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February 26, 2009
A "Twestival" approach to Lottie and Annie special offerings
More than 200 cities recently participated in a Twestival designed to raise $250k in less than 24 hours for adequate drinking water in underdeveloped countries.
Was it successful? Yes. And something else happened that no one expected: Twitter became a proven platform to organize people who in turn generated a sizable sum of money for one corporate goal.
So what happens at a Twestival? People who use Twitter, the wildly popular microblogging site that is absolutely FREE to sign up and use, gathered together for a special fundraising event that had a lineup of speakers, performers, music and other community-building activities--all those things that are native to a live fundraising event. Only the twist is that these people were invited via Twitter and "twitted" about the event as they particiapted.
You may be a social media doubter. That's fine. But you can't argue with the results.
I began thinking about two special funds that Southern Baptists use to accomplish mission work in North America and around the world: Annie Armstrong Easter Offering and Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. What if we used a "Twestival" platform to reignite the conversation about these two causes and to organize groups of people all around the world to raise money for these special offerings just like we have traditionally done through local churches.
Would you be open to a more grassroots approach to these special offerings?
Posted by bstroup at 8:22 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
February 25, 2009
Do special offerings negatively impact regular giving?
I came across these thoughts on a user's group that I am a member us for church business administrators. The question is an important one: do special offerings detract from regular giving?
Below is the copy of an e-mail from a conversation thread attempting to answer this question. (No, I won't identify this person for two reasons: one, they don't know I'm writing this and two, identifying the individual or church irrelevant to the purpose of this post.)
"To convince your pastor you might want to follow giving when special offerings are taken. We have found that even though you mention to the congregation that this giving is after the normal giving; in most cases we will see the normal offering drops by a like amount as was given to the special offering.I might add that giving toward a vision (like a major building project)
doesn't seem to affect the normal giving negatively. In fact, it seems to
help normal giving. (Something about giving the people a vision, I guess)"
Here are my initial thoughts:
1. Special Offerings don't inherently cause regular giving to go down. The fact that a better appeal or "ask" has been crafted for the special offering and that the assumption has been made that whatever is given will be over and above a member's regular giving is the real causal factor.
People like to know how their contributions will be used. Special Offerings make a connection between need and opportunity. Giving is an emotional response to a cause or organization that helps others do something they couldn't do on their own.
The answer is not that we should stop using special offerings to meet short-term immediate needs. The answer is that church leaders need to do a better job demonstrating how regular offerings are being used and connecting need with opportunity in measuralbe ways.
2. Giving is an outward sign of an inward commitment. In the second paragraph, the writer highlights that "giving toward a vision" doesn't negatively impact regular giving. My only response to that is this....exactly! There is a strong connection between giving and vision because giving is an emotional response to a passionate appeal to meet a compelling need.
There is a lot of energy and storytelling surrounding any type of major capital campaign. This naturally translates into more dollars because people see themselves as participating in something larger than themselves. Casting a vision results in commitment, sacrifice and action.
What do you think? Do you agree? Are special offerings the problem or is a lack of vision for regular, undesignated giving the real culprit in this scenario?
Posted by bstroup at 1:52 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 24, 2009
Mark Brooks asks "What are recessions good for?"
Mark Brooks is president of The Charis Group and a friend. He e-mailed me about a conversation he had with a pastor recently about how to interpret our current economic condition in light of Romans 8:28.
Here are the conclusions Mark came to, but I want to encourage you to read his entire post.
What are recessions good for?
1. Recessions expose what we really love.
2. Recessions give us a chance to glorify God.
3. Recessions allow the church to be what God called us to be.
4. Recessions make us sensitive to the rest of the world that continually lives in recession.
5. Recessions wean us from materialism.
If you were asked the same question, how would you respond?
Posted by bstroup at 8:44 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 23, 2009
4 new del.icio.us bookmarks on stewardship and giving
I haven't been as faithful adding bookmarks to my del.icio.us account as I had intended. But I've renewed my commitment to collecting every link I can find related to stewardship and giving so you could have an easy database of articles, blogs, Web sites and information related to the subject that seems to be lurking around every corner of church and nonprofit leadership.
My hope is that this site will be a resource to you as you're looking for stewardship and giving material for sermon illustrations, newspaper or magazine article ideas, podcasts or any other number of communication channels.
