November 21, 2008
Should your church leadership sign a contract?
One fundraising professional asks her Board to sign an annual fundraising contract.
The contract asks board members to specify contributions they would make in four areas: making a personal financial donation; arranging meetings, hosting parties, and other donor "cultivation" activities; helping to secure big gifts from others; participating in events; and "other" fund-raising activities that each board member can suggest on their own.
The brief article explains that there was some prep and follow up work involved, not only on behalf of this fundraising professional but also the executive director and chairman of the board. (This is a good reminder that success and organizational health are dependent upon more than one or a few people.)
So what does this have to do with church?
Your leadership should be in positions of leadership because they have pledged their allegiance to the staff and to the church. They should have more "invested" in seeing the ministry of the church multiply than the average person in the pew. These are your pace setters, and the ones everyone else in your church will observe.
Bottom line, it's critical that your leadership be willing to model every aspect of what it means to be a good steward - one who is faithful with their time, talent and treasures.
Accepting a position of leadership in any organization involves accepting the responsibility of the position. A contract or agreement merely outlines the expectations and assumptions of the relationship.
If you're looking for a way to inspire your leadership to lead and raise the level of expectation for your average pew sitter, maybe a convenant agreement (or contract) could be a tool to reinforce just how critical it is to have everyone working toward the same goal - fulfillment of the Great Commission through the ministry of the local church.
My guess is that the board members who signed the contract mentioned above were as successful or even more successful at raising money for the organization than in years past.
God has given every church all the resources it needs - the right people, the right talents and the right amount of money. Too often we settle for only a small percentage who choose to get involved and sacrifically invest themselves in the ministry of the church.
Raising the expectation will multiply your ministry.
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November 20, 2008
LifeWay poll reveals charitable giving intentions of employees
I just checked our intranet page and noticed the employee poll question of the day: How has the economy impacted your holiday charitable giving?
The response was not surprising. Though, it's counterintuitive. Here are the most recent results:
61.15%
I will give as usual
30.14%
I will give less
8.695%
I will give more
Total Votes: 345
The most surprising one to me was that nearly 10% of LifeWay employees indicated that they plan to give MORE this holiday season because of the economy.
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Building upon the right foundation
Mark Brooks, president and founder of Charis, writes in Deal or No Deal: Build Now or Wait for Economic Improvement? that churches should consider their own personal situation when deciding to postpone or follow through with building plans.
He outlines several areas for consideration. All are good reminders that an economic recession affects us all differently.
I would verify this. The churches I'm talking to have multiple feelings and opinions as to how the economy is or will affect their ministry and particularly their giving. One church told me a couple of weeks ago that their giving is up 30% while another is being forced to consider laying off personnel just to breakeven with last year.
Entering a capital campaign may or may not be the best decision right now for your church. Each church should consider the decision individually.
Perhaps the cost of holding your cards, hunkering down and hanging on until this "storm" passes might be greater in terms of ministry than any capital campaign you might consider.
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November 19, 2008
New funding model applied at Waterfront Community Church
Think how much more ministry your church could accomplish if the dollars in the plate directly funded ministry. What if you could find an alternative way to cover the overhead of your church?
One church decided to think outside the box. The result? A story worth telling your friends about.
"Some people like to see where their money is going," said Semradek, 38, a former pastor at Willow Creek Community Church. "My dream is every time a person puts a dollar in the plate, something happens. When you give, you see a face on the other side that you're blessing."
Waterfront Community Church has sponsors that cover all the administrative overhead associated with running an organization. That means 100% of all giving goes directly to ministry. That's a powerful story for people who are looking to give yet being more cautious than ever about who they give their money to.
Read Christians want say where money goes.
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November 17, 2008
Salvation Army now accepting "plastic" donations
The Associated Press reports that the Salvation Army will test peoples' willingness to swipe their "plastic" at the local red kettle instead of dropping their change or a few dollar bills.
The shift is indicative of what most NPOs (this includes churches) are doing. That is, they are expanding their giving options to allow more options/methods for people to give.
When was the last time you discussed e-giving at your church?
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November 13, 2008
Method of giving may change in light of recession
Depending on how long the recession lasts and how deep its impact, churches need to consider that while members will continue to give, they may shift their method of giving.
If you haven't already, you need to implement a planned giving solution for your church.
Read more about Planned Giving:
Planned giving for churches, Part 1
Planned giving for churches, Part 2
Planned giving for churches, Part 3
Planned giving for churches, Conclusion
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November 12, 2008
Free E-giving and Event Manager service generates interest
Lots of conversation today about our E-giving and Online Event Manager service.
Below is a collection of the top posts related to E-giving in no particular order.
1. Is online giving a growing trend?
2. The results of online giving are in...
3. Electronic Giving Part 1: The Forbidden Conversation
4. Electronic Giving Part 2: Future or Fad?
5. Revisitng E-giving
6. Book Review: Digital Giving
7. Church increases use of onling giving
8. Concerns about E-giving
9. Study reveals that 50% will donate online this holiday season
Review the entire E-giving catagory.
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November 11, 2008
Book Review: Not Your Parents' Offering Plate
Note: Craig recently commented in an online forum for Church Administrators about this book. It sounded interesting, and I wasn't aware of it. He was gracious and wrote a review for the blog. Thanks Craig. Great job. (And now I have one more book to add to my "must read" list.)
