So you’re thinking about making a donation to a Christian organization. And that all starts with making a list of Christian ministries to consider. There are a lot to choose from! If you’re feeling a little overwhelmed trying to decide how to move forward, this guide is here to help.
In this article, you’ll learn about two useful directories of reputable Christian ministries, charities, and organizations. You’ll discover a free resource that can help you understand different ways to give, and how giving affects your taxes. We’ll walk you through taking a personal inventory of your own values so that you can narrow down your options. And, we’ll cover what God’s word, the Bible, has to say about giving and tithing. Before you know it, you’ll have a short list of strong matches that you can feel good about considering for a donation. Let’s get started!
Two Resources to Help You Create a List of Christian Ministries
It can be overwhelming just searching for Christian ministries, charities, and organizations on Google. It’s almost information overload. The trick is finding organizations that align with your passions and your values, right?
1. Serving USA
Your first resource is right here, at Serving USA. We’re a Christian nonprofit ministry that supports other Christian nonprofit ministries through financial contributions and managerial resources. Serving USA focuses on three main areas: women in recovery, prisoners, and military veterans. You
can choose to donate to one area of our ministry or give to all three of our causes by choosing to donate to the “general” category. Explore this website for more information about the many ministries affiliated with Serving USA, a Christian nonprofit ministry.
2. Charity Navigator
A second resource we recommend is Charity Navigator where you can search charities by cause. You’ll find there is a very helpful four-star rating system based on impact & measurement, accountability & finance, culture & community, and leadership & accountability. This site is very user-friendly, with an informational section called “Donor Basics.” There, you’ll find helpful sections like
“Giving 101,” “Where to Give,” and “Donor Tools.” On CharityNavigator.org, you can learn about multiple ways to give, protecting your giving (making sure the funds go where you want them to), how giving affects your taxes, and important details about the organizations you’re considering.
Explore Christian Organizations and Start Your Short List
Between Serving USA and Charity Navigator, you have a wide range of ministries, charities, and organizations you can support with your donation. So start exploring your resources, and begin compiling a list of organizations that stand out to you as strong options for your donation.
Using Shared Values to Narrow Down Your Donation Options
Great. Now you’ve explored the three main causes of Serving USA, and you’ve searched Charity Navigator for ministries that match your passion and values. Did you make a list of strong candidates to bless with your donation? Now it’s time to start to narrow down your list even more.
Considering Your Own Values
We humbly suggest it’s now time to make a list of what’s really important to you. If the reason you’re looking to make a donation is because a loved one recently left you a financial gift (from an inheritance or estate) you may want to also consider the values of the person who blessed you. Make a list of what topics and causes really stand out to you as being important. Try to force yourself to come up with ten topics. For example, your list might look like this: feed the hungry, shelter the poor,
support for widows, help homeless children, help prisoners, and provide safety to women trying to leave
dangerous relationships, help those who are fighting addiction, provide support for veterans, support
for victims of abuse, and sharing the gospel through missions.
Next, take that list and number them from one to ten. Number one is your most important cause. Don’t feel guilty about this process because they are all important. But if you had to order them, what does that look like for you, personally? Take your time. It’s recommended you even pray to God for help to decide on this list. This is a challenging step, but this can help you wind up with a list you feel really good about.
Matching Your Values to Ministries
Now consider your donation budget. It’s time to decide if you’re going to give it all to one cause, or multiple causes. Once you’ve decided on how to allocate your donation funds (how many causes you’ve chosen), you can start matching the ministries on your list with your top causes. Make sense?
Example: If you have decided to give $100 and you want to divide it into four donations, you might give $25 to your top four causes. Then all you have to do is choose a ministry for your first cause, a ministry for your second cause, a ministry for your third cause, and a ministry for your fourth cause.
Use the two resources listed above to dive deeper into each ministry you’re considering, and make sure you understand how your donation will affect your taxes by using Charity Navigator Donor Basics Giving 101.
Understanding Biblical Giving and Tithing
What does God have to say about tithing and financial gifts? They are two different things.
Tithing is a biblical principle from the Old Testament. In Leviticus 27:30, the NIV translation of the Bible says, “A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees,
belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the LORD.” This word “tithe” in Hebrew translates to mean a 10% offering. That’s why some Christians practice giving 10% of their income to the church for financial support.
Giving is more of a spontaneous act or a one-time contribution. 2 Corinthians 9:7 (NLT), “You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. ‘For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.’”
Be secretive. God encourages us to give to the needy in such a way as to not call attention to ourselves. In Matthew 6:3-4 (NIV), Jesus tells us, “But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
A Few Words About Prayer and Your Donation
Donating to a Christian mission, charity, or organization is a private matter. It is private between you, the giver, and the receiver. And it’s also a private matter between you and God. We encourage you not to rush into giving to ministries. Take your time. Do your research using the resources and steps laid out in this article. And please consider taking time to ask God directly how He would have you behave in your generosity. More than anything, we want this to be a positive, rewarding experience for you, and for God to be glorified. Thank you for considering blessing Christian ministries. What a wonderful opportunity for you!
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