Author: admin

  • Does Your Church Have an Emergency Operations Plan?

    Does Your Church Have an Emergency Operations Plan?

    Has your church leadership thought about what you would do if an armed shooter interrupted your worship service next Sunday morning? What would you do if the church were suddenly in the path of a tornado or blizzard during your Sunday morning gathering? What about if the church caught on fire or suffered some other disaster? Have you planned for how to move people to safety in the event of an emergency? Do you have the appropriate equipment to assist in medical emergencies or to monitor dangerous weather situations? Have you discussed the possible emergencies that may occur at your location and developed a plan to protect lives and property?

    Whether you have 100 or 1,000 worshippers gathered on any given Sunday, it is important to be prepared for emergencies. While the church is usually seen as a place of safety and often serves others in response to disasters, it can also be affected by domestic terrorism or natural disasters. Are you prepared to protect all that God has entrusted to your church?

    Besides the obvious need to preserve human life, church buildings are often home to valuable assets, including computers, livestream equipment, video recording systems, sound systems, musical instruments, and more. An Emergency Operations Plan, which your insurance company may require, will help protect those assets and plan for how to continue essential operations following a disaster.

    FEMA developed the Guide for Developing High-Quality Emergency Operations Plans for Houses of Worship in 2013, and the need is even greater today due to increasing gun violence. This publication contains guidelines for preparing for an emergency across five mission areas: Prevention, Protection, Mitigation, Response, and Recovery.

    If your church is located in the greater Indianapolis area and you do not have an official Emergency Operations Plan, Mission Partner Strategies is available to partner with you to assess your risk and develop a plan that adheres to governmental recommendations for multiple unforeseen emergencies. Call (317-436-3963) or email (sheri@missionpartnerstrategies.com) today for a free consultation as your first step toward adopting this vital plan for the safety of your church, including people and assets.

  • Can You Get Me a Grant for my Small Business?

    Can You Get Me a Grant for my Small Business?

    Often, when people learn that you are a grant consultant and writer, they ask, “Can you get me a grant?” I don’t know. That depends. Are you looking for grant funding for a business or a nonprofit? While most grant opportunities are for nonprofits (which will be discussed in future posts), some business grant funding options do exist.

    One option is through Verizon Digital Ready. After registering your business, you complete at least two of Verizon’s brief business courses, and then you will be able to apply for a $10K grant. The process is easy and the courses are beneficial, covering a wide variety of topics. The application is simple and straightforward. You will be able to complete it on your own without hiring a freelance grant writer. (As of the time of writing, this opportunity closes on December 10, 2025.)

    Another option is the $4K Growth Grant through the National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE). In order to qualify to apply for the grant, you must be a member of the NASE. An annual membership is $120 and includes a number of benefits, including the ability to apply for the Growth Grant. Applications are reviewed four times a year (April, July, October, and January), so there are several opportunities year-round to apply. You can use the grant funds for any legitimate business expense, except for paying off existing debt. You will need to include a description of what you plan to use the grant funds for, a business plan, a recent tax return or profit/loss statement, and other supporting documents. 

    Hello Alice could also be a good resource for finding grants for your small business. At the time of writing, two opportunities are listed on their site. One is a free 12-week program from FedEx that provides education, mentorship, and peer support to help you develop your business. (At the time of writing, this opportunity closes on November 21, 2025.) If you are accepted into the free 12-week program, you will have the opportunity to apply for a $10K grant. The other opportunity listed on Hello Alice is a DoorDash Local Business Disaster Relief Fund. This grant is not available for everyone, but it would be a tremendous help if you live in an area that has suffered a natural disaster. Keep checking back for other opportunities.

    In Indiana, the Indiana Small Business Development Center offers a number of free tools and resources for all aspects of running a small business. While they do not offer grants, their information will likely be useful in running your business.

    Finally, Galaxy of Stars is a resource for helping women and minority small business owners, whether you are experienced or just getting started. Right now, the fee for joining Galaxy Plus is $29.99 per year or $49.99 for a lifetime membership, which provides access to grant opportunities, other funding sources, and a library of other beneficial business resources. Even without joining Galaxy Plus, you can apply for a $2500 grant to help your business. The deadline is November 20, 2025. Once you apply, you will receive an email providing several more grant opportunities. 