Not Your Parents' Offering Plate
by J. Clif Christopher
This is a short, very direct book that will challenge many of us who have been involved in raising financial resources for our churches. The author takes the position that our biggest "competition" for our people's giving dollar in not other churches but other 501 (c) (3) organizations that do a much better job "targeting" those they hope to receive money from. He spends a whole chapter and many parts of other chapters suggesting that the Senior Pastor must be the primary fundraiser in our churches. He challenges the opinion of many by insisting that the Sr. Pastor must know and cultivate a relationship with those in the church that have the resources to support the mission of the church.
One of the features I found very helpful was at the end of each chapter he asked questions directed at the way we fundraise and gives actions steps. His final chapter deals with the first ten steps he believes we need to take to position our churches to beginning to receive the funding we need to fulfill our mission. This book helped our leadership and financial teams take a different look at and come up with a plan for our next year. We will approach our people in a different way because of the insights of Dr. Christopher.
Craig Zastrow is the Executive Pastor of Central Christian Church in Beloit , WI . Central Christian Church is a nondenominational church with a weekend attendance of over 1900. Central Christian Church was one of the churches featured in Dr. Thom Rainer's book Breakout Churches. He has been in this position for 15 years following 15 years as the director of a county wide paramedic system and 8 years as the executive director of a two county outpatient mental health clinic.
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November 7, 2008
Mark Beeson talks straight with Granger members about money
Tim Stevens recently shared a very creative stewardship letter that they mailed to all the members of Granger Community Church.
I love the honesty and suspect it's in the DNA of this church and its leadership. While this exact style won't work in every church setting, communication is the key.
Silence is not an option. Ignoring the economy could prove to be a costly decision. So start talking. Chances are your people will respond more generously than you think. Churches and church leaders are often scared to make the ask, but I've never understood the hesitation.
Pastor, the people in your pew know that the economy is not good. Maybe it's time to take the lead and tell your people how its directly impacting your church. Use this as an opportunity to recast your vision and quantify the ministry impact of your church over the last 6-12 months.
People will always have discreationary income. While they might be more careful how they use it, they are going to give it to somebody. Why not the church?
As church leaders, it's our responsibility to ensure the long-term viability of the organizations we manage that ultimately faciliate the ministry we are called to do.
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November 6, 2008
Faith or Fundraising: An exercise in vocation
Jason posted recently on his blog A Small Change about his own vocational struggle. I'm not surprised (and said so in my comments on his blog). A fundraiser must subscribe to his or her ability to affect change on two levels: one, a general interest in helping others affect change and two, a belief in the orgaization you represent--it's values, goals and work.
Fundraising is essentially providing the fuel for an organization or individual to accomplish some goal or task that they believe will make the world a better place. Because of it, organizations experience fully funded budgets and sustainable work efforts that ultimately ensure stable and lasting results. This knowledge alone provides enough strength in the weakest moments to keep pressing on, to make one more phone call, write one more letter and host one more dinner.
Great fundrasiers - those who are the most successful - are the ones who actually believe in the organization or cause they represent. There is a sparkle in their eye when they talk about. There is a "x" or "it" factor that translates on a gut, human level and tranfers an energy beyond words that generates a measurable response.
Fundraising and development work are comprehensive and holistic efforts. They require every skill imaginable, including a childlike belief that the impossible can take place.
Jason obviously has this. And he recognizes that changes - even small - are the catalyst of revolutions and total transformation both in individuals and cultures.
Fundraisers are just as important as the ones who carry out the work. In fact, they may be more important. There are more people ready to carry out the work than there are people who are equipped to fund the work.
Keep up the great work Jason!
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November 4, 2008
Local church promotes giving in tough economy
"If this economic crash has taught us anything, it is that it is an illusion for us to think that we can find any security in anything material," said Stephen McSwain, author of 'The Giving Myths.'
This church brought in a noted author to encourage believers to "keep the faith" in the midst of uncertain times.
What is your church doing?
(Hint: Panic isn't an option. Hope is not a strategy.)
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November 3, 2008
Top 12 posts about church giving in an economic crisis
Just in case you missed these the first time around, here are the top 12 posts (in no particular order) about church giving in an economic crisis:
1. Free Webinar on church giving in a struggling economy (and Free Webinar on church giving and economy now on-demand)
2. Reduced optimism about the climate for church giving
3. Even in tough times, make the ask
4. Connecting philanthropic behavior to church giving habits
5. USA Today features charitable giving trends
6. Church givers expect ministry to continue in hard times
7. 3 ways church administrators will respond to economic crisis
8. Get strategic about church giving
9. Average donation per person may go down in 2009
10. Encouraging words for church giving in times of economic crisis
11. What's really happening to churches and church giving
12. 3 steps to position your church to address an economic crisis
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October 31, 2008
Encouraging words for church giving in times of recession
I needed to read some good news today. I needed to read something that reminded me that hope (while not a strategy for success by itself) exists.
I found it.
I hope you are encouraged too.
"That being said, the history of philanthropic giving in the United States supports the notion that our nonprofit sector has weathered every economic downturn since we've been tracking how Americans give more than 50 years ago."
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October 30, 2008
What's really happening to churches and church giving
There is a lot of speculation that church giving will plummet and as a result we'll see mass closings of churches all across this nation due to the decrease in individual/family discretionary income which directly impacts church giving.
