2010 was a very good year for Stewardship-Joyful Giving. During the year we completed 2 major phone calling sessions with our members utilizing approximately 30 volunteers. A theme of keeping members informed and giving members the opportunity to personally vent concerns or accolades was adopted for these calling sessions. Many important matters were address as a direct result of these contacts with members. Web pages for Stewardship within our church were added to our St. Martin’s main site and the general theme “Faithful Living, Joyful Giving” was adopted as the St. Martin’s brand for Stewardship.
Our 2010 Giving Appeal was quite successful resulting in excellent anticipated 2011 results:
1. Pledges increased to 193, from 91 … a 112% increase
2. $’s anticipated from pledges increased to $624,546, from $355,000… a 76% increase
3. Overall there were 100 new pledgers (representing nearly $300,000 in pledges), 28 increases in pledges, and 37 keeping their pledge the same. Only 19 individual needed to decrease their pledge.
4. For the 2010 Giving Appeal our church offered individuals the opportunity to complete their pledge on-line by going to our website:
65 individuals/families (34%) completed their pledge on-line while 128 individuals/families (66%) completed their pledge to our church completing the personalized pledge cards.
So, our Giving Appeal effort thus far has been successful and it is anticipated that contributions from all members (pledgers & non-pledgers) will increase between 8-18% in 2011. This increase is following a downward trend since the beginning of 2008. In 2010 we have ended this downward trend with a squeaky increase in contributions for the year. Yeah!
Planned Giving work was barely begun in 2010. As a result there has been approximately $63,000 of contingencies dedicated to the Endowment Fund. These are contributions that members have designated as payable via a beneficiary designation from their retirement account or life insurance which they own.
Moving forward I will seek to continue to build a permeating culture of helping one Joyfully Give. We will ask members to complete a survey which grades how you feel about the 2010 Giving Appeal effort completed and inquire about other aspects of a Giving Appeal you would like to see utilized within our church. Calling our members twice a year will continue and we will additionally seek to put a resource in your hands where you know, at any given moment, what your contribution history year-to-date or over the years has been. The belief is that this value-added enhancement will serve to help you in your giving decisions which you make. Our goal is to have this available by August of 2011.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Friday, August 20, 2010
Up & Running
Realizing just how fast time fly’s, it's time for me to remember, I do have this blog.... and much has happened, gotten started, or simply begun.
My role has seen some transition, as Judy and I have been in the NM mountains, and I have worked from afar.
Some of the highlights - - -
1. A report has been provided to our council from the 57 or so people I had personally met with in March-May. The feedback provided made it very clear that our genuine openness as a congregation and diversification (generations and overall differences amongst us) is a huge attribute and strength. Financial concerns are very real and engagement of our members needs to remain a top priority. Not rocket science stuff but affirming information as to the overall health of our congregation.
2. A generational report has affirmed we have a very health mix of young, middle aged, and older members within our congregation. By head of household 31% of our congregation is over age 65; 30% is between the ages of 45-64; and approximately 20% is represented by ages 35-45 and then those younger than 35. This is a very healthy mix!
3. I think everyone has heard about it but we had a very effective phone calling marathon in May. 414 calls were made with 50% resulting in contact with an individual. Expectations were met and members were appreciative of the contact being made. Very few contacts resulted in any negative feedback.
4. A July 25th Celebration of the Generations event was held at our church with 202 members in attendance. We celebrated our diversity and enjoyed music and food! Additionally members had fun playing Mad-Libs, by generation, and capped off the gathering with some of the children presenting a song to members in attendance.
5. Planned Giving- a new opportunity to give is being rolled out as I write this. Member contact is occuring informing members of the ability to give future gifts now through a beneficiary designation. Members interested simply make a beneficiary change on their life insurance product, IRA, 401(k), pension or annuity product to include St. Martin's Endowment Fund at a designated percentage or dollar amount. The action taken is revocable as people's life's and needs do change but it is a great way to include the church in your giving objectives. It has not been a past focus but we are excited to offer this opportunity now! If you have an interest and would like to visit please give me a call.
Additionally, I should write a few comments about our 2010 Giving Appeal ---
Our fall Giving Appeal program is ramping up! 59% of members responding have requested the ability to make their financial estimate of giving through on-line pledging and email... Wow, that's approaching 2/3 of our membership! A brochure outlining our 2010 program budget, testimonials, and other pertinent comments is set to be printed soon. Our theme is "don't give until it hurts, give until it feels good!"
Joyful Giving testimonials have been provided by 11 members of our congregation.... and a church gathering will occur as one method to be used to support members providing their estimate of giving for the year 2011. 31% of members responded requesting this opportunity. Additional means we will employ to support one making their estimate of giving will potentially include personal visitation, neighborhood meetings, face book, and phone contact.
