LLC elects to be a disregarded entity using IRS form 8832. So, if the personal tax rate of the offshore LLC owner is 20% for that year then the owner benefits compared to the IBC tax which is 35%.

The foreign offshore LLC as a stand alone disregarded entity for tax minimization purposes is adequate for the lower capitalized individual who wants to protect their assets and can not justify spending money on a foreign offshore grantor trust. But it is not recommended as an entity by itself for those with a sizable amount of assets. The use of an offshore grantor trust as the majority owner of the offshore LLC will give the added asset protection it needs for those who have a sizable amount of assets in their LLC. This addition of the offshore grantor trust will also allow taxation minimization to be a feature of the structure since a foreign offshore grantor trust allows the settler of the trust to have taxes flow onto their 1040 tax return at a lower rate than an international business corporation is afforded.

The offshore foreign LLC is also much better than a U.S. LLC since there is so much red tape to deal with when opening accounts in the U.S. or abroad using the U.S. LLC. So given the choice between an offshore one or an onshore one it is much better to choose the offshore LLC since the freedom and asset protection gained is much better than could be gained from a Nevada or a New Mexico LLC which are the most popular ones in the U.S. These should be avoided for those who want investment and business freedom.

With a foreign offshore limited liability company you have a lot less hassle and paperwork, but with equal or better protection than an international business company if it is set up correctly. There are no director, treasurer, secretary positions to have to try and figure out and keep track of. You have only managers with a foreign offshore LLC and you can have as many as you want or you can have one sole manager which can be the Sovereign YOU.

With a foreign offshore LLC you do not have to mess around with annual meetings or even do any extra time consuming paperwork which is required of directors of international business companies. Since most people are the only manager, they sovereignly decide what to do WITHOUT the paperwork involved with meetings. There is also an easy "operating agreement" you can change yourself as the manager of the offshore LLC. But with an international business company you need to monkey around with changing the bylaws through the hassle of needing to have a meeting periodically etc.

The offshore LLC is also a great way to manage the assets that you contribute to a charitable foundation. We know of a Panama charitable foundation which will allow you to manage the assets you give to it by setting up a foreign offshore limited liability company and making you advisor or manager of it. The assets you contribute are owned by the foreign offshore LLC which in turn is owned by the charitable foundation and the charitable foundation either pays you an income for your services or it may give you tax free loans from time to time. This is tax freedom and asset protection at its best.

DISCLAIMER and WARNING: We are publishers and we can give no specific legal advice. The information provided on this web site is like a newsletter or a book and is provided for informational purposes only. This article is also protected by international copyright laws and comes under the rules of Ezine Articles. All violators will be dealt with severely.

Offshore LLC Versus International Business Company - Offshore Limited Liability Company Advantages
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James Bauman Ph.D. has been involved with the offshore world, banking, and asset protection for about 12 years now. During this time he has gained an education in offshore banking and high yield return investing and has learned of an offshore bank where depositors regularly make 50% to 100% high yield return on their money per year. Out of the experience he has gained over the years he developed the offshore banking and asset protection business FREEDOM OFFSHORE SERVICES. You can find out more and how to get a discount foreign offshore LLC and FREE offshore bank account introductions here: [http://www.freedomoffshore.com/offshoreLLCpackage.html]

Also, you can learn more about why a personal offshore bank account is not the safest way to control your offshore banking here: [http://www.freedomoffshore.com/offshorebankaccounts.html] We hope to serve you not only in a way that saves you money, but by giving you quality service also. May your experience in the world of offshore banking and asset protection always be a pleasant one with our help.

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