GENEROSITY AUDIT

           I’m going to start this blog with a “simple” question: Has your church ever done a generosity audit? Now, don’t panic when you read the word audit. I know, for some, it’s a “bad” word. After all, among the definitions of the word audit are “a formal examination of an organization's or individual's accounts or financial situation The audit showed that the company had misled investors,” or “a methodical examination and review.”

          The Book of Discipline and the Conference tell every church that they have to do an audit every year! For some, understanding why is difficult.

·        After all, we know our treasurer is responsible and wouldn’t do anything wrong.

·        We don’t need an audit if there’s nothing wrong.

·        It’s just so much work to pull all the documents together.

          I do appreciate the idea, but we’re not doing church financial audits because we thing there is something wrong or we don’t trust someone. Actually, conducting an audit isn’t a symbol of distrust! It’s a mark of responsibility; it’s good stewardship demonstrated for all to see; and it’s a message to local church donors that you care about their gifts!

          And those same reasons that we have for doing a financial audit are the reasons for doing a generosity audit. Why? Because the idea of a generosity audit is to do a deep dive into how a donor perceives the churches and to understand how the church communicates to the donors from the donor perspective. Using this generosity audit as part of a stewardship and generosity plan will how elevate the cultures and theology of generosity that exists in the church, with the objective of increasing the operating income by engaging the heart and passion of the donor.

          Did you catch that? It doesn’t talk about increasing operating income by getting new members, or talking about meeting the budget or engaging pocketbooks and wallets. It talks about heart and passion. How we “do” stewardship has to change in the local church. We are well past the point when focusing on the need of the church to give is effective. We are well past the point when focusing on the need of the giver to giver has to start.

          What are some questions that are answered as part of a generosity audit? Some examples are:[1]

1.   Does your pastor know who gives and how much?

a.   Knows nothing, wants to know nothing

b.   Wants to know but is denied access

c.   Has some idea and is given some information

d.   Has full access

2.   When a person is asked to serve in a leadership role, is how or her giving taken into consideration?

a.   We would never do something like that

b.   Our pastor might make reference to it

c.   Yes, we take seriously a person’s generosity and giving when filling leadership positions in our church.

3.   Do you regularly tell stories of how your ministries change lives?

a.   In worship _____ yes _____no

b.   In newsletters _____yes _____no

c.   In giving statements _____yes _____no

d.   In email blasts _____yes _____no

4.   Does your church have a unique vision for ministry that unites your congregation and sets you apart from our churches?

a.   No

b.   Our pastor might

c.   Yes, but we really aren’t united around it

d.   Yes, and it drives everything we do as a church

5.   Do you regularly thank your pledgers and your givers? _____yes _____no

          There are many other questions in an audit that will help you understand now church donors interact with the church; how to encourage and cultivate increased giving by more intentional connection to the vision and mission; and determine specific steps in engaging giving.

          If this is something that your church would benefit from (and everyone would), please let me know, and I’d be happy to work with your church and share some resources. (susanranous@unyumc.org)

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[1] Generosity Rising: Lead a Stewardship Revolution in Your Church, Scott McKenzie (Abingdon Press, 2016)