As of yet, this is not the case. In fact, some churches are reporting little direct impact on church giving due to our current economic crisis.
The LA Times recently picked up an the AP story Churches could be facing hard times financially, just when congregants need help, too.
Here are some interesting quotes from the article:
Among the congregations faring best are those with a strong tradition of tithing -- the biblical mandate to give at least 10 percent of one's income to the church.
Churches who teach Biblical principles related to personal finances and church giving have prepared their congregations for situations just like the one we find ourselves in now.
What is your church doing to provide practical financial solutions for families? You might consider making these classes part of your core christian education goals - maybe even a requirement for your new member classes.
Plan and prepare is the best strategy to hedge against uncertain financial times.
A recent report by the Christian research group Empty Tomb Inc. studied six recessions since 1968 and found that donations by church members declined in three and increased in three. Another study, by Giving USA Foundation, found that religion-related charitable giving fell slightly in six of 11 recession years since 1968.
Despite our "intuition" telling us that we are in the worst position in history, church giving is just about as cyclical as the economy. There are ups and downs. Yes, we are in a down. If we know that church giving is cyclical, we can address it in a comprehensive, systematic way.
What's your long-term strategy to provide for fully funded ministry budgets and sustainable ministries?
However, many churches rely on income from investments for their financial health and are already slashing their 2009 budgets.
Our current economic situation is largely driven by the stock market. Those churches who have placed a significant percentage of their operating expenses in one catagory (i.e. the stock market) ought to consider expanding their portfolio.
Maybe it's time to get some organizational financial planning advice?
A wise person once told me, "It's never as bad as it seems, and it's never as good as it seems."
I think that sums up our current economic situation - especially as to its impact upon church giving.
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Mississippi's Mixon weighs in on church giving in tough times
During a financial crisis the world and our church members do not need to see the church express itself in panic, fear, or doubt. The church should express faith and trust in God. Here are a few suggestions to help you face this crisis.
1. Take an honest look at your promotion of giving. Ask your pastor, staff, and Finance Committee to plan an emphasis on giving the tithe. Your state stewardship office can provide you with free materials. You should develop an annual giving emphasis. The problem is that some churches do get lax from time to time, and they need a gentle reminder that the tithe belongs to the Lord. Wake up your church with a stewardship campaign and share with them the need of reaching your community and the world. The financial experts remind us that during tough times the faithful will continue to give. It is true they may have less money to give, but they will give. Your target should be the casual givers and the casual attenders. Casual givers give when they have extra cash. The casual attenders are those who attend once or twice a month and only give when present.
2. Take a look at spending practices. A purchase system should be set up to control unnecessary spending. All staff personnel should be cautioned to spend only for needs of ministry and delay all non-essential spending.
3. Begin to set aside a three-month emergency fund. Most financial crises are temporary and in time the crisis will pass. Your church should have enough money set aside to operate staff and ministry for three full months without any income from the members.
4. Reevaluate all of the programs and activities of the church. This evaluation should be in connection with your church mission statement. I understand that once you begin a program in a Baptist church, it is difficult to ever bring it to a halt. But frankly, many churches are doing things that are convenient for the membership but have little or nothing to do with the mission of the church.
5. Review your church's insurance policies. There may be some savings by changing companies. Another review may be of expensive literature orders. Many churches order materials that are still lying around and are never used. You might also think about controlling heating and cooling expenses by installing programmable thermostats.
6. Finally, and only as a last resort, consider trimming the budget. Our problem many times is that this is the first action we take instead of the last. The first item easiest to trim is the Cooperative Program (CP). It appears to be the least popular and the one with no face. No one will come from outside your church and make a plea to keep missions at the present level. Your church would never think of downsizing the Lottie Moon goal, but when you cut the Cooperative Program, you also trim funding for the International Mission Board (IMB). In 2008 CP funded IMB with 37% of her budget. That means that Lottie Moon only funded 52% of the total IMB budget. So CP gave only 15% less than Lottie Moon. When you cut your CP gifts, you place a greater burden on Lottie Moon, which has to make up the difference.
Once you have considered these suggestions, consider making a commitment to restore the budget to full funding as soon as possible.
Jerry Mixon is the State Stewardship Executive for the Mississippi Baptist Convention. He's managed to balance being a pastor, husband and stewardship expert with his love and passion for writing books and the occassional country music song. You can contact him directly via e-mail or by calling 601.292.3347. Read more by and about Jerry Mixon.
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October 29, 2008
Every pastor is a fundraiser
Fundraising is one of those tasks that some pastors love and some pastors hate. At the end of the day, every pastor is a fundraiser. So why does fundraising lack that sense of "calling" that being a pastor carries with it?
If fundraising is simply a transaction, then we miss the point. Fundraising is about providing a compelling vision that invites others to participate in and support using their time, talents and treasures to bring about a change that is larger than any one single person, organization or program can accomplish.
Read a passionate appeal from one fundraiser who refuses to believe that it's just about a monetary transaction between a wealthy individual and an organization that simply takes place to satisfy the needs of both parties.
"If your ideas and programs and people and vision are so great, shouldn't people be willing to reach into their pockets and fund them? If it's worth spending your life doing this work, shouldn't you or someone in your organization be able to convince someone else that the work is worth supporting?"
