A Wake-Up Call to Engage Donors
Americans gave $557 billion to charity in 2023. That’s the good news. The bad news is even though the total dollars given to charity is up, the number of donors giving is down. Even more troubling, Americans now give only 1.7% of their disposable incomes to charities, the lowest level of giving in the last […]
The Stewardship of Debt
I believe that sometimes, it is in the best interest of a church to acquire a short-term debt to facilitate growth. That comment could get you disbarred from some churches in America, including the church I currently attend! I might be exaggerating a bit, but if I suggested we borrow money so we could finish […]
Cards Are Cool, But Cash Builds Buildings
Cards Are Cool, But Cash Builds Buildings is the title of this Coach, and it’s a truth you can’t afford to overlook. Having a stack of pledge cards the day after your campaign commitment is a good start, but what really matters is turning those pledges into tangible donations to fuel your ministry dreams. I’m […]
The Coach’s Quick-Step Follow-Up Plan
One important thing for churches to understand is that when the commitments are in, the campaign is not over. One phase is completed, and now you are in another. I believe the first 30 to 60 days after the Commitment Weekend are crucial. So, let me outline what I recommend for immediate next steps after […]
It’s Not Fund Raising It’s Faith Raising
Last week, I told a story of a pastor I once worked with who explained to his leaders that the upcoming capital campaign wasn’t a fund-raising campaign but a faith-raising campaign. I want to further flesh that out in this Coach, entitled It’s Not Fund Raising It’s Faith Raising. Last week, I defined fundraising versus […]
Pray the Money In!
Several years ago, I wrote the following blog post on praying in money. While the thrust was for the weekly offering, the principles I laid out will also work for praying for a capital campaign. Do you regularly pray for a full offering plate each Sunday? Isn’t it amazing how little we pray for some […]
The Power of the Pulpit
The average church member spends one and a half hours at church, including worship. I remember seeing that statistic a few years before the Chinese virus hit our shores. Post-COVID studies are showing an even greater decline in church engagement and attendance. This is why, when raising capital dollars, one of a pastor’s greatest tools […]
A Sample Capital Campaign Preaching Schedule
One of the greatest challenges I face is helping pastors plan their preaching for a capital campaign. I’m often asked how long a sermon series should run for a capital campaign. The answer depends upon many factors, but I have found that four to six weeks is the best length. The following is a thumbnail […]
Attracting the Next Generation of Donors
The following is reprinted with permission and can be found at https://www.onlinegiving.org/support/attracting-the-next-generation-of-donors The future of church giving is at a crossroads, demanding a strategic shift. Currently, most churches in America are heavily dependent on financial support from Baby Boomers, a generation that is now entering retirement. But what happens when this generation passes the torch? […]
The Fourth C
“If you want your members to catch your vision, you will need to tell them that vision seven times, seven different ways.” That was the advice that my first capital campaign consultant gave me way back in the 20th century. With your members getting blasted with over 3,000 marketing messages daily, it’s even more true […]