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June 16, 2009
Your members can hit the mute button ... if they want to
I'm an advocate for the local church. I believe that it is the fundamental building block God designed to carry forward the earthly ministry of Christ until His ultimate return. Bottom line, the church can't fail because there is no plan B. This is why I am so passionate about helping churches achieve fully funded budgets and long-term sustainable ministries.
A subject I have not been silent on is the fact that the assumptions about the person in the pew are changing. It's not longer within the authority of the church to compel its membership to fund the ministry of the church. (I'd rather not get into a theological debate. My focus is not on what "should" be but was "is.") Today, the church finds itself in a position of making an appeal as to why their church's ministry is the best place for every available dollar of the person in the pew.
The risk in poor donor development strategy (overwhelming your membership with giving opportunities, fund-raisers, etc.) is that there is a gluttony of information directed at the member. When you are making the heads of even your best, most committmed members spin from all the newsletters, e-mails, events, etc., you've gone too far. And just like other sources of information, the people in your pews are empowered to hit the mute button and turn you off. (Be warned! Once this happens, it's difficult to overcome.)
Donors are figuring out how to shut you up features a video from Charity Navigator, an online non-profit watchdog designed to be an advocate for the donor in the sometimes predatory culture of non-profit development work. This video explains how to limit donor exposure so that donors can support the causes and organizations they believe in while not setting the donor up for a flood of appeals.
It's won't be long before a version of Charity Navigator exists for churches. What if the next video that comes out is how to turn your church on mute? If that was possible, how many in your congregation would push that button just to shut you up?
Posted by bstroup at June 16, 2009 1:12 PM
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