Manasota Christian Community Foundation
We seek to lift our Sarasota and Manatee community through a foundation of support that creates authentic relationships between donors and Christian leaders.
A well-planned, intentional strategy for your giving can make all the difference.
At MCCF, our heart is to help generous people like you create a Giving Strategy based on biblical principles that empower you to be more faithful, generous, and fully alive.
If you want to give with more impact, cultivate unity in your family, and leave a legacy of generosity, let’s start a conversation.
Connections multiply through the MCCF Foundation, allowing the efforts of our ministries, partners, and community to flourish.
Ministries
We support Christ-based ministries in Sarasota and Manatee counties.
Partners
Donors are able to support the good work that is being done by local ministries that align with their values.
Community
Our area gets better as people show the love of Christ through strategic generosity.
Access The Free Guide
A Guide to Giving Wisely: How to Choose a Meaningful Christian Charity in Bradenton and Sarasota
...and start strategically giving.
- Steps for Choosing a Charity to Donate
- Maximize Your Impact for Good
- Inspiration for Being Generous
- Discover Local Sarasota and Manatee County Christian Charities.
Our focus on relationships allows us to be mentors who walk alongside of others
From the simplicity of the Giving Fund to the multiplying power of non-cash giving, our innovative solutions can help you experience more impact, fewer taxes, less paperwork, and more joy.
We Tell Stories
The foundation’s work will result in many great things. We want to showcase these stories in a way that educates and inspires people in our community.
Our goal with these posts will be to show how the foundation impacts the community while also illustrating the power of working together with a group of like-minded disciples.
We Are Discipleship Driven
We seek to make connections in conjunction with the Holy Spirit so that each instance of aid and assistance provides the opportunity to reach others through kindness and generosity, hopefully inspiring them to follow Jesus.
A Christian disciple is an apprentice of Jesus who participates in spiritual and relational growth within a safe and affirming group of like-minded disciples.
Our vision is that charities in Sarasota and Manatee Counties have all they need to accomplish their mission.
Our Leadership
Tom Bardwell
Board Member
Bryan Green
Board Member
Paul Cooper
President & Board Member
Terry Parker
Advisor
Scott Merritt
Advisor
Our mission is to mobilize resources by making local giving easy.
We do this by creating relationships with donors and ministries.
We believe in the biblical message of generosity. This is not specific to any denomination or church; it is for His body—the Church.
We exist to spread the message of generosity because we know it transforms lives. Spreading this message can be tricky. It’s easy to assume we’re asking for money—but we’re not. We host free events that help explore generosity without asking for anything in return. This leads to stronger families, renewed marriages, and deeper relationships with God.
Everything we do is centered around a conversation, guided by our core beliefs and principles of generosity.
Our Core Values
Giving is a heart issue
Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. – Matthew 6:21
We invest our time, energy, and resources in the things that matter most to us. They are often things that ensnare us and stand in the way of liberation from materialism.
Remarkably, in much the same way your treasure reveals your heart, the purposeful reallocation of your ‘treasure’ can be an effective way to guide your heart away from earthly values and toward more meaningful treasure.
“My heart always goes where I put God’s money.” – Randy Alcorn
Giving is not only an indication of where your heart is, but it is also a means of moving your heart toward God’s generosity in a never-ending journey, expanding your heart to hold all the blessing of a closer walk with God.
God gave first
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son… – John 3:16
God is the most generous of all givers. God’s grace has blessed us with goods, skills, and opportunities to generate what we need in our lives and a rich and wonderful world in which to live out His calling. God gave at a level beyond anything we can fully comprehend, He gave His Son, whose life bought our salvation
God’s giving to us is like the filling of a cup, and our giving to others reveals the cup running over. In the context of our own blessings and gratefulness, we learn to be generous givers. We didn’t earn it; we never will. God’s gift was the highest demonstration of unconditional generosity:
But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. – Romans 5:8
God owns it all
The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it. – Psalm 24:1
A money manager administers assets for the benefit of the owner, but is always aware that the funds he or she handles are not his own. With all the attention you place on managing our money, how does my perspective change when I come to understand that it is not my money, my wealth, my possessions, or my assets, but instead, that it all belongs to God? We are God’s money managers. The wealth of the earth and all its resources are entrusted to us, with the privilege to be stewards of its wise use. Our money is never ours to spend as we choose; our money is God’s to spend as He directs.
We are seeking first the Kingdom of God
But seek first His Kingdom and His Righteousness and all of these things will be given to you as well. – Matthew 6:33
Jesus assures us that we do not have to worry about our earthly life because God has promised always to take care of us. And with earthly matters in God’s control, we are free to pursue more spiritual matters, seeking first and above all else, God’s kingdom and His righteousness through spiritual intimacy. Intimacy with Christ offers the highest levels of satisfaction both right now and for eternity.
Heaven, not Earth, is my home
But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ. – Philippians 3:20
Life is short. Eternity is long. And my home is in heaven, where I will spend eternity. This simple yet radical thinking begs an important question: Why should I invest a large amount of time, energy, and resources in what is short? Why should I focus on my (or even my children’s) very temporary life here on earth, when heaven is real and coming and calling?
It isn’t wrong for us to spend money on things that are temporary. However, if we have an eternal perspective and understand that heaven, not earth, is our real home, then we know that we can store up treasures in heaven where we (and those reached with the gospel) can experience them for eternity. A life of generosity—for all who know Christ—means the opportunity to draw closer to God, now, and in eternity. It means joy, a fulfilled heart, and the potential to store up treasures in heaven.