Pastors carry the burden of the greatest message and vision of all time, the Good News of the Gospel. If you can't inspire someone to financially support the work of your church, maybe it's time to take a look in the mirror to ensure you believe what your preaching.
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October 28, 2008
Giving expert challenges presidential candidates
One giving expert challenges the presidential candidates to stop spending money on political advertising and donate the remaining balance that each campaign has raised to charity in light of our current domestic economic crisis.
He even goes as far as to say that the candidate who takes his challenge will get his vote.
Do you agree?
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October 27, 2008
Study reveals that 50% will donate online this holiday season
A new study on charitable giving revealed that nearly 50% of online consumers plan to donate during the holiday season in 2008. Further, the donations are estimated to be similar to the 2007 holiday season.
This is good news given the fact that most non-profits (this includes churches) aren't exactly sure what to expect over the next several months.
What was most interesting was the emphasis on online donation tools being identified as an essential medium to collect a majority of those donations.
"More than 50 percent of online consumers say that they plan to donate via the Internet during the 2008 holiday season," said Vinay Bhagat, Chief Strategy Officer and Founder of Convio. "This level of online support shows that nonprofits of all sizes need to make sure that their web sites and other electronic communications meet consumer expectations. It is also important to make sure that traditional appeals such as direct mail, television and events provide people with the option to give online. If it is difficult to give to your organization online consumers will find an alternative."
Does your church currently offer online giving? If not, maybe it's time to have that conversation.
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October 23, 2008
Average donation per person may go down in 2009
There is a revolution taking place in the advertising world. Gone are the days where print marketing rules. It's too expensive. And in light of these tough economic times, companies are slashing marketing budgets to the bare minimum. In turn, marketers are looking down the barrel of Web 2.0 and either running away or embracing this new media platform.
The situation facing the business world parallels the NPO/Church World. It's time to take action and begin focusing on the best strategy (acquisition/outreach) to hedge against the worst case scenario (declining membership and giving).
Call it donor acquisition or outreach, in times when charitable giving is expected to stay at current levels in even the best case scenario, it's time to invest in growing the number of people connected to your community. But church leaders are going to have to rethink how they do this because the "old" way can't be funded properly within a minimal budget scenario.
My prediction is that the average donation per person is going to go down in 2009. Those churches who are focused on enlarging the members of their community have the best shot at withstanding the next 12-18 months. More people giving a little can add up to the same if not more than a few people giving a whole lot.
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Best comprehensive church giving research available
If you're looking for the best comprehensive research on church giving in one book, look no further than The State of Church Giving through 2006.
(Note: I recently purchased my copy direct from Amazon.com.)
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Get strategic about church giving
If you're the pastor, church business administrator, executive pastor, stewardship/finance committee chairperson, etc., you're probably feeling completely underprepared for this moment in time. Unfortunately, you are saddled with the responsibility of ensuring that the NPO (a.k.a. Church) that you're leading will have enough resources in 2009 to keep things churning at least the same level they were in 2008.
What are your options? What can you do? In my opinion, you have two:
1. Go sit in a corner and cry about it.
2. Roll up your sleeves and make something happen.
So what if it's going to be a tough year for church giving? Advertisy often creates innovation which creates brands which creates loyalty...you see where I'm going with this. 2009 might be a difficult year, and it might be scary to think about an interruption in the "easy" and "predictable" giving habits of the last 6 years or so.
Experts weigh in with some suggestions for leaders of NPOs to consider as they're hammering out their strategy for 2009 and wondering how they are going to fund it.
Most interesting one to me is: Focus the mission, focus the message. If there is any NPO best positioned to do this, it's the church. No other NPO is in front of their donors (a.k.a. church members) as frequently as churches get to be. (The rest of the NPO world is very jealous of this.)
So take advantage of your strengths. Be proactive. Commit to survive and thrive. The opportunity for ministry will be great, so it's imperative to act strategically to fully fund the ministry God has in store for your church in 2009.
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October 22, 2008
3 ways Church Administrators will respond to economic crisis
Is the world of church giving headed for doom and gloom for the next 12 months? Exactly how bad is it? It's easy to allow ourselves to include ourselves in "group think" and begin believing that these are the worst times ever. Below are three contrasting ideas/insights about giving in tough economic times and what this means for the church.
Insight #1 - Church giving will plummet in light of the current economic crisis.
Donors Start Cutting Back is some of the worst news a Church Business Administrator wants to read. If we believe this, then we make the assumption that ALL people give out of their excess instead of out of their first-fruits.
Insight #2 - Church giving will remain consistent in light of the current economic crisis.
One wealth expert believes that the stock market has little to do with people's regular disposable income or the source of much of philanthropic (that includes church) giving. His claim is the the stock market only impacts a nominal percentage of the average households monthly income. This is good news for Church Business Administrators
Insight #3 - Church giving will increase in light of the current economic crisis.
Ok. I realize this might be a tough sell. But one investment firm is claiming an increase of 12% in grant-giving to NPOs from its benevolent investment funds. If church adminsitrators have done their homework and managed the church business conservatively, then there will be a pile of money somewhere to assist the church during an interruption in normal giving habits.
Perhaps there are some who don't want to use these funds. My question is: Why not? That's what these funds are for. Once we emerge from the recession or crisis or whatever you want to call it, the funds will be replenished.
If the church coffers are choked and ministry is suspended for fear of not having enough, then the church won't be able to help or assist faithful members who now find themselves in need and members of the community who are turning to the church for help.
