After reading one of your recent columns on
fund-raising, we realise we also need to address stewardship on an
annual basis, and we want to fit stewardship and finance for the
building into our calendar without a collision. Can you
help?
THE revenue required for running the church on a daily, weekly, and
annual basis has to take priority in the calendar. There are timely
moments for stewardship renewal. When the annual budget is prepared
by the PCC is a good time for setting out the stewardship targets
for the year. Some will have this work done in the late autumn, and
November is the best month of the year for generosity, so these can
work together. But it's not too late.
January is the month of lowest giving to charity; so if you
haven't got the stewardship renewal under way yet, spend January
and February planning for a spring-renewal campaign. The best
programme I have experienced in action is the campaign The
Responsibility Is Ours (TRIO), produced by Southwark diocese; but
your own diocese probably has an officer who can assist if
needed.
One sure method for not inadvertently pressurising churchgoers
into giving to a capital or building fund instead of much-needed
stewardship is to focus your fund-raising on church and
community. Plan events that focus on fun and fund-raising in a
programme that appeals to all the people in the area.
Most of the cash raised will be based on people buying what they
want, whether a raffle ticket, bric-a-brac, or jumble. This way,
churchpeople contribute more in volunteering than in donating more
money than they might want to. Some churches are able to ask church
members for donations towards capital projects, but, if this is the
case, avoid planning a donor campaign too close in time to the
stewardship renewal.
So your annual "money" calendar will place first the renewal of
stewardship in its prime location; then put in the "cash cows" -
the events that always produce a good return - before adding in new
ideas. Sales and fairs usually produce more funds than concerts and
exhibitions, as the latter require a considerable outlay of effort.
But a concert that packs the building may produce good income from
ticket sales. If you are holding a music event that has
community-wide appeal (such as a concert of Christmas music), it is
far better to pass the collection buckets around during the last
song than to have a retiring collection.
Making applications to trusts and other outside funders is not
time-sensitive as church contributions and local fund-raising are.
January, which is a dead month in terms of general donations, would
be a good time for a small group to work on a bid to the Heritage
Lottery Fund, National Churches Trust, and others. Let this small
group take a minor part in your fund-raising over the year, as they
may have more than used up their time on the fund-raising grant
applications.
Send your issues and questions to maggiedurran@virginmedia.com