Is the Suggested Fair Share Contribution Guide Too Complex? Too Demanding? Too Rigid? Nope, Nope, and Nope! by Bill Clontz, Stewardship Consultant This is the time of year wherein many congregations are conducting annual stewardship drives. That means we receive a lot of inquiries about now concerning the UUA’s Suggested Fair Share Contribution Guide (SFSCG). […]
What About That Suggested Fair Share Contribution Guide ? Read More »
In recent discussions with my S4Us colleagues, and with our client organizations, there are new questions based on our current political upheaval: These are uncertain times; won’t people guard their resources and cut back on their charitable giving? Won’t people favor organizations like the ACLU and Planned Parenthood, so we will lose support? How can
Political Upheaval as a Call to Stewardship Read More »
A recent large survey tells us what is working, what is changing, and what is passing from the stewardship scene. There are definite patterns to capitalize upon. by Bill Clontz, Stewardship Consultant While looking through the site Church Tech Today, I recently came across the latest iteration of a periodic survey of churches and church
How Goes Stewardship in the USA? Read More »
An Idea for a Pass It Forward Sunday It seems simplistic, but remembering to say “thank you” can turn your day, your month, or even your year around. There’s only so much you can control in this world, but expressing gratitude has been proven to make a positive difference. The science is conclusive and undeniable. I
Post-Thanksgiving Thoughts About The Science of Gratitude Read More »
As a congregation planning an annual drive, you may want to change it up and try something different. We hear regularly from congregations who feel that their annual drive does not perform well. It is too arduous, burns out volunteers, distracts from the “real work” of the congregation (that is another blog post!), members don’t
What is Your Annual Drive Strategy? Read More »
Since the late 1980s, Donor Advised Funds (DAFs) have exploded on the philanthropy landscape. They have rapidly grown to hold billions of dollars in assets, and grants from them have also increased in double-digit percentage amounts. Yet they are NOT just for the financial elite; they are accessible to almost any giver – you do
New Webinar on Donor Advised Funds: The Giving Tool Every Congregation Should Know About Read More »
Two Stories Remind Us That We’re All in This Together I recently had the pleasure of working with several congregations in a weekend cluster event we called a Stewardship Saturday. During one session, a participant shared a wonderful story of how she brought home to her congregation that we make our commitments not just
Envelopes, Elevators, and Empathy Read More »
Some of us feel our financial gifts or volunteer efforts are too small to make a real difference. Not so. Imagine a chair missing a leg…. by Bill Clontz, Stewardship Consultant In my conversations with fellow Unitarian Universalists, I often hear something like the following: “I really love being a UU, but I am
Do My Gifts Really Make Any Difference? Read More »
Generosity is a funny thing. The more you give away, the more you gain. Congregations that “Share the Plate” every week, for example, usually find that gifts increase overall, not just for the sponsored cause, but also for the congregation itself. It seems that regular opportunities to share, to give to worthy causes, and to live
by Bill Clontz, Stewardship Consultant Does the title above sound familiar? Your website is effectively your Electronic Commons and your Electronic Front Door. It’s where potential visitors find you and where members come for information, ideas, and inspiration. Where and how stewardship is seen on your website is important. Unfortunately, on too many of our
“On A Scale of 1 -10 (10 = Great), I Would Rate Stewardship on Our Website at About -3” Read More »
