Laurel Schumacher

Chief Operations Officer at VitalChurch Ministry, a nonprofit organization that serves to revitalize churches in crisis and transition.

RSS Reed Website

Why Our Nonprofit Charges for Our Church Survey When There Are Free Options Available

January 9, 2024

In previous posts, I’ve talked about how the nonprofit organization I work for, VitalChurch Ministry, has produced a church survey, which we sell to help bring in some additional funds to our organization. We’ve had some people question why, as a nonprofit, we would charge for the online …

Working With Donors on How Their Gifts Are Used at Your Nonprofit

December 4, 2023

Someone wants to give your nonprofit organization a sizeable donation. That’s great, right? Of course it’s great! But what happens when the donor has a very specific idea of what their gift should be used for, but your organization’s needs lie elsewhere? A while back, I heard of church that was …

Multiple Revenue Streams to Support Your Nonprofit Organization

November 9, 2023

Fundraising for nonprofits is tough work. Asking for donations, applying for grants, and doing fundraising campaigns is enough to keep a full-time person busy at even the smallest nonprofit. A larger nonprofit can have an entire fundraising department—and even then, it can seem like there’s never …

The Importance of a Board of Directors at a Nonprofit Organization

October 3, 2023

In this column, we’re going to address the topic of nonprofit boards of directors. The IRS requires that all 501(c)(3) organizations have a board of directors, made up of at least three members who meet at least once a year. Beyond that, there are very few regulations with regard to …

Finding and Cultivating Dedicated Volunteers for Your Nonprofit Organization

September 1, 2023

Nonprofit organizations often depend on volunteers to help stretch their limited resources. Recruiting dedicated and talented volunteers who can serve as substitutes for one or more full-time employees can mean the difference between thriving and simply surviving as an organization. If you’re a …

Keeping a Pulse on Your Community: Why We Recommend a Regular Church Survey

August 21, 2023

As you may already know from reading this column, I work with a nonprofit organization that provides support for churches in the United States and abroad. One of our main services is to supply churches with an interim pastor when they don’t have a full-time pastor in place for whatever reason. This …