How you respond says a lot about what you believe. Adequate business management should have prepared all churches to thrive even with short-term interruptions in normal giving levels.
This too shall pass.
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October 15, 2008
3 brutal facts about giving grounded in the Pareto Principle
The Pareto Principle is more commonly known as the 80-20 rule. In other words, 80 percent of the result is generated by 20 percent of the effort.
This can be applied to church giving habits too. 20% of your congregation is driving 80% of your funds. This will either paralyze you or motivate you to become more strategic.
The reality is the it's the 20% who end up on stewardship and finance committees. These leaders can't imagine or understand why 80% of the congregation doesn't give.
What I've found true is the often the 20% thinks they are actually 40% or 50%. Most church leaders think their church is different (i.e. better) than the average. (Ever run into that before?)
Here are the brutal facts:
1. When your long-term funding strategy is hung on the giving habits of a small percentage of your entire congregation, you are tempting fate. Someone in that small group will leave the church, change jobs, loose their job, die, etc. If you're not building giving habits with the 80% group, you are leaving yourself wide open for disaster to happen.
2. Providing things like e-giving and offering envelopes are primarily to encourage giving and make it easy for the 80% to do so. The 20% don't need offering envelopes or e-giving. They are going to give anyway. If the pastor requested all donations be made into pennies, the 20% would take off from work early to stop by the bank and exchange paper for pennies. (Over dramatic, yes. But you get my point.)
3. Stewardship is more important than your sermon preparation. (I'm anticipating getting some negative feedback for this one. So I'm ready.) Stewardship is about discipleship. It speaks to giving of ourselves - our time, talent and treasure - because we recognize that everything we have is from God and is designed to be used to multiply kingdom efforts. While years are spent preparing pastors to preach, without a consistent stewardship education program pastors won't have a pulpit to preach from. (Pulpit can be symbolic if you are natually opposed to the piece of furniture that usually is found center stage at tranditional churches.)
Now more than ever pastors and church leaders must concern themselves with the fundamentals of organizational funding, stability and sustainability.
Let me sum it up by saying this: More Money. More Ministry. No Money. No Ministry.
That's the brutal facts.
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October 14, 2008
Anne Jackson talks about tithing
Anne Jackson, blog celebrity and author, talks about a very negative experience she had while on church staff regarding the subject of tithing.
Below is my response. I'd welcome your comments too.
You have uncovered a powerful paradox. Churches are the only God-ordained institution designed to continue and sustain the earthly ministry of Christ until his ultimate return. Churches are also non-profit organizations who are exponentially becoming more complex in structure and needs as the demands from members and communities are becoming more complex.
I've summed up my work with churches in this area into a simple phrase: "More Money. More Ministry." It's essential the we begin bringing a level of sophistication to Church as an organization to ensure that it's fully-funded and sustainable over time. Like it or not, this takes money. So the burden falls upon the church leaders (aka "non-profit managers") to ensure long-term sustainability. Our secular and religious non-profit brothers and sisters have been doing this for a long time. It's time the church steps up to do the same.
It sounds like the conversation you had while on a particular church staff was very inappropriate and most likely is the result of the wrong person being in the wrong position (or at least given the wrong task and strategy). However, that doesn't discount the reality that church leaders should be modeling the behavior that they expect from the membership. It's sounds like you were the victim of poor communication habits.
As church members are becoming less convinced the their tithe should be entirely allocated to the Church, it becomes the Church's responsibility to justify why the tithe should be given completely to the church. They "you-should-give-to-the-church-just-because argument" no longer works--if it ever did.
Thanks for the dialog on the essential subjects of stewardship and church giving!
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October 13, 2008
Exploring the impact of American Idol on church giving
"Participatory Philanthropy" may be the next revolution in charitable giving. TripAdvisor.com is asking the public to decide which cause the company should support.
Here is how the program works: TripAdvisor.com is offering five options for the public to choose how the $1 million dollar pledge will be divided. Polls close on a certain date, and then the results will determine how the money is spent and which organizations/causes are supported.
I wonder what this might look like in church. What if the initial budget presentation to the church body signaled the opening of the "polls" where members could pledge their monetary gifts for the specific ministries they want to to support? Then after a certain period, the "polls" would close and the results tallied. The end result would be any ministry that was significantly underfunded would be cut from the budget.
This works for American Idol which is arguably the most successful talent-seeking competition in history. It has also produced multiple pop stars who have been and continue to be very successful.
The dark side of the process is that sometimes, even the talented get cut. This would also have to be considered within the church setting. It may mean the a long-standing ministry might end up so underfunded that it would also be subject to the proverbial axe.
The appeal for me (even as a church leader) is that it puts the power back in the people in the pew - the ones who are giving the dollars to fund the budget. And people tend to be more committed and give more when they have a say in how their donations are used.
Given the precedent of undesignated giving within church settings, would an "American Idol" approach to giving work?
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October 8, 2008
USA Today features charitable giving trends
I was so proud yesterday. USA Today added a complete section to their Tuesday, October 7, 2008, edition of their newspaper that shed a spotlight on Sharing in the USA.
For someone who lives and breathes in the world of philanthropy, church giving, fundraising, stewardship, etc., this was like a candy store experience.
