There is nothing glamorous or exciting about building improvements like roof repair or window replacement. That was the reality that a recent client faced. Built in the late 1950s, their building had become worn and dated. Each proposed improvement seemed minor and cosmetic. All together, though, the updates added up to a substantial sum. As […]
Raising Major Funds in a Church is Different
A church is not a hospital or school. Of course, Jesus is the Great Healer. And many times the gospels call him Teacher. But metaphors aside, there are differences between raising money in a non-church setting and raising money in a congregation. While a church is a non-profit in the U.S., it is nothing like […]
Automating the Image of God
The image of God within us inspires us to be generous. “I want to give while I’m living, so I can see the good being done,” a retired schoolteacher once said. An active leader in her church, she had finalized plans for a large financial gift. I was an inexperienced pastor who learned a new […]
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 […]
The Perfect Anatomy of a 21st Century Capital Campaign
Something is going right in your church. The nursery is full, the new adult class meets on the stage, and more families keep showing up. What a great problem to have! It might be time to build or renovate, and that means a Capital Campaign. A capital campaign is a full-body workout. Here’s the anatomy: The […]
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 […]
Capital Campaign Capacity
Here’s a quick calculator to determine how much your congregation can raise in an initial campaign campaign. [CP_CALCULATED_FIELDS id=”9″]
6 Signs Your Congregation is Financially Healthy
Stewardship is the way we use our God-given gifts – talent, time, and treasure – to carry on Christ’s work in the world. We are his disciples. As part of stewardship, it’s important to understand the financial health of your church. The decisions you make about money are part of stewardship and discipleship. Here are […]