3 Ways to Run a Pledge Campaign
Follow-up to last week’s blog: Last week, I wrote a post proclaiming that checks aren't dead...yet. At the end of the post, I said:
Now let me go write a check. Let’s see…who should I send it to?
Shortly after, I had one person write, “You can send me a check. I’ll still take it.” Ha ha! Very funny.
However, another clergyperson started her email with, “Cesie you can send your check to our church…” She then went on to tell me all the amazing things they were doing in the community and within the congregation. She made a great case. How could I say “no”? Guess what? Her church got a check. If you don’t ask, you probably won’t get.
And thus, the unintended “experiment” is over.
***
A couple of years ago, I wrote a post about running a pledge campaign. Here’s an updated version:
Dear readers: Did the title of this blog post send shivers down your spine? My apologies. However, maybe that shiver will help you forget that we are experiencing a hot, hot time in the summer. Right? I’m sweating like a…(I’ll let you fill-in-the-blank). Let’s just say, trying to keep you cool was my public service for the day.
Please note that I am purposefully staying away from the term “Stewardship Campaign.” I was rightly given my comeuppance a few years ago when I used that phrase more than once in a previous post. Why? Because, as you know, stewardship is not a one and done “campaign.” It’s a lifestyle born out of our understanding that what we have is God’s at all times – not just during the fall “stewardship campaign.” We are a grateful people and that is expressed year-round.
However, we are also creatures of habit…especially in the mainline church. We do love our fall pledge campaigns. Or maybe you’re looking to doing a January campaign. Like National Public Radio, you can count on them like clockwork.
So, what’s your plan?
There are three ways you can go – and all can be successful.
1. Create your own pledge campaign. This can be as creative as you like. I’ve heard about congregations who do their own NPR-like pledge drive. Or – I did this one year – base a pledge campaign on a series of videos (e.g. I Like Giving). You can line up spoken and written testimonials from people in and beyond the walls of your congregation who have been impacted by your congregation. Get your most enthusiastic givers together in a committee and unleash their creativity.
2. Purchase a ready-made stewardship program. The work still will need to be done by a passionate committee, but the basic program will be spelled out for you. These are usually plug-in-and go – which for many will produce a huge sigh of relief.
But what programs should you look at? I knew exactly who I needed to speak with to get great intel on which ones might be best.
Rev. Dr. Ken Sloan, Director of Stewardship & Generosity at Discipleship Ministries, The United Methodist Church, was generous enough to give me his recommended “top three” stewardship programs:
Earn Save Give: Wesley’s Simple Rules for Money by James Harnish
Treasure by Jacob Armstrong
Defying Gravity: Break Free from the Culture of More by Tom Berlin
There are, of course, many more programs out there.
In fact, lucky you, Ken did a webinar on this very topic: Making the Annual Campaign Your Own. He lists many more resources in the webinar (hint: there are six more programs he highlights) so check it out.
A few years ago, Ken also put together a handy comparison chart of five stewardship programs. It’s well worth a look. Many thanks to Ken for his faithful work in this area.
3. Hire a Pro. As Julia Frisbie, my friend at the Faith Foundation Northwest says on their website, “The sticker shock is real, but if you can afford it, outside expertise can be powerful.” In fact Horizons Stewardship (full disclosure: I am a consultant) has developed “Why Hire a Horizons Professional.” Some of the reasons:
Raise more money
Extensive experience
Relieve organizational pressure
Fresh perspective.
There you have it, my friends. Some pre-done research on ways you might run your pledge campaign. Let me know if I can be of any help.
Maybe thinking about the fall or January will help you cool off. Ahhhh, no doubt research is best done with a big glass of lemonade by the pool. Or inside an air-conditioned room. You choose.
Original post: July 27, 2022
Photo credit: nattanan23 @pixabay.com
Cesie Delve Scheuermann (pronounced “CC Delv Sherman,” yes, really) is a consultant in stewardship, development, and grant writing. For 25 years, while working as a volunteer and part-time consultant, she has helped raise over three million dollars for numerous non-profit organizations. She has Olympic fever. Here’s a pro tip: Don’t ever underestimate that you can come from behind and be a winner. This will make your day.
You can reach Cesie at inspiringgenerosity@gmail.com or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/inspiringgenerosity or at CesieScheuermann.com.
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