November 21, 2013
Fundraising is Ministry
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.
When they described their work together, one member said, “I can`t remember a time when our community felt more close.”
A the Episcopal Church Foundation (ECF), from our extensive work on capital campaigns, we believe a capital campaign can be considered successful when:
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.
What I heard was that they hoped this campaign would strengthen their community in the same way that their last campaign, 15 years ago, solidified their community. The parish dug out a basement in order to put in an undercroft. Folks can remember doing much of the labor themselves---including laboriously tossing pails of dirt out windows! Together they estimated that they donated about $100,000 worth of labor at that time.
When they described their work together, one member said, “I can`t remember a time when our community felt more close.”
A the Episcopal Church Foundation (ECF), from our extensive work on capital campaigns, we believe a capital campaign can be considered successful when:
- new volunteers are identified and trained
- an ethos of giving is established and communicated
- annual giving is increased
- planned giving is bolstered
- a financial capital campaign goal is increased
- the community is strengthened through supporting a common mission towards a goal
Do you have a story of a capital campaign increasing your sense of togetherness? How was your community impacted through work together?