A few days ago I was reminded that if you want to know what God is calling you to do---its important to actually spend some time together. This reminder triggered a profound moment in my experiences as a consultant.
About a year ago, a parish is a charming town in Wisconsin contacted me to engage in a discernment phase of a capital campaign (the first of the three phases recommended by the Episcopal Church Foundation). During discernment, a community utilizes a listening tool to ask all its members to answer the question, “What is God calling us to do?”
The theology behind this phase is rooted in the understanding that God still speaks to us today. It’s an important time of creating a common understanding, ensuring all are heard, and determining next steps toward a capital campaign.
The congregation was certain they wanted to raise money for their endowment, but was unsure if the parish had other priorities that needed addressing as well. Together, we created a survey and following the results planned to walk through the survey in a parish wide meeting after coffee hour.
The meeting started off as most normally do. We collectively agreed up some group norms for interacting and I began asking questions. At first, responses were slow but rapidly people began raising their hands as many wanted to voice their feelings and ideas. There were some funny moments, heart felt testimonies to what the parish meant to its members, and articulated feelings of frustration that there were diverse ideas about how money should be spent. And then…a hand popped up.
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St. Aidan's Episcopal Church recently completed a capital campaign for debt retirement. Pastor Anna Doherty describes some of the key lessons the community learned from their experience:
We chose the theme "Crossing from Debt to Mission" because we wanted to be about more than simply pouring our financial resources into a mortgage on our building. We wanted to use our resources, the gifts God has given us, including our building, for mission, not for mortgage. Following our feasibility study, we expected to raise approximately $136,000 for debt retirement. We actually needed $164,000 to completely retire our debt, so we held that out to the congregation as a challenge goal. By the end of our campaign we raised $195,000, far exceeding both our initial goal and our challenge goal! This capital campaign has been an incredibly rewarding experience for the church leadership and the congregation, and it has energized and mobilized St. Aidan's for mission.
Here is what we've learned from our experience, and what we would like to share with other congregations contemplating a capital campaign.
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What do you do when a gift received may not be the right fit?
With Christmas comes an ethos of increased giving in our country. Hearts are opened wide and the spirit of giving is encouraged. Yet, how many of us have opened a present to find that the contents were not exactly needed---or wanted?
A few years ago I opened a gift to find a candle that made me sneeze. I had trouble thanking the giver as I fumbled for a tissue. The giver loved the smell and thought I would too, but I wasn`t able to benefit from her generosity.
What can we do when a gift isn`t right?
I once worked with a client whose congregation received a large sum of money to pay for a new organ. A generous gift, except the current organ was in fine condition and didn’t need replacing. To use this gift as intended, this parish would have had to accrue debt by purchasing a new organ (which the initial gift didn`t completely cover) and changing the construct of the nave to accommodate a larger organ.
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Why is it important for all voices to be heard?
I was at a midsized parish that was in the midst of a feasibility study to determine what support was available for capital improvements. The plan was to look specifically at building accessibility for people who use a wheelchair, walker, or cane. At the time, folks needing a ramp needed to go outside the parish hall in order to access either the sanctuary or the restrooms, which were not accessible for all.
A gentleman, when asked if he would name this as a priority, stated, “I’m not sure I understand why this is a problem. I mean, if someone is in a wheel chair, a couple of us guys can just hoist him up and away he could go. You know, building community in the process.”
You may be surprised, reader, to know that this man later noted that he was almost 85.
It seemed this gentleman was unable to connect with the need of others for dignity and accessibility.
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At the beginning of a campaign process I often hear, “If we could just raise this amount of money, we could get to doing real ministry. Imagine the transformation!”
During the capital campaign or special appeal, volunteers often reshape their image of fundraising and discover that transformation is in the process itself---and not something made possible only at the end of their campaign.
An example of this was offered from a former colleague’s work with a mid-western cathedral. She worked with a parishioner who played a pivotal role in the planning and execution of the congregation’s appeal designed to include both a special appeal for the diocese and to bolster their current annual giving.
