Tired of the endless cycle of fundraising events? Frustrated with the struggle to even modestly increase stewardship giving? Treasured dreams of parish development constantly postponed? A major gifts program may be a big part of your solution.

1. The Orthodox Parish Major Gifts Program
Stewardship AdvocatesTM

2. • It’s much more effective than events in actually raising money
due to a very low overhead and far less labor required
• A major gift, properly applied, significantly advances the
mission of the parish
• The process of raising major gifts is profoundly pastoral
• If successful and applied to programs, it extends and amplifies
the pastoral work of the priest and lay ministry leaders
• It models new ways to giving by raising the sights of other
potential major donors
• It activates the biblical principle of giving according to one’s
ability
• It provides an infusion of entrepreneurial capital above and
beyond earmarked stewardship gifts for the operating budget
• Makes long-deferred dreams come true
Why a Major Gifts Program?

3. 1. Every parish needs one
2. Almost every priest needs coaching in how to do this
3. Every parish has it’s own definition of the size of a major gift
4. The process must be ongoing and regularly receive the attention
of the priest and the carefully selected small major gifts team
5. Ideally, it needs to be linked to a strategic plan and the vision of
what the parish needs to become
6. Major gifts are donor focused rather than parish-need focused
7. It supplements stewardship giving - it never replaces stewardship
giving
8. Beyond bricks and mortar projects, staffing and ministries should
also be important components of a major gift program
9. Giving opportunities need to be carefully researched and
documented
10. Planned giving is an important element of a major gifts program
10 Aspects of a Parish Major Gifts Program

4. Pastoral Elements of the Major Gift Process
1. Helps parishioners embrace the biblical teaching of giving
according to one’s ability
2. The process includes quiet conversation with prospective
donors concerning the mission of the Church
3. The process requires the priest and the major gifts team
together with the parish council to engage in strategic
planning concerning the physical development of the facility
and the spiritual development of the community
4. People care about what they give to and invest in
5. Receiving major gifts for staffing, programs and ministries
amplifies and extends the pastoral work of the priest and lay
leaders to serve the parish and the larger community
6. Receiving a major gift depends upon good management of
the parish and sound, transparent management of the funds

5. • A quiet and mostly
unannounced effort
• To receive a specific gift
• From one person or family
• Over one or more years
• Gift received through
research, cultivation, personal
request and a handshake
• Above and beyond the parish
budget for special projects
and programs
• An annually announced
effort
• To raise ordinary funds
• From every family
• Over a one-year period
• Funds raised through
mailings, pleas, pledge cards
and announcements
• For the operating budget,
programs and ministries
Major GiftsStewardship Giving
Different Goals Require Different Methods

6. It’s 2015 and the giving climate could not be better:
• The economy is generally good and improving
• Inflation is low by historic standards
• Consumer confidence is up
• Unemployment is going down
• Corporate profits are skyrocketing
• Financial markets are reaching all time highs
• The church population is aging (the elder generation has
the concentration of wealth)
• Congress just passed a law making gifts of up to
$100,000 a year from an IRA permanently tax deductible
The Golden Opportunity is Now

7. An Orthodox priest and I were meeting with individual families
throughout the day over coffee and donuts in the his office
concerning a special parish project above and beyond the parish
operating budget.
Every visit (there were six that day) was cordial, interesting and
occasionally very entertaining.
At the end of the day $400,000 was pledged including one gift of
$250,000.
When the visits were done, I asked the priest, “How many
festivals would the parish need to conduct to net $400,000?”
Basically stunned by the day’s proceedings, he replied, “Five!”
I responded, “And this was done in one pleasant day over coffee
and donuts without leaving your office.”
A True Story

8. A parish was engaged in a multi-million dollar capital campaign to
build a large church. The priest and I diligently met with scores of
families concerning the project.
Prior to meeting, we pooled information to properly present the
request for a gift (his knowledge of the family and my experience
and training in professional major gift fundraising.) Almost
everyone pledged and 25% also indicated that they would include
the parish in their wills. The parish presently continues to raise
money and is on track to begin construction.
Meanwhile, the priest has been assigned to a much larger parish.
Soon after arriving he called me to say that he had applied what
he had learned and successfully solicited a $1 million gift in his
new parish. I responded, “It didn’t take long for you to become a
wonder-working admired leader of the community!” (More
importantly, he’s also a priest blessed with superb pastoral ability.)
Another True Story