Here are a couple of articles that I hope you'll take the time to read from this section:
1. The new face of giving - Electronic giving methods such as giving via text messaging and online giving are opening the world of charitable giving to younger audiences. And electronic giving options are also increasing the speed at which the donations are being received.
Charitable giving is a serious subject. The article cites that in 2007, giving exceeded $300 billion for the first time. There is also a growing interest among younger givers that don't simply want to write a check to an organization. They actually want to know how there money is being used and see giving more than extending a hand to a fellow human being and less of supporting the causes of an institution.
2. Offerings make up a third of U.S. donations - This article features a LifeWay employee and his family who've made a commitment to tithe. It also discusses the importance the act of giving is within all the major Western religions.
What was very interesting to note was a digram printed in the bottom right hand page (6E) that illustrated a striking reality: personal incoming giving to charity has remained the same (2.3% of disposable income) from 1967 to 2007.
Wow! What a day of news in the world of giving and stewardship.
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October 7, 2008
Teaching children stewardship
I've noticed over the past two weeks that the top five keywords/phrases people are searching for which results in finding Do More Ministry are different variations of teaching children stewardship.
I'd like to hear from you. What exactly are you looking for? Are you finding it? If you could wave your magic wand and have the "perfect" resource/solution to help you teach children about stewardship and giving, what would it be?
I'll wait to hear from you.
Posted by bstroup at 1:44 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
October 6, 2008
4 tactics to consider for your next contribution catch up letter
We are quickly approaching the end of the year. Many churches will be looking at their ministry budgets and contributions to date closely as well as reviewing past trends in giving during Q4. About this time of year many churches make a final "catch-up" contribution appeal as a final push to ensure contributions fully-fund all ministry expenses.
As more and more people experiment with online giving, I found this research on the success rates of online giving appeals quite interesting.
The internet seems to carry with a sense of urgency. This can translate into an opportunity for your church members to respond immediately to your next "catch-up" contribution appeal.
It's worth trying.
And if you do try it, let me know how it works.
(Shameless plug: we offer churches who purchase their offering envelopes through us e-giving with event manager for FREE!)
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October 3, 2008
Empty tomb research reveals the reality of money and power
Analyzing 30 years work of chruch giving, Empty Tomb came to the conclusion that church members often donate to the church for all the wrong reasons.
Some of the notable ones:
1. Control - THEY want what THEY paid for.
2. Service - Some see church as a personal service such as pastoral visits when sick, etc.
3. Membership Dues - Some give as if they subscribed to church much like cable tv or even membership in local country club.
This should be a wake up call for all church leaders that we constantly need to be planting the seeds of Biblical stewardship. Giving is first and foremost a spiritual discipline. I would bet that individuals who view church giving in these ways are not experiencing true spiritual transoformation in their lives.
The ultimate question is how many people sitting in your pews are giving for these reasons. Do you know?
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October 2, 2008
Sam Rainer points to financial optimism in the church
Sam Rainer blogs about church giving and the economy today on Church Forward--a topic we've covered consistently. His observations points to the reality that most churches are still very confident that they will meet or exceed their budgets in 2008. And some go as far as expecting and meeting growth in ministry budgets for 2009.
It reminds of an important giving statistic I came across earlier this year. Church giving - per capita - was actually higher during the Great Depression than it has been for the last 50 years.
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October 1, 2008
Connecting philanthropic behavior to church giving habits
The Univeristy of Pennsylvania's Center for High Impact Philanthropy recently published a report analyzing the habits and implications of high net worth philanthropists. Four conclusions emerged: practices are changing; peers are the most trusted source for information, high net worth philanthroposts often find it difficult to make informed, need-based giving decisions; most find themselves frustrated with a lack of information available regarding the impact of the organizations to whom they donate.
A few of the questions were featured and discussed in the report.
1. How important is it to touch/see/interact with the people or organizations you are giving to?The response rated very important.
2. How important is a role other than check writer?The response rated very important.
3. How important is it to know someone on the Board or from your peer group that recommends the issue or oganization?
The response rated important and slightly behind that was very important.4. How important is impact data for gifts?
The response rated very important. (Note: The response was measured both before initial gift and repeat gift.)
So what relevance does this have for church giving? Here is what jumps out at me:
1. No matter the size of the gift or the wealth of the donor, people don't just write checks. Donors have a deep desire to get involved with the organization they are prepared to financially support.This supports my theory that giving is an outward sign of an inward commitment.
2. Donors pay attention to what other people say and think. As objective and rational people claim or aspire to be, we are emotionally driven beings that make decisions based upon who we know, like and trust. The same is true for donors.
This supports my theory that it's important for church leaders to tell stories. Stories involve people. And people give to people - not organizations.
3. Donors, whether they are giving their last two pennies or out of their vast treasure chest, want results.
This supports my theory that the organizational leader who is best able to make a case as to the impact of the dollar will end up with the most dollars.
Bottom line is this: Get your people involved. Help your people become personally invested in your ministry. Provide measurable results. Then watch your giving increase.
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September 25, 2008
Think creatively about stewardship
Check out this incredible video using sticky notes.
Some of the greatest ideas come from some of our most unusual experiences.
What would happen if we began thinking creatively about stewardship? What would it take to free our minds from thinking about stewardship as "same old, same old"?
Now I've got to find my own stash of sticky notes...I'll let you know what I come up with.