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In my July 11, 2014 blog I asked the question “How much time can a Church leader anticipate spending on the day to day activities of a successful campaign?” If you missed it, you can access it
here.
If we consider fundraising as not just a means to an end, but a ministry with the power to transform communities then the question of time raises questions about not just the amount of time---but how do you effectively use it.
ECF Capital Campaign consultant Jerry Campbell writes:
“First, the good news…
“A capital campaign has a very good chance of being successful if the priest, bishop, or executive director happily and effectively devotes at least 1/3 of his/her time to the campaign. Let me say a little bit about those key words.
“Happily…
“If the priest, bishop, or executive director can’t develop some genuine affection for the process of cultivation, relationship building and solicitation, it will be obvious to one and all and a serious impediment to a successful campaign. If this means getting some training with regard to major donor fundraising, and/or shadowing an Episcopal colleague in the course of his/her fundraising efforts, then that should be a priority before the campaign is launched. You have to find the fun factor in the work…or leave the campaign to the next person serving in that role.
“Effectively…
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Church leaders: How much time should one spend on raising funds?
I am a fan of healthy expectations. I like knowing what I`m committing to prior to jumping in -- and how far I need to stretch to get intended results.
Recently I began exploring about how much time a given church leader could anticipate spending on the day-to-day activities of successful capital campaign.
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For the past four or five years, my church, St. Lydia’s, has worshipped around dinner tables in a Lutheran church, an Episcopal parish hall, a congregant's house, and rented space in a Zen Center. Soon we’ll be moving into our own storefront.
Our liturgy combines liturgy and a meal, and this model both attracts people and presents some challenges. Over the past year or two we've had to ask ourselves some questions, including: How many people can fit around our dinner tables? How can our small, relatively young congregation support itself, a staff, and pay for meals?
This has required some creative thinking in order to achieve financial sustainability.
With our new space, we’re looking into co-working – allowing freelancers and others who would work from home to use the space on weekdays – that will help us cover our expenses.
We’ve found an empty storefront, so we’re currently raising money to install a kitchen. This has also required creative thinking about funding.
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A few years ago I attended a life changing professional development training. Inhibited by worrying about how others would respond to hard truths, I asked how a leader determines the responsibility of caring for others and their response. The consultant uttered these words, “The truth will just have to do.”
Afraid to upset the apple cart, we often hold our tongue or only communicate half of a piece of information rather than allowing others the dignity of choosing their own response.
This applies directly to fundraising. What a congregation’s leaders don’t say about giving can be just as impactful as what is articulated. In the absence of information, new theories or ideas can emerge to fill the void of the truth.
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The Power of Community in Fundraising – it is NOT about the Money!
Even in the preparation for fundraising, parishes can be strengthened and communities energized through this life giving work. A colleague tells the following story:
“Once there was church in the northeast. They had been extremely blessed with the opportunity to build their church in a wonderful old stone school building the county was getting rid of it. For years they needed basic repairs and maintenance, yet kept putting them off, telling themselves a story of insufficient resources.
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Often when people think about capital campaigns, they think about it as a necessary means to an end. Essentially, if they can only accomplish their financial goal, then they can go about doing ministry.
I believe that the process of fundraising is ministry.
I recently was at a parish in Michigan for a marketing presentation. I attended the early 8:00 am Sunday service and then, to my delight, was asked to join a group of parishioners for breakfast at the local diner.
We talked a bit about history, children, and the weather. Then I asked each of my breakfast companions to describe what they dream about when considering a capital improvement to the parish.
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There’s an adage that says “If you ask a person for a dollar you`ll get their opinion. If you ask a person for their opinion, you`ll get an opportunity for a contribution.”
When thinking about youth involvement for giving, ECF Capital Campaign Consultant Sue Fornabi tells a story of how to engage younger parishoners early on in the campaign process:
"A church wanted to be sure that the youth were invited into the ministry of gifting during all phases of the campaign methodology. During discernment at youth ministry meetings the youth leader facilitated conversations about the “wish list” of what is God calling us to do?
"In the feasibility study we asked in the communication plan that parents invite the youth to participate in the process of completing the survey.
