Anyone who isn’t sure what Andrew Marin is about buy and read his book. READ THE BOOK!!!

Sarah

On your 990, it looks like your board is pretty small. Any plans to expand it? New board members bring their network of friends and connections to your organization. That’s how I’ve seen nonprofits grow from one-man-shows into real organizations, though you have to be careful whenever you bring someone into a position of responsibility like that. I’d recommend taking your five biggest advocates and consider seeing if they’d be willing to join the board.

If you don’t have a lawyer, strategic planner, or someone like that to help define your board’s roles and responsibilities, most cities (esp. Chicago) have free nonprofit workshops that will help you build up your organization. It looks like North Park has a “nonprofit gateway,” but I can’t vouch for it – it was just the first thing that showed up when I Googled “Chicago nonprofit center.”

~ Mike

When Erin introduced me to your book a few months ago, it was a breath of fresh air. The overall thrust of your book and your desire to build bridges was breathtaking. I then went to your blog and your website and I listened to all of the podcasts. We then had you come to Cedar Rapids. Here is the impression I received (prior to reading your blog the last few days):

1.) You are clearly sold out to God for this work. I applaud you for that.

2.) You have a small but significant foundation doing major research work no one else is doing. Which implied a staff. Didn’t know how large, but a staff.

3.) You never asked for money. Which implied that you had donors, possibly some big donors, underwriting things.

4.) You didn’t want money to be an issue. Which I totally understand. Hard to be a bridge builder if you are constantly charging for money. Even your coming to Cedar Rapids was not for a hefty fee. Again, you clearly were sold out and didn’t want money to be an issue.

5.) Your ministry is strictly bridge building. I don’t mean this in a critical way, but you are clearly not an “evangelistic” / “missionary” effort to the gay community. You are not bringing out ex-gays to show the way you have made a difference. Again, this is not a criticism. It is just an acknowledgment that your clearly stated goal is to build bridges. Part of building a bridge is being clear about your own beliefs, and you clearly state your hope is for people to know God personally. But you leave it to God to change people’s hearts.

Okay, those were my impressions. To summarize, I perceived you to not particularly need money for ministry (though you clearly were living a frugal lifestyle). I also felt most churches would be slow to support you since you did not have a clearly evangelistic emphasis.

Then I read the last few days. It has been a revelation.

I put all of the above points to say this: We only know what you tell us. I think you are very open and honest about your feelings and past in regards to the gay issue. I am glad you are now being just as vocal about your financial needs for the ministry.

Here are two thoughts:

1.) It will be hard to get funding for bridge building. You are in the middle trying to reach both sides. That is necessary. But it is hard for a church to give money to an effort like yours when there is no clearly defined evangelistic purpose. Yet I can see how that would be the antithesis of bridge building. The alternative is to sell a product (such as the classes you have been doing). Yet that has issues.

2.) What about the other side? Are you reaching out to those in the gay community who have benefited from your ministry? Other gay organizations do not hesitate to ask for funds for the work they are doing. I think you can do so with integrity.

I will contact you personally with more thoughts, but felt it worth mentioning these on your blog. Please understand that none of this is meant as criticism of what you have done or are doing. You clearly act on what God is asking you to do. I admire that greatly. My goal is to share with you the perceptions of one pastor who recently was introduced to you and your ministry. I don’t know if I am typical, but I had no idea your organization existed on so little. And to be honest, I am impressed! But I also would say you deserve to ask for more in an appropriate way.