Respond to Givers, Encourage Giving
Glen Chase and I have been talking about encouraging giving. He makes an important point that some of us seem to miss: The church is one worthy organziation among many seeking charitiable gifts. A lot of those other organizations do a much better job of encouraging additional giving.
A simple way to encourage giving is to recognize the gifts we receive. I think this is especially true of other than usual gifts. For instance, a congregation helps a non-member family at a moment of crisis. The family gives the congregation a $1,000 thank you. The gift is acknowledged, they're told what great things will be done with the gift. Ongoing contact is maintained with the family. Down the road the family likes a program that is coming up. Another gift is given. (This happened in a congregation I served.)
I'm not talking about pandering to people. I'm talking about being gracious -- saying thank you. I'm talking about taking the opportunity to tell someone who has been generous about the importance of what my church is doing. I want them to know that what they did is important and that they are appreciated. I want them to know that this is a good place to invest in the work of God's realm -- even if they don't think of it as the work of the realm, but simply that we are doing something they think is important too.
Do you have a protocol in your organization by which donors are thanked; your mission is stated; and their additional support is welcomed and encouraged?
I'm a recently retired Pastor so our family has no church affiliation. Our giving is to the Lord, so we've looked at other than congregations to continue our giving. Here's two effective ways offering recipients have responded to us.
- Lutheran Disaster Relief sent a thank you letter, stated the amount of our gift and featuring current areas of need and how they are working there. At the bottom of this letter was this smiple sentence: "Remember LDR in your will." There was an addresed envelope enclosed by which I could send additional gifts.
- Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary did about the same thing. Thank you for your gift of ____. " They went on to talk about what excitement there was on campus with the incoming class. I know the writer of the letter. On the bottom of the page was a brief personal note.
Our Synod is in process of developing a protocol when a gift is received. Out of the conversation with Glen I came up with some questions I think should be considered. I invite your comments about them -- what would you add? -- leave out? What has worked or NOT worked for you? Here's my questions:
- Who handles money, especially unique or unusual giving, that comes into the organization?
- What sorts of red flags, alarms, trip wires should be in place to set in motion the kind of response we are talking about?
- What does the IRS require when gifts come in at a certain amount . . .
- What is the amount?
- What language is required?
- Does the amount have to be listed?
- What sorts of things should be in the letter/note/phone call/email that's going to go out?
- personal note?
- personal note attached?
- an additional addressed giving envelope?
- naming a specific ministry that is being featured?
- LDR simply has a line at the bottom of their thank you letter "Remember LDR in your will." Is there a way to include something like this?
- Who and how do you decide if it should be a letter or a more personal contact?
- jtrev's blog
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More on Thanking...
I come from the non-profit world. Before being ordained I worked almost 30 years ago in this field. I have many friends and colleagues in the non-profit world. These organizations have a "Development" person or if a large organization a whole department dedicated to financially supporting the work of the organization. The CEO of the organization knows who gives what as part of his job. Most colleges and universities have a set way of thanking people when they give from a letter to a hand written note to a phone call from the President.
Here is a statistic from a book that I have been praying with this past summer called, "Not Your Parent's Offering Plate" by J. Clif Christopher. He says that in 2006 there were over 1.8 million not-for-profit organizations of which over one million were 501(c)(3), a charitable designation by the IRS. He further reminds his reader that 370,000 or so are churches. The number of non-profits has grown steadily over the years. The number of churches has not shown much growth. The church, your congregation is competing for the charitable dollar. I know it's hard to hear but we are told that the truth shall set you free. W
e are in competition.
Now just think about this. In past generations people gave to the church trusting that the money was going to support the charitable work o the congregation, the synod, and the national church. I know my grandfather always said he didn't need to be thanked. I believe, the ancestors of our tribe of faith are quickly passing away. The successive generations opperate in a different way. They want to know where their money is going and how it is going to be used. One of my colleagues calls this "connecting the dots". Further, these "new givers" want to be recognized for their contribution.
My brother John has engaged me in conversation around this topic. Pastor Maas asks about "who handles the money?". Does your pastor know who gives what each month. This is a major taboo in many congregations. Is a quarterly statement with a reminder that no goods or services etc. enough?