Posted by bstroup at 1:27 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
September 24, 2008
Come on get happy...by giving to others
ABC News reported early this year in Want to Be Happier? Spend Money on Others that research proves people experience an irrational, unexplainable happiness from giving to others.
A couple of key quotes from the article:
According to a new set of studies, people who spend money on others, either by donating to a charity or buying gifts, are markedly happier than those who do not.
"I kept seeing the conclusion drawn that money can't buy happiness. That was based on the fact that the correlation between income and happiness was pretty low," said Elizabeth Dunn, the lead author of the paper and an assistant professor of psychology at the University of British Columbia. "But just because money doesn't typically buy happiness shouldn't be taken to mean that it can't. How could people use their money more effectively so that it would actually deliver more happiness?"
The research was a combined effort by Harvard Business School and the University of British Columbia. They began with money but note in the article that it's the act of giving that creates the happiness, not the object of the gift. In other words, it doesn't matter if it's time, talent or treasure, giving it away seems to make humans happy.
We tend to approach stewardship as an obligation like washing the car, mowing the grass, personal grooming, etc. There is little pleasure in these mundane tasks. But what if giving ourselves to others through a cause we believe in really did create a sense of pleasure and happiness? If it did, we'd be much more inclined to do so...and more often.
For me it all comes back to the degree to which we feel emotionaly connected. Giving is an outward expression of an inward connection and commitment to a cause or person. When we help other human beings, we are exercising our interpersonal skills. In turn, those interpersonal skills result in an emotional connection.
God designed us to live in relationship with him. If we were created in his image, then wouldn't there be a longing within each of us to connect with other human beings? And if God finds pleasure in a relationship with his creation, then shouldn't we find pleasure through interacting with one another?
And don't we freely give to those we love (i.e. those we feel most emotionally connected to)?
God did.
Somehow I don't think this research surprised him.
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September 23, 2008
Tithing important for Christian business owners
Generous News highlighted an article recently published in Chicago Tribune about Christian business owners who tithe out of their profits.
"Fisher is part of a rare but growing breed of business owners who earmark a percentage of their profits for churches or other charities as an act of religious piety. Corporate tithing has become more common among Christian business owners, even as the number of churchgoers who tithe their personal incomes has fallen by an estimated 62 percent since 2002...."
The article explains that this practice differs in private and public companies. Private companies are more likely to venture into a practice of corporate tithing than public companies by design. Public companies are owned by shareholders which means your charitable decisions have to represent the wishes of the entire group instead of just one or a few owners.
Nonetheless, the practice of corporate tithing represents an integration of faith and society that seems and feels organic. These are businesses are building their brands while "investing" in the communities they serve - intentionally and voluntarily - rather than simply just paying taxes.
Something about this just feels right.
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September 19, 2008
Creative stewardship education
Spending some time on Delicious recently yeilded a really cool find. Think Christian featured a pastor who took stewardship education to a whole new level. It inspired me so much, I'd like to try it in my own church.
After I found this post yesterday, I couldn't get it off my mind.
Little did I know that I'd find another shot of inspiration again this morning when I got my daily dose of Seth Godin. His challenge to thinking bigger captures the essence of what we're trying to do with Do More Ministry.
We have to change our conversation, change our questions from what can I do with what I know today to how can I accomplish something that I haven't considered or tried before.
It's a completely new mental discipline, but one that consistently brings us back to the concept that stewardship is not about preserving what we have been given but multiplying the work of the Church and expanding the Kingdom of God until Christ's ultimate return.
Get inspired. Inspire others. And do more ministry.
(And don't forget to tell me about it so I can share.)
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September 17, 2008
Can monkey's really experience the joy of giving?
Reuters recently reported that after some careful research scientists are able to say with some degree of confidence that monkeys can experience the joy of giving in "much the same way humans do."
This article was just too good to not post. Can't you hear the wheels turning in the heads of pastors as they look for ways to say: "If monkeys can experience joy in giving, then why can you?" (Ha!)
I would never suggest trying to draw a comparison from the pulpit. But it's an interesting thought that if our human capacity to give to others is God-given and a reflection of a giving God, then why wouldn't it be represented throughout creation?
While interesting to ponder, please don't suggest that your church members are monkeys. I don't want to go there, and I don't think you do either.
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September 15, 2008
Free e-book on stewardship
Church Solutions Magazine and Generis have teamed together to produce the FREE e-book Generosity - Moving your church forward.
Read the book. Send it to your friends. It addresses the stewardship questions we're already asking.
(Note: When you click on the e-book link above, there is a slight delay. The length of this delay depends on the speed of your internet connection.)
Posted by bstroup at 9:20 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
September 11, 2008
Even in tough times, make the ask
In Time to Ask is Now, fundraisers say, one fundraising consultant is quoted saying:
"There are 1.4 million registered charities," she said. "If you don't ask your donors, they are going to be asked by other people."
Jeff Brooks, author of Donor Power Blog, agrees. He says in Tough Times? Don't give up that the best time to ask donors for money is when you - the organization - are in the MOST need.
But why? That seems as counterintuitive as the old "buy low, sell high" stock market advice. It just doesn't feel right. And if you're like most church leaders, then asking for money is already a high-stress task that you feel forced to do. Add to the scenario a weakened economy and you're even less likely to make the ask.
