11 WAYS TO SUPPORT STEWARDSHIP FOR YOUR CHURCH #6

 

            We are in the sixth week sharing about the VANCO stewardship booklet on the 11 Ways to support stewardship for your church. This week, we are discussing Themed Giving Campaigns. Most of our “themes” for giving are usually holidays or a capital campaign or something very special.

            The cool thing is themed giving campaigns doesn’t just have to be around the holidays. Examples include:

At the end of the school year, maybe special gifts toward the playground or gymnasium or something in honor of graduating seniors.

            There are always theological themes, such as charity, tithing or stewardship, or more practical themes such as poverty or evangelism.

            The liturgical calendar also gives themes. What if you considered a special Lenten offering (maybe an amount per day or something else) that goes to a ministry that helps others (outside the normal offering and normal budget).

            Maybe there are topics that your book or Bible studies are talking about.

            Themed messages and worship can also help with themed giving campaigns.

            Some of these ideas can reach current members who don’t attend frequently or even others that attend only at certain times of the year such as Christmas or Easter.

            It can be an outreach and a financial one.

            Make things different, make things fun!

            If you wish more information on anything you’ve been reading about, please feel free to contact me at (315) 427-3668 or sranousacctg@twcny.rr.com or susanranous@unyumc.org.  I’d be happy to help or answer any questions.

 

    11 WAYS TO SUPPORT STEWARDSHIP FOR YOUR CHURCH - PART 5

 

            We are in the fifth week sharing about the VANCO stewardship booklet on the 11 Ways to support stewardship for your church. This week, we are discussing Recurring Giving. Of course, for many of us, online giving wasn’t a “thing” until COVID, and it was one of the limited ways people could easily continue to give. Some people that gave electronically during COVID stopped doing it when they returned to worship. Recurring giving is a different want of looking at this.

Why recurring giving:

1.    It is easy to set up recurring gifts.

2.    Automatic giving helps churches and non-profits. Why? Monthly givers donate 440% more over their lifetime than one-time givers; monthly donors repeat giving a rate of 90% while the average giver only repeats their giving 46%; recurring givers make additional one-time gifts 75% more often than one-time givers

What can churches get from recurring giving:

1.    More predictable giving – it is set up to happen automatically, so forgetting a checkbook or money doesn’t affect the giving.

2.    More thoughtful giving – givers make a commitment that continues unless it is cancelled by the giver.

3.    More convenience for givers – carrying cash isn’t as much a thing anymore as it used to be, and many people don’t carry a checkbook either.

4.    Recurring giving over the summer – Whether a giver attends church during the summer, or goes on vacation, the recurring gifts still continue.

5.    Simplified giving for a virtual ministry – some of our folks watch from vacation homes or other areas; with recurring giving, they don’t have to remember to write a check or find a way to give; it’s already happening.

So promote recurring giving. Church leaders should be leading the giving! Have them talk about how easy it is, and what it means to the church. Be specific about how often a gift can happen. Explain what the giver gets from setting up recurring gifting (don’t have to remember to bring a checkbook, or mail from vacation, or “catch up” gifts after returning from vacations). The tradition of the offering plate is still important. Print up some electronic giving cards that give people a way to “put something in the plate” even though they have already taken care of their gift. Be persistent about the ask and thank people. Thank people during the offering time. Passing around the offering plate or talking about a basket in the back of the church can make recurring givers feel left out. Thank them (it’s another chance to remind others that recurring giving is a “thing”.

            If you wish more information on anything you’ve been reading about, please feel free to contact me at (315) 427-3668 or sranousacctg@twcny.rr.com or susanranous@unyumc.org.  I’d be happy to help or answer any questions.

 

           11 WAYS TO SUPPORT STEWARDSHIP FOR YOUR CHURCH #4

 

            For the fourth week sharing about the VANCO stewardship booklet on the 11 Ways to support stewardship for your church. This week, we are discussing Online Giving. For many of us, online giving wasn’t a “thing” until COVID, and it was one of the limited ways people could easily continue to give.

 

There are multiple ways to “do” online giving:

      Online Giving Pages – This is often done through the church’s website. It should be as easy as the click of a button. Not only does this make it easier to give, but, if set up well, it will also provide a list of funds available for giving. Pictures and the story behind each fund is helpful for those who may not be familiar with the different funds that the church has. Two thing I hope you take away from this, if nothing else, is (a) give information about what people are giving to. Telling the stories is motivating to givers! (b) make it as easy as possible to give online. If people have to search on how to give and where to click, they may give up.

      Mobile app giving – This is an app givers have downloaded onto their phone. I don’t know about you, but my phone is usually with me. If I am sitting at church or worshipping virtually, or hear about something that a church is doing, or lives being changed because of the church, I want to be able to give that gift right away. An online app is a good way to do that. Many apps have other information as well, including calendars, etc. Having a QR code available in every pew or in the bulletin or posted in the chat/message box of online worship can make it even easier for those who haven’t downloaded the app!

      Text Giving – This is quick and easy (just like a QR code). Someone texts a 5 or 6 digit code and the giving is that easy!