Lets have a conversation!!!! BTW: Glenn not Glen.
Ideal "Thank You" letter.
I'm passing on a thank you letter we got that I think is the best I've seen. I'll comment what it is that I think they did well as I transcribe it. As I didn't ask if I could copy it, I'm leaving off identities.
----------------------------------------------------------------
[date]
[contact's name and address, then salutation]
[Mission statement or quote] "To create an eternal legacy, ignite hope in the eyes of a child."
[While this doesn't say, "Remember us in your will," I think the use of the word "legacy" to a donor like me, plants seeds.]
Thank you for your generous donation of $_____ [less than IRS requires for including notations about "no services or goods" tag line.] made on September 30 in memory of Loretta Isom. . . .
[names amount of gift, date given, in whose name it was given. It gives me, the donor, all the information to know that my gift was received as I intended.]
. . . . This donation will be used to support our mission of breaking the cycle of abuse and neglect in our community. . . .
[We want you to remember what OUR mission is and how we will use your money.]
We will notify the family of your thoughtful remembrance. On behalf of the children and families whom we serve, thank you for remembering Loretta in this special way.
Warmest regards,
[signatures]
[while we didn't intend this as a memorial gift, per se, they see it as such and assure us that Loretta's family will be notified. The writer then reiterates that our gift is helping those for whom the agency exists.]
[The writer then penned a short, personal note of thanks and remembering Loretta as a great woman. I think I've met the writer, but we both had the connection through Loretta.]
GIFT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
John and Judith Maas
Payment Date: 9/30/2011
Payment Amount: $______
Payment Type: Check 5321
[I really like this piece at the end of the letter. It gives me, the donor, all the pertinant information I need when accounting for this gift on a budget or my tax return.]
Should Pastors Know Who Gives What?
Should Pastors Know Who Gives What?
I came from the school where the resounding answer was either, "NO!" or "HELL NO!!!"
My classmate, who successfully grew a flagging mission start to a thriving congregation and later became an Assistant to the Bishop, gave a resounding "YES!" to that question. He was a man of integrity. He told me that he wanted to know who gave what and if there was any significant change in anyone's giving pattern. He wanted to know as their Pastor. If something suddenly changed it meant something was going on with that giver that he, as the person's Pastor, wanted to know about. At the time I dismissed his argument as valid but of a different school of thought than mine.
In light of the sorts of things Glen is saying about how givers give now, I'm rethinking towards my friend's point of view. For me it is moving away from the assumption that giving will be natural and we will come first in line. I believe we have a dual responsibiliity as church leaders. We have a responsibility to let people know what they're giving to and why. As importantly, we have a responsiblity to our congregations/organizations to preach our mission and actively encourage support so we are leading in keeping our places financially healthy.
<grinning> I don't have to fight those battles in congregations anymore. So, as a free agent, I begin asking my Synod how well they are preaching mission, recruiting mission supporters, and providing care and support for those who do support as a means of having continued support. (I'm liking this retired status.)
Connecting the Dot
John sound like being retired is a good thing but God still keeps inviting you into a new relationship. God won't leave you alone. That's a good thing.
OK so the challenge to the Synod about sharing mission and stories that help people see what and how their support is used, is a very valid point. I want to challenge the congregations. Make Mission Support personal. What about sharing stories of Challenge-Opportunities-Transformation in members and friends lives because of the work in the congregation. Publishing those stories, makes it more public, and is a powerful tool. Because of you, the congregation, people's lives have been changed and are being changed. What about taking an inventory of all the personal stories about changed lives being shared on a Sunday? By sharing their story they can also inspire others.
OK there it is...
<grinning back at ya>
P.G.
Musings about giving 2day
I was at a New Consecration Sunday presentation to support the work of a local Congregational Stewardship Committee. As I was talking to them I encouraged them to see that giving to the work of the congregation was supporting the work of God in the world. A person spoke up saying, "I get the idea that giving to the congregation is giving to the work of God but do you believe that God is not also working in the Boy's and Girl's Club?" This was a real eye opener. Once again it reminded me that the giving patterns of people have shifted. This person and their family have a certain amount they set aside to give and they looked at many options not just the church.
