Crafting a Theology Of Advancement

by Ten Talents Foundation | Mar 12, 2023 | Ministry Partners, Nonprofits

What your organization believes about money impacts everything.

What guides your organization’s development goals?

We make decisions every day that are driven by our beliefs and values. As leaders of organizations, what we believe about money, donors, development, and generosity (whether we realize it or not!) will weave itself into the DNA of our ministries and non-profits.

The principles that guide our development decisions can be summarized in a written document called a Theology of Advancement.

Take a few moments to think about this in the context of your organization. We’ve broken up our recommended resources into three sections based on how much time you have to dedicate to the topic, ranging from 5 minutes to an afternoon without Zoom meetings.

What is a Theology of Advancement?

A Theology of Advancement is a written statement of the values and philosophy that motivate an organization’s development goals. As a Christian organization, a Theology of Advancement should be built on Scripture verses/passages that inform your organization’s values and practices.

As a leader of a church/nonprofit, you understand the importance of generosity because you see the impact it makes in your organization and the lives of people… both those you serve and those who give.

However, not everyone who is associated with your organization has a front-row seat to the impact that is made through generosity. Having an established Theology of Advancement statement helps every staff member, donor, and volunteer to write, speak, and live out your organization’s philosophy of generosity with consistency and confidence. A Theology of Advancement:

Why is a Theology of Advancement important?

It provides a visionary standard for development
For churches, it serves as a tool for discipling congregants in greater generosity
It enriches conversations with donors by providing a biblical framework
It provides accountability to the organization in stewarding resources according to God’s principles
It increases donor/stakeholder trust in the organization

Questions to answer in a of Theology of Advancement

What are some key Bible verses/passages that are the foundation of what you do?
Which verses inspire you to greater generosity?
What are the key principles of generosity that emerge from these verses/passages?
What does your organization believe regarding stewardship and biblical generosity?
How can you integrate this theology into your fundraising efforts

Create your own Theology of Advancement!

If your organization does not yet have a written statement that expresses your beliefs about generosity, consider meeting with your key leadership and creating one with the examples below.

Take some time during your lunch break this week to check out a sample Theology of Advancement resource from Mortar Stone. This example highlights biblical truths and Scripture references to inspire you as you consider what your own organization’s Theology of Advancement may look like.

NOTE: This example was crafted specifically with churches in mind, but the principles apply to NPOs as well.

Contact Ten Talents

2022 Ten Talents Foundation Annual Impact Report

by Ten Talents Foundation | Mar 7, 2023 | Donor Advised Fund, Generosity, Ministry Partners, Ten Talents Foundation Updates

TEN TALENTS FOUNDATION 2022 ANNUAL IMPACT REPORT

Thank you.

At the Ten Talents Foundation, we believe our time, talents, and treasures are gifts from God. We have the responsibility to manage our resources with wisdom, creativity, and generosity to build His kingdom. We strive to unify our faith community in the Central Valley under this mindset. Darkness trembles, hope grows, and cities change when businesses, families, ministries, and churches come together in His name!

We’ve seen it first-hand. Since our inception in July of 2020, over $1,000,000 has been thoughtfully distributed on behalf of our Donor Advised Fund holders through the Ten Talents Foundation to organizations making a positive impact in our region and world! Our 14 Ministry Partners are receiving training and resources to become even more effective conduits of God’s love in our community.

In 2023, with your help, we can double our impact, increase our generosity, facilitate more complex gifts like crop giving and real estate, and add 10 new Ministry Partners!

Thank you for partnering with the Ten Talents Foundation. Whether you are a Founding Member, Donor Advised Fund holder, Ministry Partner, Prayer Partner, or a neighbor, you are a vital part of this movement of generosity.

Read full 2022 impact report

Can Your Organization Survive an IRS Audit?

by Ten Talents Foundation | Feb 12, 2023 | Ministry Partners, Nonprofits

A California Nonprofit Compliance Checklist

CalNonprofits Compliance Checklist

The California Association of Nonprofits (CalNonprofits) is a statewide “chamber of commerce” for nonprofits that provides advocacy and resources. One such resource is the Nonprofit Compliance Checklist, which provides a comprehensive list of all state and federal forms charities are required to file.

The Nonprofit Compliance Checklist provides direct links to the forms you need to complete and the websites where you can submit the forms, and breaks down reporting requirements by the size of your organization’s annual budget. The checklist also provides a list of forms that charities may be required to file under special circumstances, including forms that must be filed if your organization is planning to hold a raffle.

Here’s a summary of CalNonprofits’ compliance checklist:

Level of Gov’t	Agency	Form Name	Form Purpose/Title	Fee	Due	Nonprofits	Churches
Federal	IRS	Form 990, Form 990-EZ, or Form 990-N	Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax	N/A	on or before the 15th day of the fifth month after the close of the org’s taxable year	Required	Optional
State of CA	Attorney General’s Office	Form RRF-1 and/or Form CT-TR-1	Annual Registration Renewal Fee Report	$25-$1,200, depending on size of organization	on or before the 15th day of the fifth month after the close of your org’s taxable year	Required	Required if registered with AGO
State of CA	Franchise Tax Board	Form FTB-199 or Form FTB-199N	Exempt Organization Annual Information Return	N/A	on or before four months and 15 days after the close of the org’s calendar or fiscal year.	Required	Required under certain circumstances
State of CA	Secretary of State	Form SI-100	Statement of Information	$20	Every two years during the calendar month that the Articles of Incorporation were filed	Required	Required

Unsure if you’ve missed any state filings?

If you’re unsure if your organization has missed any state of California filings, you can check your status by following this link to the State Registry of Charitable Trusts and searching by your organization name or EIN number.

Your status will show as “Current,” “Delinquent,” “Not Registered,” or “Suspended.” You will also be able to view your organization’s filings and correspondence history, which includes all past filed RRF-1 Forms, as well as your renewal/expiration date.

Churches and other religious exempt charities are included in the State Registry of Charitable Trusts database, but do not show any filings and correspondence history.