CSA History

Where did CSA come from?

In 1963, 46 Christian leaders met to learn what God was teaching them about funding their ministries. They decided to come together annually and invite other leaders to join them. They called this group the Christian Stewardship Council (CSC).

As CSC grew, it changed its name to the Christian Stewardship Association (CSA) and became the official stewardship training arm of the 52 denominations affiliated with the National Association of Evangelicals. CSA's annual gathering expanded in scope to become a national conference convening every fall. The knowledge shared at these conferences became the basis of CSA's first publication, Money for Ministries.

In 1992, CSA's national research efforts attracted a $450,000 grant from Lilly Endowment, Inc. The endowment commissioned CSA to undertake a four-year project led by Dr. Wes Willmer, now CSA emeritus board chair, to study how ministries are funded in America. The insights from this project were detailed in a series of eight books in this extensive study of parachurch financing.

In 1998, CSA responded to a call from members to provide opportunities for more in-depth coursework in biblical stewardship and fundraising. The Meyer Institute for Steward Leadership was established in 2001, annually attracting over 200 leaders from ministries around the world. Participants spend three and one-half days of focused learning in a retreat environment under a professional mentor concentrating on a chosen area of stewardship.  The Meyer Institute launched a national certification program for those who complete the required coursework. The Certified Stewardship Professional (CSP), Advanced Certified Stewardship Executive (ACSE), or Certified Church Stewardship Educator (CCSE) designations represent the some of the finest stewardship professionals in ministry today.

Under the Lord's blessing and guidance, CSA is the largest association focusing on educating leaders who raise funds and resources for Christian ministries. CSA's ongoing mission is to influence the world for Jesus Christ by equipping Christian leaders with a biblical understanding of stewardship through education, research, resources, and networking opportunities. We invite you to join CSA and allow us to come alongside you to help resource your ministry's mission in expanding the Kingdom of God.

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