Well what do you get from this comment?
P.G.
What about giving "outside" the church
Bringing the shalom to the world, the shalom given to us by Jesus, is the work of the church . . . the bringing of the realm of God that we have received.
My answer to this man's query, [sic] "What about giving to the Boys and Girls club, isn't this also doing God's work?" would have been, "Yes it is. I think it's terrific that you have this passion for the children of our community. How can our church partner with you in supporting them?"
The answer to that question might be as simple as the man being satisfied that his church thinks what he does is important. It could also lead to a new facet of ministry within that congregation -- anything from worship time focus, to special offerings, to a new use of the facilities for the clubs work.
If the work of the realm of God is all encompassing then maybe one of our mind shifts should be away from being in competition with this other organizations for money -- an either/or mentality -- to a both/and way of thinking. How shall we work together?
I acknowledge your data, Glenn, that we are now one player with lots of other non-profit players. I think the question then becomes, "Shall we see the other players as competing teams or shall we find ways to see them as being on the same team we are?" Eh?
Saying thank you
Charles Lane's book "Ask, Thank, Tell" has been helpful in this regard. He suggest dividing the stewardship leadership teams into three groups: Ask, Thank, and Tell groups. I thought this was particularly helpful because there are people in the congregation who might be intimidated to be part of stewardship ministry, but there are people in congregations who are really gifted at sharing thank yous. For example, these gifted folks could put a very personal touch on thank you notes, or find creative ways to say thank you that others of us may not think of.
Yes Indeed we should thank
Yes Indeed we should thank people, be gracious to them. " For it is in giving that we receive."
My pastor has told me how important it is that we do look at all things through Gods eyes as a blessing to us, and be thankful. We may not like everything He does or has others do, but " there is a purpose for everything under heaven". We can do thank you notes being anonymous or giving out our names. In any case it goes to show that we are trying to light the world a bit more where darkness invades, through tough times. Especially since the winter time is coming on. My church does many things to show gratefulness. I, Rebecca Morey along with the rest of the youth in the congregation that I belong to, hold several meals for people. During Lent..its Soup Suppers. During Christmas, we do a dinner banquet, for Fathers day we do up breakfast for the men..ect.
(Our church has been in a few ads, showing how we help others, through Second Harvest Thrivent Food Bank Distribution..giving out food and love)So its not just the big things that get recognized but rather everything and everyone. In Gods eyes with my faith I believe thats what we should do daily...show others how loving God really is...
My pastor tells us we are sometimes that we are the only Bible others may read or seek! Now thinking about it that holds a huge impact on me.
So just reach out in every little everyway possible!
Nicely put
Nicely put, Rebecca.
If it is true that we may be the only Bible people read (and it is), then what we do may be the only touch of Christ that they experience.
Missing Gifts, Disenfranchasing Givers
I've found a non-profit that's worse than ours about encouraging givers.
My family has been long-time supporter of Habitat for Humanity -- from money to building to adminstration to mission trips. Our local chapter has an annual "Builders Breakfast." It's pretty inspiring . . . all you would want as an organization to motivate people -- clear mission, Director's personal commitment, families getting houses and going to get houses speaking. The breakfast always ends with pledges and an offering envelope for immediate gifts.
Last year we pledged a certain amount per month. We never heard another word from Habitat, no statement of pledge, no envelopes with which to give, no notice after a few months of "Hey, what gives?" Being passive aggressive Lutherans we waited them out. That is to say, they got no money and didn't seem to care.
New Director this year. Sounds like a good guy. This year we dropped a donation in the provided offering envelope and marked the sheet "Contact us about further giving." No word from them as of yet -- either acknowledging the original gift or following up on our offer.
Glenn Chase is right, there are LOTS of worthwhile non-profits who can use my support. The ones who will get it are the ones who will partner with me when I give. We WANT to be part of the organizations to which we give. But if they don't seem interested in responding to us, there are others waiting in line.
How responsive is your organization to givers? . . . to regular givers? . . . to pledge drive supporters? . . . to unexpected gifts?