The congregation is not ready for the campaign. Many churches are in a hurry to do their campaign. Leadership has identified a project and communicated it to the congregation. However, while the congregation has heard about the project, they may not be convinced that the project is needed. Keep in mind, the grapevine may be saying something else. It takes…
Churches that conduct their own campaigns tend to produce results that are about fifty percent (50%) of the professionally-led campaign. The lower result far exceeds the amount saved by “do-it-yourself” Capital Campaigns. In addition, after a church has had a campaign that failed to reach its goal, it may take months, or even years, to recover the lost momentum. A…
1. Clearly articulate your church’s vision for ministry. The dramatic increase in the number of non-profit agencies in the past several years, coupled with an increased expectation of accountability, provides more choices for donors to support. Increasingly, donors choose where they will “invest” their charitable dollars. This choice means that a clear articulation of the church’s vision is a significant…
1. Building community as you raise funds: A Campaign must strive to bring the Christian Community closer together thereby enabling a greater ministry to its members and the community-at-large. From the beginning when the need is assessed, make it a goal that your community will be enhanced from this effort. It can be done; it should be done. All it…
Americans are generous people – in 2010, they gave more than $290 billion to charities despite the weak economy. Knowing the rules will help you to take advantage of deduction at tax time. The IRS has tightened the rules for charitable giving over the past decade to prevent abuses. It is helpful to understand the rules for deductible gifts if you…
At the beginning of a capital campaign, an often asked question by church leadership is how much can we raise? This question is usually followed by how successful are you at raising the goal? Before answering the aforementioned questions, consider how your capital campaign plans began. Well-meaning leaders have decided that there is need to expand and/or renovate. An architect…
Sustainable Construction is Key submitted by Arthur Funk & Sons, Inc. Recycling has become second nature to every household, in the construction industry the recycling is called adaptive reuse or repositioning. Adaptive reuse means giving an old building new purpose. For the team at Arthur Funk and Sons, Inc., Construction Services, giving old buildings at retirement communities, medical facilities and…
By Charles Eugene Musser, President, Kirby-Smith Associates, Inc. I am a big fan of the Gallup Organization’s StrengthsFinder. Kirby-Smith uses the Gallup StrengthsFinder by encouraging members to take the StrengthsFinder as part of our Life As A Steward Stewardship program. I was recently at St. Gerard Majella Parish in Port Jefferson, New York where Albert L. Winseman, D. Min., who is…
Could your church use more members in the pews, more money in the offerings, or more space in which to conduct ministry? The answer to this question is a no-brainer. Could you use some fresh ideas and proven strategies to accomplish the above objectives? Most churches would say “yes”. Can you afford to hire a consultant to provide fresh ideas…
