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August 24, 2009
Offering envelopes aren't cool ... so what?
I recently read The Uncool Offering Envelope and thought Kevin's "cool" chart was pretty interesting. In the chart, churches who used offering envelopes were at the bottom. (Wow! That's shocking!)
I know. I know. I lead a business unit at LifeWay related to offering envelopes. BUT I'm not offended. In fact, I welcome Kevin's thoughts. For the sake of discussion, I do feel the need to point out that his thoughts (not him, this is NOT a personal attack) represent an uninformed constituency that has little experience and training in funding non-profits.
So when I read the that the "cool factor" is a reason NOT to use offering envelopes ... I'm confused. When did "cool" become a requirement ... for anything ... everything ... in church?
Is it "cool" to cut the grass each week?
Is it "cool" to deal with security systems, liability, and insurance?
Is it "cool" to manage the financial and accounting functions?
Is it "cool" to make sure Sunday School literature is available?
Is it "cool" to recruit and train volunteers?
Is it "cool" to prospect for new members?
Is it "cool" to manage the details of any ministry program?
Is it "cool" to make sure the church van has the oil changed and is serviced regularly?
(I think you get my point.)
No. OF COURSE NOT. It's boring. It's mundane.
But all of these realities are present in almost every ministry, church, etc. I work with. And if no one took care of these details ... no MINISTRY would take place.
Here is what is cool. More than $300 BILLION in charitable giving dollars was given in 2008.
So who are the organizations that benefit from this generosity?
World Vision
Samartian's Purse
Bread for the World
(To name a few.)
Are they cool? Yes. Is the work they're doing important? ABSOLUTELY!
And what does every letter from World Vision and Samaritan's Purse include ... oh yeah ... an envelope!
Why? BECAUSE IT WORKS. It's the single most EFFECTIVE (non-human) response tool EVER employed to raise money.
Tell World Vision the envelope isn't cool and they'll say ...
I don't care about COOL. I care about FUNDING!
I can't pay staff with COOL.
I can't build programs with COOL.
I can't develop leaders with COOL.
I can't recruit volunteers with COOL.
Of that $300+ BILLION in total charitable giving dollars in 2008 ... $100+ Billion was given to religious organizations, that is houses of worship ... more commonly known as ... CHURCHES.
And do you know what the most popular tool churches use to fund their budgets is? Yep ... you guessed it: Offering Envelopes!
(Note: For those of you into online giving, an an increasing number of the churches we serve are using online giving options. I'm all for it. But you should know only 9% of all charitable giving contributions in 2008 were given using these electronic channels. And those 9% only gave 11% of the $300+ Billion. Growing medium? Yes. Highest producing channel? No ... at least not yet.)
MINISTRY COSTS MONEY ... and LOTS of it! And most people still choose traditional (yes, I know that's a four-letter word for some who believe in "cool") methods of financial support such as cash and checks to underwrite the ministry of the churches and organizations they believe in.
Yes, every church needs to decide whether or not offering envelopes are right for them. But only careful evaluation and consideration will tell whether or not offering envelopes should be a part of the systematic giving strategy of your church's funding plan.
But please ... PLEASE ... don't make your decision based on whether or not the offering envelope is ... well ... cool!
Posted by bstroup at August 24, 2009 8:57 AM
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