Stewardship Presentation Outline 1. What do you think of when you hear the word, Stewardship? a. Has become synonymous with fundraising b. It s all about money c. We don t talk about it in church most of the year d. Fall fire drill in many churches e. We don t know how to do it well f. Discomfort level g. Embarrassed to talk about money h. Embarrassed to ask for money i. Have had bad experience in the past j. Lack of understanding of what stewardship is 2. What is Stewardship? a. Not a campaign, but a way of life b. Not what we do, but how we live c. It is about a relationship with God, trust in God d. Synonymous with discipleship stewardship is discipleship! 3. The game (focus) has changed. a. Churches no longer enjoy special status with many donors b. Donors view giving as social investment Which organizations give the highest return on my investment (gift)? c. There is a competitive environment for giving d. Why do people give to the Church? How would the world be different if my church ceased to exist? Would anyone even notice? 2. Barriers to giving a. The recession has revealed (magnified) the underlying barriers to effective financial and stewardship ministries that reside in the church. The barrier is a focus on money and not on God. b. Church economy vs. national economy 3. Why do people give? a. Belief in the mission i. Changes lives ii. Makes a difference iii. Tell stories
b. Belief in Leadership i. People give to people relationships matter ii. Confidence in CEO/Executive Director/Pastor iii. Fundraising skill / Results c. Financial stability/accountability i. People give to Winners not Sinking Ships ii. Results are important. Need to share the story. 4. Benefits to Donor a. Intangible i. Faith in God. God is the giver of all that we have ii. Support the mission and ministry of the church iii. Statement of personal values iv. Begin or encourage family philanthropy b. Tangible i. See results in mission and minstry ii. Bypass or reduce capital gains tax iii. Increased income iv. Charitable deduction v. Avoid or reduce Estate Tax (if applicable) 5. Cultural obstacles a. Materialist view He who dies with the most toys wins. b. God helps those who help themselves c. Pull oneself up by one s own bootstraps 6. Comprehensive Christian Stewardship a. Lifestyle following the example and teachings of Jesus b. Belief--God is the Giver of all that we have. We are the stewards (managers, caretakers, custodians). c. This belief informs and motivates all of life i. Every thought ii. Every decision iii. Every action iv. Every word
d. Priorities i. Biblical Teaching ii. Checkbook iii. Calendar e. Made in the image of God i. God is a Giver. He gave His Son Who gave His Life! ii. We are by divine nature givers, too iii. Our need to give vs. church s need to receive 7. Generational Differences a. WWII / Silent Generation (pre-1945) i. Shaped by the Great Depression and WWII ii. Pull Together iii. Community benefits all / Belonging iv. Government, churches, etc. exist to solve problems v. Institutions are the means to change society 1. Social Security Act 2. Johnson s Great Society vi. Commitment to support church with time, talent, tithes, etc. vii. Committed to bring about the Kingdom of God on earth through the work of the church. viii. Generation that gives the most to charity ix. Defining moment December 7, 1941 (Bombing of Pearl Harbor) b. Baby Boomers (1945 1964) i. Motivated by causes ii. Shaped by institutional failures 1. Kennedy assassination, Vietnam, Crooked Televangelists, Enron Scandal, etc. 2. Lack of trust in business leaders iii. Institutions are the problem not the solution iv. Better to change society one person at a time v. Wesley would have loved their commitment to changing the hearts of people. vi. Looking for a Boomer check in the self-help section at Barnes & Noble vii. Look for causes or projects that are effective and successful 1. Habitat for Humanity 2. Stop Hunger Now viii. Generation that gives more time to charity
ix. Want to create solutions rather than use existing institutional solutions x. Defining moment November 22, 1963 (Kennedy Assassination) c. Generation X i. Share many Boomer traits ii. Motivated by overall fulfillment iii. Concerns about career iv. Demand more accountability than Boomers Want to be assured that their gifts are being used efficiently v. Note of cynicism is present in many vi. Generous when they believe in the project vii. Likely to give time to short-term projects with endpoint viii. Are returning to more traditional values ix. Defining moment January 28, 1986 (Challenger Explosion) d. Millenials i. Children of Boomers and Gen X ii. Do what you love, love what you do iii. Shaped by celebrity, media, open-minded iv. Technologically savvy, connected v. 1 st generation to do worse than parents vi. Indebtedness => Stewardship??? vii. Defining moment August 31, 1997 (Princess Diana) 8. Stewardship Basics a. With all that we are and with all that we have total commitment b. Mission Statement c. Messages 9. Master Plan for Ministries a. What does the church do? b. Where does the church minister? c. How does the church evaluate? 10. Master Plan for Facilities a. What is the Theology of Use b. What facilities are needed? c. What is maintenance and replacement plan?
11. Local Church Budgeting / Reporting Present information in multiple formats a. Line item based b. Ministry/Program based c. Goals/Cost based 12. The 3-Legged Stool of Fundraising a. Institutional perspective i. Annual Fund ii. Capital Campaign iii. Planned Giving / Endowment Programs b. Donor Perspective i. Regular Gifts ii. Special Gifts iii. Ultimate Gifts 13. Sources of Gifts: Income or Assets a. Income i. Wages and salaries ii. Investment income iii. Retirement benefits iv. Anything that contributes to household cash flow b. Assets i. Savings ii. Real estate iii. Securities iv. Collections v. Any assets we have accumulated 14. Regular Gifts a. Relatively small b. Repetition anticipated c. Mass-oriented methodology, impersonal d. Example Donor gives $100 per year to organization, expect occasional increase from year to year e. Gift made by check, unrestricted f. Source: Income
15. Special Gifts a. Larger than regular gifts b. Repetition anticipated, but less frequently c. Typically given in response to specific goal, more likely to be restricted d. Often in context of campaign or other high-profile approach e. Example Donor gives $10,000 over three years to help build new camp dining hall f. Source: Income and Assets, mix varies 16. Ultimate Gifts a. Largest gift one is capable of forming the donative intent to make b. Once in a Lifetime decision c. Evolve over time, long-term relationship and personal cultivation d. For most people, magnitude of gift means that it can only be given through their estate e. Example Donor gives $250,000 to endow a program of special interest f. Source: Accumulated assets 17. Thank You!