      Review what you have currently for online giving and how it is set up. Can people access it easily and give easily? Test it! Are you providing enough information for people to text, or download apps or understand online giving? Are you utilizing all of the parts of your online giving program so that you are getting the most out of it, as well as your people getting the most out of it?

Test your online giving if you have it or set it up if you do not!!

            If you wish more information on anything you’ve been reading about, please feel free to contact me at (315) 427-3668 or sranousacctg@twcny.rr.com or susanranous@unyumc.org.  I’d be happy to help or answer any questions.

 

             11 WAYS TO SUPPORT STEWARDSHIP FOR YOUR CHURCH #3

 

            For the third week sharing about the VANCO stewardship booklet on the 11 Ways to support stewardship for your church. We are continuing Fundraising. Last we talked about fundraising guidelines, and this week will we discuss fundraising ideas. Vanco gives a very long list of ideas. Some may work; and some may not. I have removed the couple that focus on raffles which shouldn’t be occurring in our United Methodist Churches

1.    Apparel Sales and Bookstore – this really only makes sense if you already are doing this.

2.    Music Performances – Top music artists may be expensive, but there may be many talented people in your area and even in your church.

3.    Ministry Challenges – Not just about raising money but creating community as different ministries “compete” against each other.

4.    Church Cafe – Some churches have large cafes, but some just have pastries and coffee and fruit drinks available. What if this time to gather and visit before or after services also raised some funds for the church’s ministries?

5.    Conferences – Does your church do something or have important knowledge that could be shared with others?

6.    Bake Sales and chicken dinners – You may have excellent cooks and bakers that can use their gifts to help support the church.

7.    Church Garage Sale – do you have items around the church that you may want to get rid of and someone may want?

8.    Arts and Crafts Sales – do you have talented crafters in your congregation?

9.    Buy a Brick – this is a way to raise funds for a large building or stained glass window project.

10. Giving Tuesday – The Tuesday after Thanksgiving is know as Giving Tuesday. Do you participate in it?

11. Festivals – ways to meet new people in the neighborhood and have fun!

12. Easter Egg Hunts, Easter Egg Decorating Contests and selling Easter Candy and chocolates – may ways to raise money around Easter.

13. Design and Sell Your Own Custom T-shirts- is there something about your church that could be designed onto a custom t-shirt and sold to members and others?

I’m sure you have many other ideas too! Have you tried any?

            If you wish more information on anything you’ve been reading about, please feel free to contact me at (315) 427-3668 or sranousacctg@twcny.rr.com or susanranous@unyumc.org.  I’d be happy to help or answer any questions.

 

           11 WAYS TO SUPPORT STEWARDSHIP FOR YOUR CHURCH #2

 

            Last week, I started sharing about the VANCO stewardship booklet on the 11 Ways to support stewardship for your church. I started with the first way: How to Increase Tithing, and the eight ways to do that.

            This week, I want to share the second way: Fundraising, with the first part on fundraising guidelines and the eight ways to do that. To make sure you do fundraising well, make sure all the ground rules are set and all your “ducks are in a row.”

1.    Create a Clear Agenda – this is important to make sure you are only doing what you are allowed to do, by Discipline and by law.

2.    Establish Protocols for Approving Fundraisers – It is important that only approved fundraisers are allowed. Having someone fundraise in the church’s name, without approval and without guidance. Develop a process that will guide the church to from idea to fruition. Who do people go to with ideas? Who has the ability to approve? Part of the protocol is to determine what the point of the fundraising is; how will it benefit your ministry, and what is the cost to start.

3.    Limit the Types of Fundraising – Too often fundraising seems to be the focus of people in the church, because we “need money to stay open.” But when it becomes the focus, it can overshadow the ministry work. One of the phrases in the VANCO booklet said it this way “you also don’t want your church to become a religious flea market where you’re always pushing products unto members and visitors.” Wow! Reminds me of the scripture for the third Sunday in Lent this year. Create a list of the types of fundraisers you want to do and order them by level of importance.

4.    Incorporate Systems for Financial Responsibility – A budget needs to be created for each fundraiser and the ability to track the money, etc. needs to be in place. The ability to make online donations or purchases as part of your fundraising effort is important.

5.    Understand the Difference Between Ticket Sales and Donations – Basically, donations are non-taxable income, which means a gift being made with no expectation of receiving anything tangible in return. Purchases of tickets imply something else.

6.    Learn About Waivers and Liability – Check with your church’s insurance carrier to make sure your coverage is adequate for what you’re planning (event, vendors, etc.) Are there waivers that need to be created and signed?

7.    Event Marketing – Communication is important for everything in the church, but communicating about upcoming fundraising is also important. If people don’t know, then the fundraising won’t be effective.

8.    Establishing Quality Controls – Create objectives, communicate frequently, make changes as needed, and check in with each other regularly. And once the fundraiser is over, meet to debrief. What worked? What didn’t? Approach this not as a matter of finger-pointing but of learning, so future fundraisers will be successful.