Here are four new bookmarks from today:
1. Raising Money in Hard Times: 10 approaches charities are taking to fill their coffers
2. Churches must address stewardship problems head-on
3. Increase the donation appeal of your church
4. Combat decreases in church giving (more money, less ministry)
E-mail me if you find a link that you'd like me to include, and I'll post it as soon as I can.
Posted by bstroup at 2:39 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 20, 2009
Finally on Facebook
Ok. It's taken me some time to get here. I was cautious in approaching Facebook simply because I wanted to be intentional about how I used this tool. Plus, I only have so much time to learn new things. Nevertheless, I'm finally here.
I have to admit it was by way of a little peer pressure. During our national meetings this week, one Executive Director talked about how he used Facebook to connect with his Directors of Missions and local pastors. And in the next breath, he pulled out his flip video and explained how he and other leaders were using that as a way to create short videos and distribute them quickly throughout their convention.
I was impressed...very impressed.
It was time.
I'm on Facebook now.
Posted by bstroup at 4:18 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 19, 2009
7 social media books you need to read
I spent the last few days with stewardship and cooperative program leaders from across our denomination. These are some amazing guys who have a burning passion to see the Church fulfill its Great Commission expectation.
One element of this week's discussion that has caught my attention is their willingness to embrace technology as a delivery system for information and as a way to multipy and strengthen their relationships with local associations, pastors and Christians.
I began thinking about those books that I've read that helped me form my thoughts and ideas surrounding social media tools and strategy. Here are a few that immediately came to mind:
1. Meatball Sundae
2. The New Rules of Marketing and PR
3. Groundswell
4. Mobilizing Generation 2.0
5. Digital Giving
6. People to People Fundraising
7. The New Influencers
Am I missing any?
Posted by bstroup at 4:42 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
February 18, 2009
Twitted key thoughts from Phil Cooke's presentation
Phil Cooke is an expert when it comes to church, faith, media and ministry. I enjoyed hearing him speak today at the annual Cooperative Program meeting at the Executive Committee in Nashville.
I captured some of his key thoughts. Read the Twitter feed below. (For those not familiar with Twitter, please start from the bottom and read up.)
domoreministry: There is a reason why they are called web surfers and not web readers. about 4 hours ago from TwitterBerry · Reply · View Tweetdomoreministry: Phil Cooke is talking to state stewardship/cooperative program about twitter.
about 5 hours ago from TwitterBerry · Reply · View Tweetdomoreministry: Ideas will change the world.
about 5 hours ago from TwitterBerry · Reply · View Tweetdomoreministry: How people want to communicate with you matters more than how you want to communicate with them? -Phil Cooke
about 5 hours ago from TwitterBerry · Reply · View Tweetdomoreministry: What if we started to think about the Cooperative Program as a tribe?...Seth Godin style.
about 7 hours ago from TwitterBerry · Reply · View Tweetdomoreministry: Breakout session: What is the message we are trying to tell others?
about 8 hours ago from TwitterBerry · Reply · View Tweetdomoreministry: In a media cluttered culture, niche is the new big.
about 8 hours ago from TwitterBerry · Reply · View Tweetdomoreministry: Be careful with humor. Not everyone understands or shares the same vocabulary.
about 9 hours ago from TwitterBerry · Reply · View Tweetdomoreministry: Understand the language of design.
about 9 hours ago from TwitterBerry · Reply · View Tweetdomoreministry: The power of a name matters.
about 9 hours ago from TwitterBerry · Reply · View Tweetdomoreministry: Being different matters in a media cluttered world.
about 9 hours ago from TwitterBerry · Reply · View Tweetdomoreministry: You can't brand a lie.
about 9 hours ago from TwitterBerry · Reply · View Tweetdomoreministry: Visibility is just as important as ability.
about 9 hours ago from TwitterBerry · Reply · View Tweetdomoreministry: Phil Cooke talks about how interpersonal communication is changing.
about 9 hours ago from TwitterBerry · Reply · View Tweetdomoreministry: Heading over to Executive Committee Building for annual Cooperative Program national meeting.
about 9 hours ago from TwitterBerry · Reply · View Tweet
P.S. Follow me on Twitter.
Posted by bstroup at 5:40 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 17, 2009
What if Zagat rated your church?
Zagat, the famous restaurant rating source, is now venturing into rating doctors. As you can imagine, the resistance is great from the industry but the interest just as great from consumers.
My question is this: what if Zagat rated your church? And what if church members decided which church to contribute to based on that rate? What do you think they would measure? If you were independently rating churches, what score would you give your church?
