Virginia Baptist Pastor's Conference MAR09 Sustainable Funding

5 Steps to Funding a 5 Steps to Funding a Sustainable MinistrySustainable Ministry

Pastor’s ConferencePastor’s Conference

Virginia Baptist Mission BoardVirginia Baptist Mission Board

March 2009March 2009

Why should I care?Why should I care?

““At least one out of five American At least one out of five American Christians – 20 percent of all U.S. Christians – 20 percent of all U.S.

Christians – gives literally Christians – gives literally nothingnothing to to church, para-church, or nonreligious church, para-church, or nonreligious

charities.”charities.”

- Passing the Plate- Passing the Plate


““Americans spent nearly twice as much on Americans spent nearly twice as much on first-day sales of the video game “Grand first-day sales of the video game “Grand Theft Auto IV” as the SBC and the IMB Theft Auto IV” as the SBC and the IMB

would need to share the Gospel with all the would need to share the Gospel with all the world’s unreached people groups by 2010.”world’s unreached people groups by 2010.”

- Empty Tomb- Empty Tomb


Charitable donations as Charitable donations as

measured by per capita giving of measured by per capita giving of

disposable income has remained disposable income has remained

the same since 1967 – 2.5%.the same since 1967 – 2.5%.

- Giving USA- Giving USA

What does this mean?What does this mean?

The individualistic, independent The individualistic, independent American Spirit has influenced American Spirit has influenced

our perspective on church giving. our perspective on church giving. Churches risk losing the funding Churches risk losing the funding

necessary to carry forward the work it necessary to carry forward the work it has been given to do.has been given to do.

What does this mean?What does this mean?

The church can’t fail.The church can’t fail.

There is no Plan B.There is no Plan B.


SummarySummary

Help pastors evaluate and implement Help pastors evaluate and implement giving tools and strategies that resultgiving tools and strategies that result

in fully funded budgets and long-term in fully funded budgets and long-term sustainable ministry.sustainable ministry.


More Money. More Money.

More Ministry.More Ministry.

Session GoalsSession Goals

1.1. HighlightHighlight tension between ministry tension between ministry and money. and money. (funding)(funding)



2.2. DiscussDiscuss the role of pastor as the role of pastor as organizational manager. organizational manager. (sustainability)(sustainability)




3.3. RevealReveal the disconnect between the the disconnect between the pulpit and the pew. pulpit and the pew. (engagement)(engagement)


1.1. HighlightHighlight tension between ministry and tension between ministry and money. money. (funding)(funding)


3.3. RevealReveal the disconnect between the pulpit the disconnect between the pulpit and the pew. and the pew. (engagement)(engagement)

4.4. ProvideProvide some guiding principles to some guiding principles to systematically address challenge. systematically address challenge. (responsibility)(responsibility)


1.1. HighlightHighlight tension between ministry and money. tension between ministry and money. (funding)(funding)

2.2. DiscussDiscuss the role of pastor as organizational the role of pastor as organizational manager. manager. (sustainability)(sustainability)

3.3. RevealReveal the disconnect between the pulpit and the the disconnect between the pulpit and the pew. pew. (engagement)(engagement)

4.4. ProvideProvide some guiding principles to systematically some guiding principles to systematically address challenge. address challenge. (responsibility)(responsibility)

5.5. RestoreRestore the role of stewardship as a strategic the role of stewardship as a strategic effort within local church ministry. effort within local church ministry. (transformation)(transformation)


Step 1:Step 1:

EstablishEstablish a systematic strategy. a systematic strategy.

Establish a systematic Establish a systematic strategystrategy

Let’s be honest about tithing:Let’s be honest about tithing:

The Church is a nonprofit organization The Church is a nonprofit organization that exists through the donations of that exists through the donations of

its membership.its membership.



The habits of giving begin with the The habits of giving begin with the worldview of the giver.worldview of the giver.



Churches have an advantage over every Churches have an advantage over every other nonprofit: weekly interaction other nonprofit: weekly interaction

with membership.with membership.



Churches are the WORST at capturing Churches are the WORST at capturing the dollar and fail to consistently the dollar and fail to consistently

provide a “call to action.”provide a “call to action.”



If churches continue to be silent, the If churches continue to be silent, the giving levels needed to operate this giving levels needed to operate this complex organization will not exist.complex organization will not exist.



Giving is an outward sign of an inward Giving is an outward sign of an inward commitment. Measuring giving is one commitment. Measuring giving is one

way to measure the health of your way to measure the health of your church and your membership.church and your membership.



Church giving is connected to your Church giving is connected to your ministry plan. People want to support ministry plan. People want to support

a cause or organization that a cause or organization that accomplishes something they accomplishes something they

couldn’t do on their own.couldn’t do on their own.


Step 2:Step 2:

StartStart talking about it. talking about it.

Start talking about itStart talking about it

In 2005, there were over 1.8 million In 2005, there were over 1.8 million nonprofit organizations and 370,000 nonprofit organizations and 370,000

churches. In 1995, there were 600 churches. In 1995, there were 600 nonprofit organizations and 370,000 nonprofit organizations and 370,000

churches.churches.

- Not Your Parents’ Offering Plate- Not Your Parents’ Offering Plate


The more we remain silent with The more we remain silent with respect to the subject of money respect to the subject of money

in the church, the more in the church, the more mysterious it becomes. mysterious it becomes.


5 steps to stop stuttering over 5 steps to stop stuttering over moneymoney

Step 1: Step 1: EmbraceEmbrace your role as chief your role as chief broker of opportunity.broker of opportunity.



Step 2: Step 2: ExposeExpose yourself to the yourself to the unfamiliar.unfamiliar.



Step 3: Step 3: Seek outSeek out professionals in professionals in the financial or fund development the financial or fund development

industry sectors.industry sectors.



Step 4: Step 4: SurroundSurround yourself with a yourself with a few trusted advisors from your few trusted advisors from your

church membership.church membership.



Step 5: Step 5: PracticePractice. . PracticePractice. . PracticePractice. .


Step 3:Step 3:

SetSet expectations. expectations.

Set expectationsSet expectations

Why isn’t the church leading the Why isn’t the church leading the way in generosity?way in generosity?


Why isn’t the church leading the Why isn’t the church leading the way in generosity?way in generosity?

Bill Gates foundation recorded a Bill Gates foundation recorded a 20% loss in asset value in 2008 20% loss in asset value in 2008 but plans to give even more in but plans to give even more in

2009.2009.


3 habits that establish 3 habits that establish expectations of your membershipexpectations of your membership

Habit 1: Personal Testimony Habit 1: Personal Testimony

Hint: Your church will give as much Hint: Your church will give as much as you do.as you do.



Habit 2: Annual Stewardship Series Habit 2: Annual Stewardship Series



Habit 3: Celebrate Success Habit 3: Celebrate Success


Step 4:Step 4:

MakeMake the ask. the ask.

Make the askMake the ask

Two shifts have taken place Two shifts have taken place within American Christianity.within American Christianity.

1. The tithe is no longer solely 1. The tithe is no longer solely reserved for the church.reserved for the church.


Two shifts have taken place Two shifts have taken place within American Christianity.within American Christianity.

2. Christians want their tithe to 2. Christians want their tithe to count.count.


5 systematic tools you need to 5 systematic tools you need to considerconsider

1. Offering Envelopes1. Offering Envelopes



2. Online Giving2. Online Giving



3. Contribution Statements3. Contribution Statements



4. Special Offerings or Major Gifts4. Special Offerings or Major Gifts



5. Planned Giving or Estate Tithing5. Planned Giving or Estate Tithing


3 brutal facts about giving 3 brutal facts about giving grounded in the Pareto Principles grounded in the Pareto Principles

(80/20 rule)(80/20 rule)


Brutal Fact #1:Brutal Fact #1:

When your long-term funding When your long-term funding strategy is hung on the giving strategy is hung on the giving habits of a small percentage of habits of a small percentage of

your membership, you are your membership, you are tempting fate.tempting fate.



Providing things like offering Providing things like offering envelopes and online giving are envelopes and online giving are primarily designed to encourage primarily designed to encourage giving and make it easy for the giving and make it easy for the

80% to do so.80% to do so.


Wikipedia raised $2 million Wikipedia raised $2 million dollars in the final three weeks of dollars in the final three weeks of December 2008 with an average December 2008 with an average

donation of $40.donation of $40.

How much money are you leaving How much money are you leaving on the table?on the table?



Stewardship is more important than Stewardship is more important than your sermon preparation.your sermon preparation.


Crown Financial Ministries Crown Financial Ministries reported as many as 17,000 reported as many as 17,000

salvations in one year as a result salvations in one year as a result of people participating in their of people participating in their

program.program.


If stewardship is equivalent to If stewardship is equivalent to discipleship, then a call to be a discipleship, then a call to be a steward deals directly with the steward deals directly with the

Lordship of Christ. Lordship of Christ.


When people are asked to When people are asked to commit their time, talent and commit their time, talent and

treasures to advance the treasures to advance the kingdom of God, spiritual kingdom of God, spiritual

transformation takes place.transformation takes place.


Step 5:Step 5:

ReportReport the results. the results.

Report the resultsReport the results

In an era where consumers are In an era where consumers are demanding more corporate demanding more corporate

accountability and transparency, accountability and transparency, this same sentiment is being this same sentiment is being

applied to traditional nonprofits applied to traditional nonprofits and churches alike.and churches alike.


““They” want to know your church’s They” want to know your church’s spending habits.spending habits.

Example: Texas Attorney General’s Example: Texas Attorney General’s office just launched on online office just launched on online

tracking service to let people see how tracking service to let people see how charities are spending the charities are spending the contributions they receive.contributions they receive.


It won’t be long before the same It won’t be long before the same reporting tools are used to reporting tools are used to

monitor churches.monitor churches.

Are you ready?Are you ready?


““Participatory Philanthropy” or Participatory Philanthropy” or the “Democratization of the “Democratization of

Philanthropy” are the phrases Philanthropy” are the phrases describing the changing climate describing the changing climate

of generosity.of generosity.


Example:Example:

TripAdvisor.com asked the public TripAdvisor.com asked the public to decide how to spend their to decide how to spend their

charitable giving funds.charitable giving funds.


Example:Example:

Subaru of America invited new car Subaru of America invited new car buyers the option to contribute buyers the option to contribute $250 to a charity of their choice.$250 to a charity of their choice.


What if our budgeting process What if our budgeting process looked like American Idol?looked like American Idol?


3 approaches to reporting results3 approaches to reporting results

1. 1. DevelopDevelop a habit of measuring a habit of measuring results.results.



2. 2. TreatTreat church members like church members like shareholders.shareholders.



3. 3. OutlineOutline the connection between the connection between giving, program, and ministry giving, program, and ministry

results.results.


Don’tDon’t report results unless you are report results unless you are prepared to:prepared to:

1.1. Reveal the results as they areReveal the results as they are2.2. React based on the results receivedReact based on the results received

3.3. Request input from church membership Request input from church membership

Session Goals (in review)Session Goals (in review)

1.1. HighlightHighlight tension between ministry and money. tension between ministry and money. (funding)(funding)

2.2. DiscussDiscuss the role of pastor as organizational the role of pastor as organizational manager. manager. (sustainability)(sustainability)

3.3. RevealReveal the disconnect between the pulpit and the the disconnect between the pulpit and the pew. pew. (engagement)(engagement)

4.4. ProvideProvide some guiding principles to systematically some guiding principles to systematically address challenge. address challenge. (responsibility)(responsibility)

5.5. RestoreRestore the role of stewardship as a strategic the role of stewardship as a strategic effort within local church ministry. effort within local church ministry. (transformation)(transformation)

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QuestionsQuestions

Questions?Questions?

Virginia Baptist Pastor's Conference MAR09 Sustainable Funding

Spiritual

church giving

sustainable ministry

money step

local church ministry

church membership

ministry plan

systematic strategy

literallynothingto church