As one of my former pastors used to say: "Take a baby aspirin and get over it." The responsibility to fully fund and sustain the ministries we are called to lead falls on our shoulders. There is no better time than the present to ensure that this is the legacy you create today and leave behind for the next person who fills your shoes.
Get out there and make the ask!
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September 10, 2008
How much can we raise?
Great article from Jim Sheppard with Generis.
If you're thinking about embarking on a capital fundraising campaign, this is a great summary of what you need to consider before (or as) you begin.
He outlines five indicators that measure a church's ability to accomplish its capital fundraising goal: Clear vision of ministry; Strong staff leadership; strong lay leadership; Unity of leadership; and Strong consensus as to the need for the funds.
I think the last one is the most important. If the general population (those who will be actually funding the pledges) don't support or understand the need, then the money raised won't be consistent with the pledges made. Church leaders get in trouble when they "push through" a capital campaign and forget to ask the person in the pew if they see the need too.
Anyone care to share if their personal experience proves these indicators to be accurate? Can you think of an indicator that Jim didn't mention in his article but you've learned is absolutely critical to success?
Share you story by clicking the "comments" button below.
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September 9, 2008
My suggestions for leftover capital campaign materials
Yesterday I asked you to consider how you would advise a church leader who e-mailed me an interesting question. He had some leftover capital campaign materials that he didn't want to just throw away. But he also didn't want to just give them away without knowing the recipient would actually use the materials.
I asked for your comments yesterday to the initial e-mail. Today I'll post my response.
Wow! Great to read through your e-mail. I think you are on the right track with not just throwing something away that may help another church. And I agree with you that often people equate "free" with "no value." I've never done what you're talking about doing, so I don't have your experience to draw any conclusions from.Have you talked to your Associational Director of Missions or the Stewardship Director for the State Convention? These men usually interface with churches much smaller than yours and might know a church in need right off the top of their head.
As far as how much to charge, I don't know how to advise you on this. Here are a couple of ideas that come to mind:
1. You can put a price on it and when the church is willing to write the check (which means they've made a commitment and have attached value to the materials), give them the materials at no charge and explain that your intention was to prevent someone from just taking the material and throwing it away.
2. You could charge for the materials and refund the amount upon completion of the campaign.
3. You could charge for the materials but wave the fee if the church pastor and leadership was willing to be mentored through the process by members of your team/staff. (This obviously requires commitment from your church, but I've seen this work very effectively. As you know, churches listen to other churches.)
Does any of this help?
Do you agree? Am I missing any options?
Posted by bstroup at 1:41 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
September 8, 2008
What to do with leftover capital campaign materials?
I received an e-mail today from a church leader (and new blog reader - yeah!) asking a very appropriate question. He has some additional capital campaign materials left over and doesn't want to just throw them away. He'd like to find a good home for them but wants to make sure that the receiving church puts these materials to good use.
I asked if it'd be OK to share the e-mail with you to get your input. He agreed. It's a question that I'm sure many churches are asking (or at least have asked).
Greetings, found your blog today and had a suggestion. My church (southern Baptist) is near completion of a capital campaign. We spent a great deal of effort (and some expense) in creating graphics, themes and various pieces to make the communications program. We are about finished and see no value to tossing them away. It seems much more prudent to share them with another congregation who may be in the planning phase of their own campaign.Our theme is "destination: inheritance"
We have (in no particular order)
- - a launch video,
- - a 30-day bible study guide,
- - 4 week lesson(s) on stewardship,
- - a nice logo,
- - an e-newsletter format,
- - 2 large banners,
- - 2 small banners,
- - a powerpoint slide format
- - examples of pledge cards, envelopes and letters
- - and 10 floor mats
Needless to say, we invested a good deal of time putting all of this together. Seems wasteful not to find another home for it.Also, in my personal experience of giving away "used' church materials, I think we may find a better home if we charge a nominal fee for the campaign 9say $1,0000 rather than offer it for free. We don't need them money, but the other party will usually respect and honor the materials more if they paid something for them rather than treat them as "free" items or cast offs.
I am curious as to your thoughts on the matter.
Second, I am curious as to your suggestions for where such a campaign kit may be "offered". I've considered placing a small ad in the Baptist Faith and Message (TX version at least). Also seems like the sort of thing that would go well on e-bay...that would reach members more so than staff. is there a pastor portal that would be more efficient?
We've already exchanged ideas. But I'm interested in hearing yours first. So click on the "comments" below and fire away.
Posted by bstroup at 11:01 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
September 5, 2008
Reduced optimism about the climate for charitable giving
A recent press release from The Center of Philanthrophy at Indiana University points out that how nonprofits feel about fundraising in 2008. Some key statements:
"Nonprofits are somewhat less optimistic about the present and future fundraising climates than they were six months and one year ago..."
"...all types of organizations predicted more success with planned giving and special events...than they reported in Summer 2008..."
"For some corporations and donors with lower or fixed incomes, philanthropy may be seen as a kind of luxury good."
If I'm a church leader, why should I care about this? Church leaders who understand what it takes to build and operate sustainable orgaizations and ministries that will exist well beyond their own tenure are willing to state and identify the brutal facts.
If the potential exists for fewer dollars to be available to fund the "dream" budget of 2008, how will you decide what to cut and what to keep? Not asking this question could be a disaster. In turn, how you answer this question will reveal what you value and hold to be essential to the ministry and work of the church.
Posted by bstroup at 8:53 AM |