What Works / What Doesn’t?

Tom Gossen, Executive Director

The Episcopal Network for Stewardship345 S Hydraulic

Wichita, KS 67211800-699-2669tom@tens.org

A participatory and experiential session to discuss strategies for Annual Giving Programs. Take home the approaches and tips that will engage the members of the congregation in a meaningful way for “faith-raising,” not “fund-raising.”

Licensed for use by TENS

Numbers to Track•Total Pledge $ / Number of Pledges = Avg. Pledge

•The Median Pledge Amount

•Total Plate + Pledge (P+P)

• Average Sunday Attendance (ASA)

•

• Total Operating Income (TOI)

P+PASA

Household Data to Track• Proper names & nicknames (common greetings)• Picture• Address• Telephone numbers• E-mail address• Dates of birth• Other anniversaries (wedding, baptisms,

retirement)• Giving history• Ministry involvement

Why Is There an Annual Commitment Program?

Three mission and ministry absolutes:

• Local outreach

• International outreach

• Parish project, program, or staff expansion

Initial Planning

• What program are we ready for?

• What do we want to achieve?

• Schedule considerations

• What theme expresses our focus?

• Education components (adults, youth and children)

Resource Needs

• Database management

• Demographic targets

• Staffing requirements

• Mentor/consultant requirements

• Budget

Clergy & Vestry Roles

• New or revised vestry stewardship

statement?

• Personal visits or notes?

• Approval of plan and budget

• Advance pledges and reporting?

Recruiting and Training Leadership

• Select the right persons for the right job

• Recruit!!! DON’T ask for volunteers

• Written job descriptions

Mailings• Stationery

• Letters

• Invitations & response cards

• Thank you notes

• Pledge cards

• How many? From whom? When?• Customizing by demographics?• Personalized• Individualized• Postage

Witness Voices

• How many and who?

• How do we recruit them?

• What do we want them to say?

• Written or verbal? Both?

Theme Materials

• Vision for mission / ministry

• Poster(s) / recognition wall

• Stationery for letters

• Thank you cards / letters

• Invitations

• Response cards

• Decorations

Dinner Events

• Best time of day

• One time or multiple?

• Format (content)

• Length

• Catered?

• Music?

• Keynoter selection criteria

Ingathering Sunday• Date

• Format

Saying Thank You• How? (Notes, list in publication, billboard, etc.)

• When?

• Who authors?

• Content?

Follow-Through

• When to begin?

• What (letters, calls, visits, other)?

• Who does it?

• To whom?

• For how long?

Then What????

• Reward those who worked

• Nurture those who don’t pledge

• Newcomer incorporation

• Envelope systems

Available From TENS & Morehouse1-800-877-0012

Available From TENS & Morehouse1-800-877-0012

Available From TENS (catalogue p. 17)

Available From TENS (catalogue p. 17)

  

New response method Consecration Sunday by Herb Miller. This popular stewardship financial takes place during worship. It is a stewardship program for congregations of all sizes, rural or urban, and speaks from a spiritual rather than a fund-raising perspective. Abingdon Press, 2002, ISBN: 0687063159, $9.00

New Consecration Sunday Stewardship Program Guest Leader Guide by Herb Miller, Abingdon Press, 2002, ISBN 0687063760, $11.00.  New Consecration Sunday is based on a biblical/spiritual theology of the need of the giver to give for his or her own spiritual benefit rather than on the need of the church to receive. Directed toward raising the level of stewardship rather than toward raising the church budget, its no-gimmick approach focuses on the question, "What is God calling me to do?" rather than on the question, "What does the church need in order to pay its bills?"

New Consecration Sunday by Herb Miller