GBC 09 Pastor's Conference - Sustainable Funding

5 Steps to Funding a Sustainable Ministry Pastor’s Conference Georgia Baptist Convention September 2009

Why should I care?
“ At least one out of five American Christians – 20 percent of all U.S. Christians – gives literally nothing to church, para-church, or nonreligious charities.”
- Passing the Plate

Why should I care?
“ Americans spent nearly twice as much on first-day sales of the video game “Grand Theft Auto IV” as the SBC and the IMB would need to share the Gospel with all the world’s unreached people groups by 2010.”
- Empty Tomb

Why should I care?
Charitable donations as
measured by per capita giving of
disposable income has remained
the same since 1967 – 2.5%.
- Giving USA

What does this mean?
The individualistic, independent American Spirit has influenced
our perspective on church giving. Churches risk losing the funding necessary to carry forward the work it has been given to do.

What does this mean?
The church can’t fail.
There is no Plan B.

5 Steps to Funding a Sustainable Ministry
Summary
Help pastors evaluate and implement giving tools and strategies that result
in fully funded budgets and long-term sustainable ministry.

More Money.
More Ministry.

Session Goals
Highlight tension between ministry and money. (funding)
Discuss the role of pastor as organizational manager. (sustainability)
Reveal the disconnect between the pulpit and the pew. (engagement)
Provide some guiding principles to systematically address challenge. (responsibility)
Restore the role of stewardship as a strategic effort within local church ministry. (transformation)

Step 1:
Establish a systematic strategy.

Establish a systematic strategy
Let’s be honest about tithing:
The Church is a nonprofit organization that exists through the donations of its membership.

The habits of giving begin with the worldview of the giver.

Churches have an advantage over every other nonprofit: weekly interaction with membership.

Churches are the WORST at capturing the dollar and fail to consistently provide a “call to action.”

If churches continue to be silent, the giving levels needed to operate this complex organization will not exist.

Giving is an outward sign of an inward commitment. Measuring giving is one way to measure the health of your church and your membership.

Church giving is connected to your ministry plan. People want to support a cause or organization that accomplishes something they can’t do on their own.

Step 2:
Start talking about it.

Start talking about it
In 1995, there were 600,000 nonprofit organizations and 370,000 churches. In 2005, there were over 1.8 million nonprofit organizations and 370,000 churches.
- Not Your Parents’ Offering Plate

The more we remain silent with respect to the subject of money in the church, the more mysterious it becomes.

5 steps to stop stuttering over money
Step 1: Embrace your role as chief broker of opportunity.

Step 2: Expose yourself to the unfamiliar.

Step 3: Seek out professionals in the financial or fund development industry sectors.

Step 4: Surround yourself with a few trusted advisors from your church membership.

Step 5: Practice . Practice . Practice .

Step 3:
Set expectations.

Set expectations
Why isn’t the church leading the way in generosity?

Set expectations
Why isn’t the church leading the way in generosity?
Bill Gates foundation recorded a 20% loss in asset value in 2008 but plans to give even more in 2009.

Set expectations
3 habits that establish expectations of your membership
Habit 1: Personal Testimony
Hint: Your church will give as much as you do.

Set expectations
Habit 2: Annual Stewardship Series

Set expectations
Habit 3: Celebrate Success

Step 4:
Make the ask.

Make the ask
Two shifts have taken place within American Christianity.
1. The tithe is no longer solely reserved for the church.

Make the ask
Two shifts have taken place within American Christianity.
2. Christians want their tithe to count.

Make the ask
5 systematic tools you need to consider
1. Offering Envelopes

Make the ask
2. Online Giving

Make the ask
3. Contribution Statements

Make the ask
4. Special Offerings or Major Gifts

Make the ask
5. Planned Giving or Estate Tithing

Make the ask
3 brutal facts about giving grounded in the Pareto Principles (80/20 rule)

Make the ask
Brutal Fact #1:
When your long-term funding strategy is hung on the giving habits of a small percentage of your membership, you are tempting fate.

Make the ask
Brutal Fact #2:
Providing things like offering envelopes and online giving are primarily designed to encourage giving and make it easy for the 80% to do so.

Make the ask
Wikipedia raised $2 million dollars in the final three weeks of December 2008 with an average donation of $40.
How much money are you leaving on the table?

Make the ask
Brutal Fact #3:
Stewardship is more important than your sermon preparation.

Make the ask
Crown Financial Ministries reported as many as 17,000 salvations in one year as a result of people participating in their program.

Make the ask
If stewardship is equivalent to discipleship, then a call to be a steward deals directly with the Lordship of Christ.

Make the ask
When people are asked to commit their time, talent and treasures to advance the kingdom of God, spiritual transformation takes place.

Step 5:
Report the results.

Report the results
In a time when consumers are demanding more corporate accountability and transparency, this same sentiment is being applied to traditional nonprofits and churches alike.

Report the results
“ They” want to know your church’s spending habits.
Example: Texas Attorney General’s office just launched on online tracking service to let people see how charities are spending the contributions they receive.

Report the results
It won’t be long before the same reporting tools are used to monitor churches.
Are you ready?

Report the results
“ Participatory Philanthropy” or the “Democratization of Philanthropy” are the phrases that best describe the changing climate of generosity.

Report the results
Example:
TripAdvisor.com asked the public to decide how to spend their charitable giving funds.

Report the results
Example:
Subaru of America invited new car buyers the option to contribute $250 to a charity of their choice.

Report the results
What if our budgeting process looked like American Idol?

Report the results
3 approaches to reporting results
1. Develop a habit of measuring results.

Report the results
2. Treat church members like shareholders.

Report the results
3. Outline the connection between giving, program, and ministry results.

Report the results
Don’t report results unless you are prepared to:
1. Reveal the results.

Report the results
2. React based on the results received.

Report the results
3. Request input from church membership.

Session Goals (in review)
Highlight tension between ministry and money. (funding)
Discuss the role of pastor as organizational manager. (sustainability)
Reveal the disconnect between the pulpit and the pew. (engagement)
Provide some guiding principles to systematically address challenge. (responsibility)
Restore the role of stewardship as a strategic effort within local church ministry. (transformation)

Questions
Questions?

Contact Information
Profile: benstroup.com
Blog: domoreministry.com
Twitter: @domoreministry
Facebook: Ben Stroup

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GBC 09 Pastor's Conference - Sustainable Funding

by Ben Stroup on Sep 17, 2009

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GBC 09 Pastor’s Conference - Sustainable Funding — Presentation Transcript