When was the last time you received a personal thank-you note in your mailbox? I was reminded of the impact saying thank you can have during the Lake Institute on Faith and Giving’s 12th Annual Thomas H. Lake Lecture. Dr. Christian Smith of Notre Dame presented some of the findings of his Science of Generosity […]
Category: Educational
Where does the money come from?
Money. One of the major challenges that churches face is setting a sustainable funding strategy. When it comes to church finances, leaders often take a “seat of the pants” approach each fiscal year with small regard for tomorrow. Too, they may not understand the funding sources available to the church, or how those sources can […]
Electronic Giving: Three Fundamentals for Churches
Electronic giving offers churches new opportunities to teach generosity. But it’s good to step back for a moment and consider some basic truths behind generosity and giving. Giving is Worship Above all, giving shows an awareness of the image of God within us, and God is generous. Worship and giving go hand-in-hand as we express […]
New Year: Ask Your Church This One Simple Question
The sanctuary always seems a bit bare in the new year. The Christmas greenery has been taken down and stowed away. The Advent Wreath is gone, the Christmas banners have been taken down. After all the celebration of Advent and Christmas, the sanctuary seems bare. Like a newborn baby. Or, a clean slate. It’s over. […]
Annual Giving Statements Share Your Values
Everything you send to your church members communicates the core values of your church. That includes your Annual Giving Statements. Whenever you send your statements, share your values with a few simple tweaks. You can touch your donors’ hearts and encourage deeper generosity by following these two simple guidelines. Cover Letter Include a cover letter […]
Rev. Michael Erwin Takes the Helm of CCS
As a child of the Presbyterian Church (USA), I’m thrilled to come home, so to speak, and serve as the next Director of Church Campaign Services. Bob Kukla has been instrumental in establishing CCS as a resource to the Presbyterian Church and beyond. God put him in the right place at the right time, as […]
Case Study: Reflecting a Church’s Vision and Values
Church Campaign Services has recently been consulting with a church that is planning to update its facilities. The church was originally built in the late 1950s and earlier, and has become worn and dated. Most of the proposed changes seem minor and mostly cosmetic, yet together the updates add up to a substantial amount of […]
Choosing the Right “Stewardship” Campaign Coach
Every year various denominational groups ask if we’d give a workshop on choosing the right capital campaign consultant for “your” church. And, it seems the focus ends up on the personality of the individual, not the firm, and I believe that is wrong. So you may wonder, in what ways do firms differ? Making this […]
FREE Webinar: Choosing an Annual Pledge Campaign Format
You are cordially invited to a free educational webinar on Tuesday, April 19th at 3pm, provided by Coaching for Generosity. An effective annual pledge campaign will encourage greater stewardship and generosity in your congregation. Rev. Michael Erwin will demystify the broad types of campaign formats and help you decide which is right for your church. […]
FREE Webinar: Choosing an Annual Pledge Campaign Format
You are cordially invited to a free educational webinar from Coaching for Generosity. An effective annual pledge campaign will encourage greater stewardship and generosity in your congregation. Rev. Michael Erwin will demystify the broad types of campaign formats and help you decide which is right for your church. Registration is free and there will be time […]