Churches aren't off limits. Your givers want to see results and are increasingly becoming empowered to demand it from church leaders. They want the same fiscal transparency and accountability that consumers demand in the marketplace to occur in their churches.
Traditional nonprofits are already subject to this type of independent rating system. It's coming to churches too. And when it does, you're giving will be impacted. Are you prepared?
Posted by bstroup at 4:13 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
February 16, 2009
A multi-ethnic approach to stewardship
The State Convention Stewardship Directors are in town for the Winter Stewardship Development Association meeting and the Cooperative Program annual meeting. I had lunch with Frank from the Baptist General Convention of Texas. He and I talked about the challenge of providing stewardship education and tools to churches not only of various sizes but cultures.
Given the rise in the non-anglo church population in Texas, he is forced to contextualize his approach for nearly every ethnic group. There is no similarity in language and idioms even among the general Latin American population. It never occurred to me how challenging his work must be. I was impressed to hear about the sophisticated approach he has taken to addressing this issue.
He has built networks of people who help him accomplish the task of resourcing churches to be successful in the area of stewardship and giving. And when he begins a campaign or the development of a new resource, he brings in leaders from the ethnic group he is trying to reach and involves them in the entire process...from the very beginning.
I know that Texas is not the only state with this challenge. I'd like to hear more about how you are addressing this in your church or area. Is there more than one ethnicity represented in your church or local association? How do you tailor your approach to stewardship and giving to ensure you are clearly communicating across language and cultural barriers?
Posted by bstroup at 4:27 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 13, 2009
Think smaller
I know the title seems out of sync with a blog that touts: More Money. More Ministry. But the smaller does not apply to the work itself. Rather, it applies to the size of gifts we are looking for.
One nonprofit is finding success in this midst of a slump in major gift dontations through looking for and seeking out smaller gifts. The success is involving more people who have money to give. In the end, every gift - large or small - adds up.
Churches have forever repeated the mantra of 10 percent. This is insurmountable for those who find themselves in our pews every week who do not have the discipline of giving. And the rhetoric they hear from us is that anything less than 10 percent is not good enough. For them, it's easier not to give at all than to not feel like the gift you've given good enough.
Here is my challenge: consider englarging your giving base by encouraging people to give a small amount of money consistently over time. Then, progressively challenge them to give more. This is the same strategy our traditional nonprofit brothers and sisters are using in their funding efforts, particularly to hedge against an actual or potential decline among their most faithful and often largest giving base.
It worked for Wikipedia. My guess is that it can work for you too.
Posted by bstroup at 1:55 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 12, 2009
You need to know
You need to know that I'm finishing up a book project. I can't say much about at this time. (I promise I'll reveal more details when appropriate.) For anyone who has ever written a book and been subject to a publisher's deadline, you understand how consuming this effort can be. It has tapped me out not only in time but also creativity, so my mind hasn't been as fresh as it normally is when I sit down to write my posts.
I hope you understand. I appreciate your faithful reading!
Posted by bstroup at 12:03 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 11, 2009
Why isn't the church leading the way in generosity?
(Note: This was first posted on January 27. I saw another highlight of this story in Embracing the Bully Pulpit (available online to subscribers only) published recently in The Chronicle of Philanthropy. It reminded me how much our posture in difficult or stressful times communicates what we really believe. I hope you are as challenged by this as I am.)
The Bill Gates Foundation lost 20% of it's value in 2008. But in a recent announcement, Bill Gates said that his Foundation plans to give more in 2009 than in did in 2008.
So let me make sure I'm reading this right: Assests and total value are down but giving will increase.
The Bill Gates Foundation has every reasonable excuse to hold the purse strings tight, hold back and attempt to survive 2009 hoping economic conditions will improve. But this Foundation isn't hunkering down to survive, it's leading the way in generosity.
This should be the posture of Churches too. If we truly were people of faith, we would resist the temptation to survive, open our eyes to the increased need and respond with a spirit of generosity. (Remember the Gospel story of Jesus feeding the five thousand?)
How we respond as an organization as measured by our fiscal allocations and budget expenditures and the ministries we choose to invest in (or not invest in) over the coming year will say a lot about what we believe...more than ever will be heard from the pulpit.
And how we respond will either affirm for our members (that is, our contributors) that the Church is the best place to invest their funds or push them to consider other nonprofit options.