Our data base management system (it has huge potential) continues to be a bear! Informally nicknamed, the beast it will in the future be capable of tracking ones contributions, providing historical contribution history, allow on-line pledging and giving, and much, much more .... if all goes as planned! This is a long term plan or goal which I am hopeful will become reality. Be clear, much needs to come together for us to reach this result.
That's my update to date! We have a special church and wonderful people making a real difference in in-reach and outreach ministries. I am blessed to have this opportunity to seek to make a meaningful difference in our church... I know that.
If you have any ideas, want to volunteer in a general or specific area of stewardship, or simply want to chat please give me a holler or send me an email at beglau@gmail.com .
God's peace ------ Bob
My role has seen some transition, as Judy and I have been in the NM mountains, and I have worked from afar.
Some of the highlights - - -
1. A report has been provided to our council from the 57 or so people I had personally met with in March-May. The feedback provided made it very clear that our genuine openness as a congregation and diversification (generations and overall differences amongst us) is a huge attribute and strength. Financial concerns are very real and engagement of our members needs to remain a top priority. Not rocket science stuff but affirming information as to the overall health of our congregation.
2. A generational report has affirmed we have a very health mix of young, middle aged, and older members within our congregation. By head of household 31% of our congregation is over age 65; 30% is between the ages of 45-64; and approximately 20% is represented by ages 35-45 and then those younger than 35. This is a very healthy mix!
3. I think everyone has heard about it but we had a very effective phone calling marathon in May. 414 calls were made with 50% resulting in contact with an individual. Expectations were met and members were appreciative of the contact being made. Very few contacts resulted in any negative feedback.
4. A July 25th Celebration of the Generations event was held at our church with 202 members in attendance. We celebrated our diversity and enjoyed music and food! Additionally members had fun playing Mad-Libs, by generation, and capped off the gathering with some of the children presenting a song to members in attendance.
5. Planned Giving- a new opportunity to give is being rolled out as I write this. Member contact is occuring informing members of the ability to give future gifts now through a beneficiary designation. Members interested simply make a beneficiary change on their life insurance product, IRA, 401(k), pension or annuity product to include St. Martin's Endowment Fund at a designated percentage or dollar amount. The action taken is revocable as people's life's and needs do change but it is a great way to include the church in your giving objectives. It has not been a past focus but we are excited to offer this opportunity now! If you have an interest and would like to visit please give me a call.
Additionally, I should write a few comments about our 2010 Giving Appeal ---
Our fall Giving Appeal program is ramping up! 59% of members responding have requested the ability to make their financial estimate of giving through on-line pledging and email... Wow, that's approaching 2/3 of our membership! A brochure outlining our 2010 program budget, testimonials, and other pertinent comments is set to be printed soon. Our theme is "don't give until it hurts, give until it feels good!"
Joyful Giving testimonials have been provided by 11 members of our congregation.... and a church gathering will occur as one method to be used to support members providing their estimate of giving for the year 2011. 31% of members responded requesting this opportunity. Additional means we will employ to support one making their estimate of giving will potentially include personal visitation, neighborhood meetings, face book, and phone contact.
Our data base management system (it has huge potential) continues to be a bear! Informally nicknamed, the beast it will in the future be capable of tracking ones contributions, providing historical contribution history, allow on-line pledging and giving, and much, much more .... if all goes as planned! This is a long term plan or goal which I am hopeful will become reality. Be clear, much needs to come together for us to reach this result.
That's my update to date! We have a special church and wonderful people making a real difference in in-reach and outreach ministries. I am blessed to have this opportunity to seek to make a meaningful difference in our church... I know that.
If you have any ideas, want to volunteer in a general or specific area of stewardship, or simply want to chat please give me a holler or send me an email at beglau@gmail.com .
God's peace ------ Bob
Thursday, April 15, 2010
... start your engines
So, I've decided to do this deal!
You know what, I'm excited... the new world of being St. Martin's Director of Development and Planned Giving is taking off. No stepping back. No acceptable result but success!
Though I sincerely will put some meaty stuff in this in the future know that at this time I'd simply say to you that I am committed and passionate about the role.
To me stewardship is all about utilizing ones God-given resources and talent to positively impact our church and better the world in which we live.... all to the glory of God.
Bob
ps- I have never been a blogger... not sure I really understood what it meant. Not sure I do yet but it will be good, I think, to document how things are going publically.
You know what, I'm excited... the new world of being St. Martin's Director of Development and Planned Giving is taking off. No stepping back. No acceptable result but success!
Though I sincerely will put some meaty stuff in this in the future know that at this time I'd simply say to you that I am committed and passionate about the role.
To me stewardship is all about utilizing ones God-given resources and talent to positively impact our church and better the world in which we live.... all to the glory of God.
Bob
ps- I have never been a blogger... not sure I really understood what it meant. Not sure I do yet but it will be good, I think, to document how things are going publically.
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