Optimizing Annual Financial Campaigns

$75.00

Research suggests that church members who make pledges usually give at least 30 percent more than those who do not, and congregations that seek annual financial commitments have significantly higher levels of overall giving. While the seeds of faithful stewardship are cultivated year-round, a well-orchestrated, theologically-sound commitment campaign reaps the harvest of generosity.

Through engaging video presentations, written materials, and supplemental materials, Optimizing Annual Financial Campaigns shares best practices to make your annual financial campaign a more effective one.

Topics Include:
  • How to lay the groundwork by sowing the seeds of fruitful giving
  • Understanding your givers and giving patterns
  • Building a strong leadership team
  • Basic elements of an effective campaign and options to consider
  • How to enhance your campaign through effective communication, follow-up, and acknowledgement
  • Optimizing Annual Financial Campaigns is ecumenical and designed for both laity and clergy.
 Available on download and DVD/CD. Please select format below.

Product Description

Presenters

Dr. Ann A. MichelDr. Lovett H. Weems, Jr.
Dr. Ann A. Michel, associate director of the Lewis Center
Dr. Lovett H. Weems, Jr., distinguished professor of church leadership and director of the Lewis Center


Video Presentations

Laying the Groundwork (24:36)
Lovett H. Weems, Jr.
This video presents the overarching purposed of a financial campaign and explains how understanding recent pledging and giving history can provide helpful clues for getting started.

Elements of an Effective Campaign (30:16 min)
Dr. Ann A. Michel
In this video, Dr. Ann A. Michel lays out options to consider in planning a campaign and discusses four elements critical to an effective campaign — leadership, spiritual grounding, a focus on mission, and maintaining a healthy mindset around money and giving.

Implementing a Successful Campaign
Dr. Lovett H. Weems, Jr., and Dr. Ann A. Michel
Part 1 (17:37) lays out two critical goals — increasing giving from current givers and adding new givers to the fold. Part 2 (31:40 min) presents strategies for reaching different types of givers. It covers communication, follow-up, acknowledgement, and building a timeline.

Fostering Generosity through Commitment (18:04 min)
Dr. Lovett H. Weems, Jr.
In this video, Dr. Lovett H. Weems, Jr., underscores the importance of never talking about people’s giving outside of the context of their discipleship and never talking about the church’s money apart from its mission.


Instructional Segments

Laying the Groundwork
This video presents the overarching purposes of a financial campaign and explains how understanding recent pledging and giving history can provide helpful clues for getting started.

  • Video Presentation (24:36 min), Dr. Ann A. Michel, associate director of the Lewis Center and Dr. Lovett H. Weems, Jr., distinguished professor of church leadership and director of the Lewis Center
  • Outline of Key Points
  • Excel Worksheet on Recent Pledging and Giving Patterns and Trends

 

Elements of an Effective Campaign
In this video, Dr. Ann A. Michel lays out options to consider in planning a campaign and discusses four elements critical to an effective campaign — leadership, spiritual grounding, a focus on mission, and maintaining a healthy mindset around money and giving.

  • Video Presentation (30:16 min), Dr. Ann A. Michel
  • Outline of Key Points
  • Campaign Planning Resources from Abingdon Press

 

Implementing a Successful Campaign
Part 1 lays out two critical goals — increasing giving from current givers and adding new givers to the fold. Part 2 presents strategies for reaching different types of givers. It covers communication, follow-up, acknowledgement, and building a timeline.

  • Video Presentation: Part 1 (17:37 min), Dr. Lovett H. Weems, Jr.
  • Video Presentation: Part 2 (31:40 min), Dr. Ann A. Michel
  • Outline of Key Points
  • Crafting Better Commitment Campaign Messages by Dr. Ann A. Michel
  • Sample Letters to Different Categories of Givers
  • The Importance of a Narrative Budget by Dave Ponting
  • Sample Narrative Budget

 

Fostering Generosity through Commitment
In this video, Dr. Lovett H. Weems, Jr., underscores the importance of never talking about people’s giving outside of the context of their discipleship and never talking about the church’s money apart from its mission.

  • Video Presentation (18:04 min), Dr. Lovett H. Weems, Jr.
  • Outline of Key Points

 

Additional Resources

  • Should Pastors Know What Members Give?
  • 50 Ways to Encourage Faithful Giving
  • 50 Ways to Improve Your Annual Stewardship Campaign