"In the campaign the youth created a “coupon book”. They sold car washes, hosing out trash bins, baby-sitting etc. to parishioners and neighbors. They raised over $500 and that was celebrated at the Celebration Sunday and also discussed on the bulletin board (before we had our website offering!)"
Do you have a story of how youth in your parish were engaged in formational giving? If so, please post below in the comments. We`d love to hear from you!
Telling your story, enlarging your potential audience, and making new friends: a lesson from the Sisters of the Community of the Holy Spirit.
Rebecca Earl, ECF Capital Campaign Consultant, tells of how an order learned how to tell their story more broadly during a capital campaign and made new friends in the process:
"
The Sisters of the Community of the Holy Spirit had been busy, very busy, at Bluestone Farm and Living Arts Center learning sustainable farming and hosting others who wanted to learn about living gently on Earth. They had communicated with their followers in the usual way regular newsletters and occasional posts on their new website, but when it came time for their capital campaign, that wasn’t going to be far-reaching enough. They needed to tell their story to others.
"Through the use of Facebook (
Bluestone Farm Fans), a beautiful on-line newsletter that connects to a newsier newsletter, the Sisters have found new friends interested in life on the Farm.
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When asking another person to make a gift to a Capital Campaign, story telling isn`t just a powerful tool---it’s a gift we provide one another. Often the person making the invitation is surprised at how easily their story of connection/belonging/transformation pours out and shapes the conversation.
The reason is simple: you aren`t selling a used car. Instead, you are talking about a community, a church home, that you care about.
Leslie Pendleton, Capital Campaign Consultant, tells the following:
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“When renovating a kitchen, don`t forget who will use it!”
In my last
blog, I talked about how the discernment phase of a capital campaign seeks to answer the question of what God is calling a parish to do. We use this phase to create a solid foundation for any capital campaign. We believe the Holy Spirit often speaks through the collective body of parishioners and it's important to create a process where all are invited to speak and will be heard.
But, why you may ask, is this important? Can`t the rector just provide a vision for all to join in?
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“
60’s shag carpeting is not part of our vision.”
ECF has a three-phase strategy for capital campaigns: Discernment-Feasibility Study- Solicitation. During Discernment, we work with parishes to determine what God is calling them to do.
What does this mean? Specifically, we determine what projects are of priority for capital fundraising to the parish in order for them to fulfill their mission and live more fully into their long-term mission. When projects are finalized, the parish is ready to move to Feasibility Study.
One ECF Consultant, Sue Fornabai, tells the following story about when parish leaders believe some proposed projects are not necessary:
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Yes we can!
“This community is important to me and has done a lot for my family in these hard times. I talked to my wife and we can give 10% of our unemployment checks.”
The economy or the perception of the state of economy can often impact a parish’s ability to live into their mission. A colleague shared the following story:
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There was a parish that wanted to redo their existing kitchen for the purpose of hospitality during coffee hour. Identified as a potential lead gift was a gentleman who many in that community would lovingly call a “curmudgeon.”
I`m sure your parish doesn`t have any of those.
A capital campaign team was developed to raise funds for the remodel. During the Advanced Gifts Phase (where we seek to raise about 80% of the goal from about 20% of the parish), a campaign team member was sent to this gentleman’s house to invite him to give to the campaign. The response was clear:
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“I role dice with my buddies.”
I once worked with a parish outside of Philadelphia. Many in that parish’s community were on restricted incomes. Yet, that January, the roof quite literally fell in and a capital campaign became a must.
When thinking about giving to a capital campaign, potential gifts come from extraordinary sources of income. These extraordinary gifts don’t take the place of a parishioner’s ordinary annual gift. They are in addition to it.
Following my explanation of this to a group of parishioners, a man approached me in his late 70’s. He noted that he was living on his monthly social security check and that he pretty much gave as much as he could to the church in his annual pledge.
As I was thanking him for his sacrificial annual giving, his face brightened and he interrupted me. He stated that twice a week he went out for coffee with a group of local guys and threw dice. I admit that at that moment I was afraid of where he was headed with this train of though.
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