Will the Election Suppress Giving?
Imagine you’re a hiker on the Pacific Crest Trail. You started your adventure three weeks ago and have emerged at a way station for a well-deserved pick-me-up.
You might casually ask the store clerk, “What’s been happening?”
“Funny you should ask” she replies. “Let’s see, there was a disastrous debate, an appalling assassination attempt on a former President, and the presumed Democratic nominee dropped out just a month before the Convention. And oh! The Republican nominee for VP has a beard. That’s about it.”
Friends, it’s been a crazy (and I mean a crazy) few weeks. No doubt, books will be written about this short window in our history.
But will it mean anything as you look at your giving and stewardship focus?
Some think it will have a negative effect. With all the anxiety that people are feeling, that seems like a justifiable fear.
However, if history is any indication, a Presidential election should have little to no impact on giving.
According to information from Analytical Ones, Election Year Giving (and as reported by Moceanic),
[The report] shows giving to more than 50 US nonprofits during the last four months of each year for 10 years (2013 through 2022). The top two giving years were 2020 (an election year) and 2021 (not an election year). Third best was 2022. The other election year in the period, 2016, is in the middle of the pack. The “worst” year is 2017, very much not an election year.
Just yesterday, I attended an excellent Freewill webinar: 5 Fundraising strategies to prepare for a bigger and better end-of-year giving.
The topic of giving suppression during an election year came up and here’s what they said:
“Charitable giving increased in 9 of the last 10 presidential election years (excluding 2008)” (emphasis added).
That’s good news! Now…what can you do to keep the good news coming?
Stay the course.
Thank – Show gratitude. Say these two words, “thank you” whenever the opportunity arises. Write a thank you letter (or two) every week. Throw a party.
Tell – Share your story. Use multiple ways to let people know how their gifts are being used in vital ministry to the congregation and the community. Tell a story from the pulpit about how someone’s life was changed through the church. Write about ministry in the newsletter. Tie these stories to the power of giving.
Ask – Do the hard thing. Clergy have the opportunity every single week to ask congregants to give joyfully and abundantly. You may even share a special need that can allow someone to make a difference financially. People generally aren’t offended that you’re allowing them to impact lives through their donation, they’re usually thrilled.
Don’t let the upcoming election suppress the joy others can get from giving in order to change the world. In fact, giving to mission and ministry can be a fine alternative to the noise and rancor that we're inevitably going to encounter in the next four months. Election. Schmlection.
However, if you’re really wigged out by it all, remember there’s always the Pacific Crest Trail to conquer. If you start now, you should emerge soon after November 6. God be with you and with us all.
Photo Credit: sinisamaric1@ pixabay.com
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Cesie Delve Scheuermann (pronounced “CC Delv Sherman,” yes, really) is a Stewardship Consultant for the OR-ID Annual Conference. She is also a Senior Ministry Strategist with Horizons Stewardship. For 25 years, while working as a volunteer and part-time consultant, she has helped raise over three million dollars for numerous churches and non-profit organizations. This beard-thing is a Big Deal. See the in-depth article from The NYT: J.D. Vance: Breaking the Beard Barrier.
You can reach Cesie at inspiringgenerosity@gmail.com, at CesieScheuermann.com, or at cesieds@horizons.net. Want to schedule a meeting? She’s got you covered!
Schedule a meeting now.
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