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April 22, 2008
Planned giving for churches, Part 1
Each week I receive a report from Google Analytics that tells me lots of information about the visitor activity on this blog. One piece of information that I'm always interested in is what are the "keywords" that people type into search engines that lead them to this blog.
One subject that keeps rising to the top is planned giving. Since more than 50% of the people who visit our blog for the first time find it organically by searching for specific phrases or words, it tells me that churches and church leaders are beginning to understand the need to see beyond today. Or at least we can be confident that it's a subject more and more are wanting to explore.
I think most churches are comfortable meeting the immediate needs of today. But we have to realize that the cost of doing ministry is increasing just like everything else. That means it will cost more in the future to do the same ministry we are doing today. Thus, the need for planned giving becomes even more important if we hope to achieve any level of sustainability moving forward.
That being the case, I'd like to take the opportunity to open the dialog on the subject to understand why this isn't a more familiar subject to church leaders and how can planned giving benefit every church.
Let's begin with trying to understand why church leaders are reluctant to think about long term sustainability of the church as an organization through planned giving. John Foster and Derek Davis write in Planned Giving for Church: The Last Frontier?:
Unfortunately, part of the blame for this planned giving blind spot rests with clergy and their stewardship committees. While ministers may think about spiritual matters in the framework of eternity, they are often more comfortable asking for money that will be used immediately to relieve human needs ─ and letting providence provide for the long term. They were not trained to be fund-raisers or tax-planners, and are reluctant to preach about topics with which they're not familiar.
The assumption behind this statement is that church leaders are responsible for the long term spiritual and financial viability of the churches they serve. Do you agree with that assumption? Has your opinion changed since seminary? If so, why?
Posted by bstroup at April 22, 2008 1:01 AM
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Comments
Planned Giving is what I do in the State of Florida. Fortunately, our state exec saw the need and had the vision to have a staff member assigned to this task. I am in 50-80 churches per year presenting a seminar on Wills, Trusts and charitable giving through your estate plan. We have seen a great deal of success. While pastors are reticent to broach the subject themselves, they will let me come and do it for them. They are reaping the benefits now and understanding its importance. One church has received about $400,000 in planned gifts in the past few years. They are believers!!! (in planned giving, too) Once they see the benefits to their church, or hear of someone else’s good fortune, they will sign on.
Brenda B. McCollum, J.D.
Posted by: Brenda McCollum at April 22, 2008 10:58 AM
Brenda,
Thanks for your comments. Your work sounds exciting. The potential for churches to overcome an uncertain economy are strong with an effective strategy for planned giving.
Blessings, Ben.
Posted by: Ben Stroup at April 22, 2008 12:44 PM