9. A parish priest and I were discussing what we should ask of a very
faithful parishioner. He arrived in the priest’s office in his work
clothes. He only had a few minutes because he was on a lunch
break.
After exchanging pleasantries we asked him for $50,000 which
could be given over five years.
He stared at us and began to sputter.
I looked at the priest and thought, “Uh oh. We asked too much.”
Then the parishioner said, “Actually I was thinking of giving more.
Could I do that? I wanted to give $70,000 and I brought the first
payment with me here. (He pulled a crumpled check out of his
shirt pocket.) Can I give it to you now?”
Like New Testament apostles who had just witnessed a miracle,
the priest and I were walking on clouds of joy all day.
The Final True Story (there are many more)

10. Assistance from Stewardship Advocates
• Preparatory work related to team recruitment, parish
contextuality, giving opportunities, challenges, etc., prior to an
onsite two-day visit
• Customized content for a major gifts manual (to be assembled by
the parish staff)
• One two-day onsite visit for major donor prospect review,
training and coaching the fundraising committee and the priest in
the major gift process and personal solicitation strategies
• Establish or ramp up, if already existing, a parish planned giving
and endowment program
• Phone, email and text support for two months following the visit
• Deliverables: written report following the two-day visit with
recommendations, the major gifts manual, training materials,
planned giving brochure and charter endowment document

11. Suggested Next Steps
1. Visit the Stewardship Advocates website to learn more about
Anthony and to access free material on general parish
development.
2. Contact Anthony to describe the present state of your project
together with the goals and objectives.
3. If necessary, seek further information regarding the details of
the service to be rendered.
4. Ask any question to receive further clarity on credentials,
experience, or references.
5. If appropriate, download and show this Powerpoint to the
parish council.
6. If appropriate, schedule a conference call with Anthony, your
priest, chair of the parish council or the entire parish council.
7. Request a written proposal from Anthony.

12. Ordained Bastille Day 1974; 38 years a priest;
four parishes served; B.A., M.Div., plus 30
courses of study in nonprofit organizational
development;12 years serving as Vice
Chancellor of Advancement at St. Vladimir's
Seminary; 16 years as consultant to well over
100 Orthodox parishes and organizations;
author and editor of Good and Faithful
Servant: Stewardship in the Orthodox Church.
In 2012, at his own request, Anthony was
honorably returned to the ranks of the laity in
order to receive the sacrament of holy
matrimony.
Anthony L. Scott
The Principal of Stewardship Advocates

13. Anthony’s Training in Nonprofit Development
Indiana University Center on Philanthropy
Council for Advancement and Support of Education
The Grantsmanship Center
The Foundation Center
Columbia University: The Warren H. Deem Institute for
Theological Education Management
The Association of Theological Schools
The Institute for Charitable Giving
Development and Institutional Advancement Personnel (Lilly
Endowment Foundation)
Board Source
Lake Institute On Faith & Giving
* Plus 28 years doing this full time “in the trenches” in well over
100 Orthodox parishes, dioceses, seminaries and organizations.

14. Further Information
To read an abbreviated summary of Anthony Scott’s
work within the Orthodox Church go here:
http://www.stewardshipadvocates.org/resume/
To see a sampling of Orthodox clients served by
Stewardship Advocates go here:
https://www.pinterest.com/anthonylscott/a-
sampling-of-clients/
To read endorsements offered by previous clients go
here: http://www.stewardshipadvocates.org/what-
we-do-2/

15. Contact Information and Social Media
phone/text: 347.831.1848
Email Anthony Scott
Website
Stewardship Advocates Facebook Page
Anthony Scott's Facebook Page
LinkedIn Profile
Pinterest
18 Parish Development Powerpoints
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