    If you have any further questions or would like Mission Partner Strategies to help you find grant funding or resources for your specific business, call us at 317-436-3963 or email sheri@missionpartnerstrategies.com.

  • Do Faith and Fundraising Go Together?

    Do Faith and Fundraising Go Together?

    The short answer to this question is yes, they do! Anyone who has attempted to run a ministry (or any other type of organization) on zero budget will tell you that. Ministries need money to operate, whether they are providing housing, food, or financial assistance to those in need; providing healthcare or education for the poor; developing new curricula; or paying the staff needed to do all of these things and more. Jesus had at least three women who financially supported his earthly ministry (Luke 8:3). Trusting God doesn’t mean we don’t have a role in securing necessary provisions for our ministry. 

    While ministries of all kinds require funding, no one wants to feel like they’re begging people for money, as it can be very uncomfortable. Rather than viewing the task of raising funds as begging, consider it as an invitation for others to join you in your mission. Certain individuals have been blessed, not only with finances but also with the gift of generosity. Financially supporting the mission of a church, another nonprofit, or an individual brings them great joy. Don’t deprive these folks of the blessing of exercising their gift to support others (Rom 12:8). Ministry fundraising provides an opportunity for those gifted with wealth and generosity to be part of a worthwhile ministry effort.

    Those who offer their gifts to support ministry efforts want to know their funds will be wisely invested. Jesus told several parables about investing wisely, from the five women who purchased enough supplies to carry out their mission (Matt 25:1-13) and the master who entrusted wealth to three different individuals. When the master returned, he commended those who invested their wealth wisely, but he admonished the one who refused to invest his wealth, calling him wicked and lazy (Matt 25:14-30). This means we need to make wise decisions and formulate a solid plan for our ministry.

    When discussing the need for wise planning, many quote the King James Version of Proverbs 29:18: “When there is no vision, the people perish.” Eugene Peterson renders this verse, “If people can’t see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves; but when they attend to what he reveals, they are most blessed.” When a ministry has a clear vision from God and they have made a solid plan on how to carry out that vision, they are helping to build the Kingdom of God. For more information, I want to recommend a little book by Henri Nouwen, entitled A Spirituality of Fundraising (Nashville, TN: Upper Room Books, 2010).

    If you are interested in seeing if applying for a grant is right for you and your nonprofit, contact Sheri (317-436-3963 or sheri@missionpartnerstrategies.com) for a free initial conversation. 

  • Why Mission Partner Strategies?

    Establishing a new business begins with finding the right name because that name should reflect not only what you do, but who you are. I intentionally chose Mission Partner Strategies because it captures the heart of what I hope to offer: a beneficial partnership, strategic planning, and faithful support to help your nonprofit thrive.


    Faith-based ministries and other nonprofit organizations exist to serve others, but even the most meaningful missions require funding to survive and to flourish. Unfortunately, securing that funding can be a daunting task. I have experienced this struggle firsthand. Fifteen years ago, I served at a church where declining giving left me leading two ministries with zero budget. Later on, I taught at a Bible college that was navigating enrollment declines that forced program cuts. I’ve watched as other institutions in similar circumstances have been forced to close, merge, or sell property simply to stay afloat.


    Meanwhile, many of the individuals and families that these institutions served are also facing their own economic hardships. With the rising cost of living, they are often unable to contribute financially because they are struggling to support themselves and their families. As the demand for service increases, the resources to provide them often lag behind. This is where Mission Partner Strategies steps in.


    Our mission is to help connect nonprofits to the right funding partner, just as a traditional matchmaker works to align two people with shared hopes and values. Each grantmaker has a specific focus they are passionate about funding. Each nonprofit has a compelling mission they are passionate about fulfilling. A well-crafted grant strategy connects the nonprofit and the funder in a way that advances the goals of both parties, and the results bring lasting benefit to the community.


    This kind of match doesn’t happen by chance. It requires intentional strategy, thoughtful conversation, and diligent research. It takes time to understand your story, including your mission, your program, and your desired impact. That is exactly what Mission Partner Strategies offers. If your church, school, or nonprofit is ready to explore new funding opportunities, let’s begin the conversation.