The goal of the Annual Pledge Campaign is to grow generous givers. The Finance Committee of your church may disagree. But the Annual Pledge Campaign is not about money, and it’s not about the budget. Our mission proceeds from the Great Commission – to go out into the world, baptizing and teaching in the name […]
Tag: generosity
Thank-You Notes Will Inspire Faith and Generosity
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 […]
5 Benefits of Capital Campaign Success
No doubt about it: managing an effective capital campaign takes planning and organization. So what are the benefits? People will work very intensely during the campaign. Undertaking a campaign will be a major congregational activity for a period of months. Church leaders will devote even more time than that to the campaign. Consider, however, the […]
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 […]
Feasibility Studies Save You Headaches and Avert Failure
“There was no feasibility study to make sure people were in favor of the project and willing to give.” Glenn and Barbara Holliman have an excellent little book about capital funding in churches. With Generous Hearts is well worth your time to read before considering a campaign. I was struck by their introduction. There, they […]
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 […]
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 […]