We’ll learn more next week about increasing tithing and what that means. We started with the second part of that list (fundraising) but will continue the ideas about fundraising next week.

            If you wish more information on anything you’ve been reading about, please feel free to contact me at (315) 427-3668 or sranousacctg@twcny.rr.com or susanranous@unyumc.org.  I’d be happy to help or answer any questions.

 

              11 WAYS TO SUPPORT STEWARDSHIP FOR YOUR CHURCH #1

 

            Continuing my reading of VANCO’s stewardship material has led me to their booklet on the 11 Ways to support stewardship for your church.

            The first way is How to Increase Tithing. To do that:

1.    Teach Authentic Stewardship – we need to let our money serve God, not the other way around. This is obviously not the prosperity Gospel. Our folks need to feel comfortable hearing about money from the pulpit. Hearing about authentic stewardship helps lay the groundwork for healthy church finances. The entire point, however, is not to just increase the amount of money that comes in, but to help your folks live a more Christ-centered life.

2.    Lead by Example – Does your financial life reflect the Gospel? Take an honest inventory, consider a money autobiography; determine the areas of your life where you may be serving money instead of God. People are looking up to you as a leader in the church.

3.    Ask Frequently - I know people complain that we talk about money too much in church but, to be honest, we usually don’t ask. You can preach about stewardship and talk about Christ-center lives, but you still have to ask. The time in the service when we talk about giving is a good time to remind folks different ways to give and how their gifts are used.

4.    Get Excited About Church Projects – Tell the stories of how lives are changed because of the generosity of folks. People want to give when they know that their money is making a difference.

5.    Show Gratitude – We need to thank people for their gifts. A throw-away line in the bulletin or newsletter isn’t enough. Give a warm thanks. The year-end giving statement is a perfect place to thank people (not just the lines that the program spits out) – you can put in something that you create – share how their money was used.

6.    Explain Biblical Tithing – Some of our people don’t honestly know how much to give. If you talk about tithing, about determine what they are giving and what they are called to give, that will help. You could use the “steps” to help people determine where they are and where they can step up to.

7.    Be Financially Transparent – Most people, unless they are on a committee or in leadership in the church, don’t honestly know how much it takes to run the church. Let people know. And I don’t mean tell them how much we need weekly, and how much we’re short, but something more encouraging. Be financially transparent about how funds are used.

8.    Ask with Confidence - Don’t feel awkward or embarrassed. Ask with confidence. If you don’t feel confident, practice!

 

            If you wish more information on anything you’ve been reading about, please feel free to contact me at (315) 427-3668 or sranousacctg@twcny.rr.com or susanranous@unyumc.org.  I’d be happy to help or answer any questions.

 

       

                                         BE CREATIVE YEAR-ROUND #4

 

            For the past two weeks, I have been looking at Vanco’s creative list as a year-round stewardship idea. This list is part of the last of eight rules for effective church leadership laid out in the booklet put out by VANCO, titled The Complete Guide to Church Stewardship. It was to BE CREATIVE. In being creative,

            My breakdown of their list is below. For the fourth quarter of the year (October, November and December), I am providing some additional ideas below.

 

January                            First Fruits

February                          The Gift of Love        - Our Brothers and Sisters Keeper

March                               Ministry Team Spirit

April                                  Miracles and Wonders

May                                   It’s our Anniversary (heritage Sunday)

June                                 Planting Good Seeds

July                                   Virtual Messages/Social Media Sunday/The Conversion

August                              College Alumni Day

September                       The Unexpected/ Brick Layers

October                            Financial Testimonies

November                        A Praise of Thanksgiving

December                        The Christmas Gift

The fourth quarter of the year would include Financial Testimonies, A Praise of Thanksgiving and The Christmas Gift.

Financial Testimonies – Most of us do our stewardship work and plans in the fall, so I thought hearing other peoples’ generosity stories during October made good sense. I find it much more motivational to hear someone who has traveled what I have traveled or that I know speak about their generosity and talk about financial miracles and giving, than I do hearing someone talk about it in generalities. After all, it’s the faithful givers who have allowed our churches to continue his mission work and help others.

A Praise of Thanksgiving – Thanksgiving occurs as a holiday in November, so we could use this time of the year to be thankful and to reflect on the blessings received during the year. Hearing sermonettes from different people in the church or outside the church based a theme and scripture would be interesting to hear. Are there ways to share with others during a time when you’re thankful for what you’ve received?

The Christmas Gift – During this season, many people are in a giving mood. Remind your folks that the church should have a place on their Christmas giving lists. Do this reminder at the beginning of December and again the Sunday before Christmas. Use skits, have youth help. Christmas giving shouldn’t just be the latest joy or gadget, but sharing with others what has been given to us at Christmas!

We’ve traveled through the entire year with various creative ideas. Consider using a couple during this upcoming year!

            If you wish more information on anything you’ve been reading about, please feel free to contact me at (315) 427-3668 or sranousacctg@twcny.rr.com or susanranous@unyumc.org.  I’d be happy to help or answer any questions.