Giving brings joy
… remembering the words of the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive. – Acts 20:35
Our life becomes joyful, fulfilling, and purposeful as we live in God’s calling. Joy is experienced in the act of giving, but even more so in the alignment of your heart with God’s will. As generosity comes into your heart, it blesses you in ways you know in the moment, in ways you recognize over a lifetime, and in ways that are revealed to you only in eternity. Generosity enables you to live in the joy of a “life that is truly life.”
“In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.” (1 Timothy 6:19).
Would easier local giving help you?
Paul Cooper
President, Board Member
Prior to his role at MCCF, Paul was blessed to have served on staff at a large multisite church in west central Florida. Prior to his past 10 years in church leadership, he served as an executive with a fortune 500 multi-national corporation for 15 years.
He currently serves on multiple non-profit boards throughout the country, with a focus in serving nonprofits in his home area of Sarasota-Bradenton.
Married to his lovely wife Janet for over 21 years, together they have two amazing children. Haley, 19, who has been serving in the children’s ministry at church since middle school, feels called to be an elementary teacher. She is currently a junior at Lee University in Cleveland, TN. Paul Jr., 17, is a rising senior in high school. He loves serving at church in the production ministry, helping broadcast the weekend services around the world. They love to travel, and together have visited nearly every US National Park, as well as every state in the continental US and Alaska.
Terry Parker
Advisor
Terry founded the National Christian Foundation (NCF) in 1982 with Ron Blue and Larry Burkett. Terry is active in the Christian philanthropic community, serving or having served on numerous non-profit boards, including Crown Financial Ministries, Christian Legal Society, The Gathering, and Family Research Council. He lectures at no charge throughout the country on behalf of the ministries served by NCF on issues involving donor-advised funds, private foundations, supporting organizations, the transition of wealth from one generation to the next, and the tax and spiritual issues involved in charitable giving. A well-respected name in the world of giving, his expertise and 40 years of experience in wills, trusts, estates, and tax-exempt organizations have made him a sought-after counselor.
Terry retired from the law firm of Womble, Carlyle, Sandridge, and Rice, PLLC, in 2003 to devote himself full time to NCF. His law degrees include a master of law in taxation and a doctor of law. He graduated with a bachelor of arts from Vanderbilt University. In addition to being admitted to the practice of law before all Georgia state courts, the United States District Court, the United States Court of Appeals, and the United States Tax Court, he is also admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court. His military service included the JAG Corps of the United States Navy.
Terry and his wife, Paula, reside in Atlanta, and have three children and nine grandchildren.
Tom Bardwell
Board Member
With over two decades of experience in the financial services industry, Tom Bardwell has established himself as a trusted advisor, catering to affluent individuals, families, and institutional clients since 1999. His journey began at Van Kampen Investments, where he acquired a deep understanding of portfolio management and asset allocation strategies.
From late 2005 until 2008, Tom assumed the position of Manager of the Central Illinois Complex for Morgan Stanley, further refining his leadership acumen. In 2008, he joined the Cornerstone Capital Group at Morgan Stanley, leveraging his expertise to optimize investment portfolios and implement effective planning strategies for both individuals and institutions.
Tom’s commitment to community engagement was evident during his time in Central Illinois, where he actively participated in various organizations. He served as a member of the Board of Directors for the Peoria Riverfront Museum, contributed as a member of the Campaign Cabinet for the Heart of Illinois United Way Drive, and held a Board Member position for the Central Illinois Estate Planning Council.
In 2014, Tom, accompanied by his family, made the decision to relocate to Sarasota, Florida, embarking on a new chapter by establishing a Cornerstone Capital Group office in the area. Today, he continues to serve clients nationwide, offering his comprehensive financial expertise. Tom takes great pride in his involvement in the Sarasota community, his church, and engaging in local outreach events that aim to make a positive impact.
Tom and his wife, Courtney, share the joy of raising four children while nurturing their fulfilling life in Sarasota. With his unwavering dedication and commitment to clients’ financial well-being, Tom Bardwell continues to be a beacon of trust and expertise in the financial services industry.
Brian Green
Board Member
Exceptional thought leader in both the Christian and secular philanthropic community, serving or having served on numbers non-profit boards for the past 30+ years.
He speaks at no charge throughout the country on behalf of the organizations he oversees and for ministries and organizations he partners with, on issues involving donor-advised funds, private foundations, supported organizations , transition of wealth from one generation to the next and unique charitable giving opportunities.
Founded multiple national foundations including NEMA foundation dba/ ProvisionBridge (A donor advised fund sponsor) Charity Assets Trust , a Delaware Trust organized under existing laws of the state of DE., to receive, hold, and liquidate charitable interest in privately held business entities.
Enjoys spending time with family and friends traveling.
Wife Cheryl of 32 years executive director; Provisionbridge. Daughter Brittany, 28 and son Connor, 23. All live happily in beautiful Sarasota!
Scott Merritt
Advisor
As a business owner, you want to partner with someone who understands what life is like as an entrepreneur.
With over 25 years of running his own business & working in the tax industry, Scott has worked with many entrepreneurs.
This experience allows him to use knowledge and insight of small business & business tax planning to create and deliver creative business tax planning solutions.