Posted by bstroup at 4:20 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 10, 2009
Church giving steady among active church members
It's no surprise that there is a direct link between church attendance and church giving. Those who are most involved in your ministry are also the most committed. This group will always represent your most faithful giving base.
Faith-Based Charities May Fare Better than Other Non-Profits reports:
"Data from the survey found that 81 percent of those who attend religious services more than once a week intend to give the same or more to charities."
Church leaders should begin to look at who are the most active people in their church and identify their giving habits. This analysis will give you good insight into the core givers who have and will continue to support your ministry. Use this group to broaden your giving base by empowering them to be "evangelists" for your church's ministry and mission. Passion is contagious. All you need to do is give them opportunity and a platform.
Posted by bstroup at 3:07 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 9, 2009
Pastor's Podcast: Capital fundraising in a tough economy
I had the opportunity to sit down with John Burke who leads LifeWay Captial Fundraising to discuss the subject of capital fundraising and how pastors and church leaders should approach this topic within their congregations in the midst of uncertain economic times.
I have one request: I need your help. The only way this will help pastors is if they know that this podcast exists. Please distribute a link to this podcast to all the pastors you know. The quicker we can provide practical lifelines to our pastors the better equipped they will be to be the spritiual leader God has called them to be.
Other Pastor's Podcasts:
New podcast for pastors on leading churches in tough times
Pastor's Podcast: One pastor sees debt as ministry opportunity
Pastor's Podcast: Teaching Children About Stewardship
Posted by bstroup at 9:14 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 4, 2009
What blogs should you be reading?
Every pastor is (or should be) concerned with cultivating the knowledge and skills that he can use to lead his church to fully funded budgets and long-term sustainable ministry. That means exploring the topic of fundraising. I know fundraising is the equivalent of a four-letter word for some pastors and church leaders. But it's absolutely essential if you want to continue to have a pulpit to preach from.
Jeff Brooks with Donor Power Blog has done his homework and provides a preassembled collection of the best fundraising blogs available today. My challenge to you is to pick five and start reading their posts regularly.
And by the way, Do More Ministry made the list! (Shamless plug...I know.)
Posted by bstroup at 4:45 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 3, 2009
Follow "Do More Ministry" on Twitter
Just a reminder that you can follow me on Twitter.
In addition to alerts related to new blog posts, I share other news and information related to stewardship and giving. It's also an easy way to stay in touch. Feel free to use it as a way to communicate with LifeWay Envelope Service.
Look forward to following your tweets!
Posted by bstroup at 3:24 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 2, 2009
The paradox of church giving in a struggling economy
Church giving holds steady in the midst of an uncertain economic future. Whether you believe giving to the church comes with a promise of success or simply believe it's an important discipline of a Christian, church giving has proven to be almost recession proof.
Some faced with foreclosure are willing to sacrifice their own homes before they are willing to entertain the notion of cutting back on their tithe. This line of reasoning is one reason why church giving remains relatively unaffected as the economic situations seems to worsen with each passing of each minute. Sylvia Ronsvalle with Empty Tomb says:
"The results prove that church-member giving doesn't necessarily decline during a recession."
MSNBC also covered the subject recently in Dire economy tests churches. The article points out that churches are making tough decisions in an attempt to balance meeting the spiritual and physical needs of its membership and the larger community in which it exists with the resources available.
The exciting part of this tension is that it spurs a level of creativity and innovation that usually comes with big dreams and limited resources. (See Contributions Down? Time to innovate. and Decline in church giving could force innovation.) The other exciting element is that those churches who continue to thrive while the rest of the world stumbles seem to be those who are committed to ministry and meeting needs.
Imago Dei Community Church in Portland, Oregon reports a 31% increase in giving in 2008. While Riverview Church in East Lansing Holt, Michegan designed a special offering to contribute to a fund that 25 other church were contribuiting to in an effort to replenish their local food bank. The special offering raised more than $20,000 or half of the entire goal for all the churches involved. And this was a church where the average age is 27. (So much for those myths that twenty-somethings don't have money to give.)
"People catch a spirit of generosity," said [Pastor Noel] Heikkinen..."They get excited about being generous, and it spills out into other areas of their lives."
Here is the paradox: If you want to see giving continue and perhaps even grow in your church, do more ministry than you've ever done. And do it in a measurable way. The result will be more money than you could have ever imagined.
Posted by bstroup at 11:00 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack