Are you making giving plans?
Get a plan and work your plan to achieve the goal of being fully funded. I preach this all the time and it is THE biggest reason why churches fail to make budget. If you fail to plan you are planning on failure!
What is your plan to increase giving and givers? It is just you and me so you can be honest. Did you have to say, what plan? Did you have to struggle to think of whether you have a plan or not? Sadly you are in good company as few churches have a real strategic plan for increasing giving and givers. Once again, you need to get a plan and work your plan!
My approach to stewardship planning revolves around the calendar and yours should too. I break stewardship planning first into the four quarters of the year. When I do extensive work with a church that is how we approach our planning. Here are the basic steps we go through.
First, we review and analyze where we are financially and what in the last quarter was accomplished. What worked and did not work? What resonated best with the members? Good planning always takes into consideration how past planning has gone.
Next we think through all the various mission and ministry initiatives coming up in the next quarter. What are they? What is the focus or story of each one? How can we best highlight that initiative? What offering times can we use to place a focus upon that ministry or mission endeavor? We think through Social Media, platform appeals, direct appeals through snail mail and email. In short we get a plan and then establish who is responsible for that plan and how it will work out.
Next I keep my eye on special seasons and times of the year. For instance as we approach the end of the year I am in the beginning stages with clients discussing what our “ask” will be. From there we will build out a plan of action to increase end of year giving. Here is a list of special times of the year that you might consider a special offering…
- End of year giving – Your plan should start before Thanksgiving.
- Automatic withdrawal pushes – January is a great time to suggest this as people analyze their year. Also May is another great time as people head into summer.
- Easter offering – You know you will have a great attendance. Learn how to make the “ask” that even guests will willingly give to.
- Summer giving strategy – Since summer is the most challenging time for giving it is essential to have a plan to offset this.
I can help you establish a plan for your church! All of the above are things that I do for my monthly members. So this is my shameless commercial paragraph. For only $79.95 a month you get all of the above delivered to your inbox every week. Not only that you get to personally interact with me on a weekly basis. Read what one of my monthly members said…
Last week our church had a sudden opportunity arise. To make it work and not to distract from our annual campaign just over a month away, I emailed Mark for help. I received an immediate reply and we quickly scheduled a conversation. Mark gave prescient advice and insight to give form to this opportunity in less than 24 hours!
We at Euless First UMC appreciate Mark’s advice and direction, but also his availability! Steve Heyduck Senior Pastor
Do you have someone you can reach out to and ask for stewardship help? I know there are other programs out there but none that personally answer your emails giving you instant help.
Steve Heyduck wrote an email with a question which led to a personal telephone call that led to a plan of action. Not to be cute but does the Rocket you are paying to do that for you?
Right now you can try for 14 days my monthly membership for only $1! To find out more go to https://thestewardshipcoach.org/join-now/
Let’s get you a plan and then work your plan so that you can be fully funded!
Mark Brooks – The Stewardship Coach