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 […]
From The Stewardship Journal Team
Should churches borrow money to build? That is the question we tackle with this edition of the Stewardship Journal. Welcome back as we launch our fall issues after our Labor Day break. Here is what is in this week’s Journal. Mark Brooks, The Stewardship Coach, kicks off this week’s Journal with a post entitled The […]
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 […]
The Ripple Effect: An Interview With Dennis Moses
Toss a stone in the middle of a body of calm water, and you can watch the ripples spread outward from the point of impact, changing the water’s dynamic. It’s cause and effect. The calm of the water is interrupted by the impact of the rock. It’s a ripple effect that will ultimately change the […]
From The Stewardship Journal Team
“It ain’t over until it’s over!” Remember those famous words? That phrase comes in handy when it comes to raising capital dollars, as we will explain with this edition of the Stewardship Journal as we continue our series on capital campaigns, Giving Away the Farm. Our goal is to help you hold a capital campaign […]
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 […]
From The Stewardship Journal Team
How important is prayer when it comes to raising funds? That is the question we probe with this issue of the Stewardship Journal. We are continuing our series on how to do your capital campaign entitled Giving Away the Farm. We are giving you, for free, the key steps you need to hold a capital […]
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 […]