Stewardship Articles
(Articles denoted with "*" are accessible to CSA members only)
What Did We Learn from Katrina? (Coming Soon)
As we recently passed the first anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, Christian non-profits have the opportunity to reflect on and understand the important development trends and the lessons that have emerged from this incredible domestic disaster.
Ten Lessons Learned from a Successful Campaign (Coming Soon)
Denver Seminary recently successfully completed a 3-year $17million campaign. Over the course of the campaign we learned some valuable lessons, which CSA has invited us to share...
Pension Protection Act 2006 Expanded (Coming Soon)
By now you have heard about the Pension Protection Act of 2006 and its most noted provision, the "charitable IRA rollover."
How to Implement an Estate and Planned Giving Program *
Planned giving is an opportunity for your ministry to receive significant financial support over the long term. Planned giving donors give from their assets, rather than their income. Consequently, planned gifts are typically much larger than current gifts. Below are the four key steps to implementing an estate and planned giving program.
How to Build Donor Relationships *
You've heard it said that the three most important factors in real estate are location, location, and location. In the world of ministry development, the three most important elements are relationships, relationships, and relationships. Why? Because good ministry flows from good relationships. If you want to build lasting, kingdom-impacting donor relationships, begin by implementing these 5 steps:
Five Biblical Fundamentals of Stewardship *
Christian nonprofits use many of the same tools that secular nonprofits use to raise funds (i.e. direct mail, planned giving, major donor programs, etc.). But Christian development professionals need to see their work and their donors through a different lens. And that lens is shaped by 5 fundamental principles of biblical stewardship:
How to Start an Annual Fund Campaign *
An annual campaign is a broad-based, organized, fundraising program designed to raise money for an organization's ongoing operational expenses. Annual Fund campaign solicitations usually take place within a time-bound campaign (i.e. 6 weeks). The recurring nature of Annual Fund solicitations is what distinguishes them from other campaigns (i.e. building projects). Annual gifts are typically unrestricted, and represent a substantial portion of a ministry's income.
How to Share the Biblical Fundamentals of Stewardship with Your Donors *
What are the biblical fundamentals of stewardship? Let’s begin with a quick review of the fundamentals of biblical stewardship:
Seven Grant Seeking Tips for Christian Nonprofits *
More than $50 billion was given away last year in grants to nonprofit organizations. An estimated $33.6 billion was awarded from 68,000 foundations, the Foundation Center reports. Additionally, federal grants to community groups reached $19.7 billion, according to the Delaware News Journal.
How to Write a Grant Proposal *
Once you have identified some foundation prospects, the first thing to do is to find out more about their specific ministry interests and funding guidelines. With these basics in hand, you are ready to write your grant proposal. Although the particular requirements may vary, here are the most common elements you should include:
How to Build a Major Donors Program *
Working with Major Donors can be very exciting and fruitful for you, your ministry, and the donors you are privileged to serve. Keeping these basics in mind will help you put a solid, God-honoring program together.
How to Serve Your Donors with Direct Mail *
Despite the growing popularity of technology-based communication tools such as e-mail, the internet, and cell phones, direct mail is still the primary means Christian nonprofits use to deliver important messages and requests to their ministry partners. Serving your donors well with direct mail requires that you manage 5 key areas well:
How to Start a Capital Campaign *
A capital campaign can be one of the most challenging and exciting times a ministry will ever experience. It's exhilarating when large numbers of people are working together towards a faith-stretching goal at the same time. Of course, there is much work to be done, and many details to be managed.
Major Donors: An Approach That Works *
From the mission field in Nigeria to a mostly Native American Christian school in New Mexico, Rick VanDyken of Trinity Christian College has a wealth of experience in ministry. Over time, Rick has developed successful strategies to reach his major donors. Rick's approach is shared below:
How to Converse with an Unhappy Major Donor *
While serving as an administrator for a Christian school, Bob Terpstra helped complete a 4-year campaign to eliminate $900,000 in debt. To reach that goal, Bob made many personal calls with donors, including one visit with a very large donor who was upset about something that had happened before Bob came to the school. When the meeting was over, the donor made a significant commitment to the school. Here are the steps Bob took in that meeting:
Successful Prospect Research *
Research can provide you with valuable information about existing donors and new prospects. The following tips can help you strengthen your research program:
Entry-Level Gifts
Don't overlook the importance of "entry level gifts," says John Schroeder of the Timothy Group.
Keeping Your Database Clean *
The personal and effective communication required in good development work depends on accurate information that is updated on a daily basis. A "clean database" is the foundation of this development. What does it take to keep your database clean?
Common Responses to Face-to-Face Requests
“Whether you are asking someone for $50 or $50,000, there are basically four ways a person will respond,” says Bill Dillon, Executive Director of Inner City Impact and author of People Raising: A Practical Guide to Raising Support (www.PeopleRaising.com).
Maximize Your Direct Mail Dollars
Christian Freedom International (CFI) is committed to reaching the part of the persecuted church that is the most repressed, cut off, and isolated. To communicate that message and raise funds for the work, CFI Executive Vice President Vickie Koth has found that “direct mail works better than anything else.” Here’s what Vickie has learned to help you with your mailings:
Generate Major Interest in Your Major Donors *
David Coleman of the Atlanta Union Mission (AUM) reports that his ministry has experienced a significant boost in their donor development program in the past several months. They’ve nearly tripled the number of donors giving $5,000 with the addition of “The Agape Society.” Here’s what you need to know from David’s experience to put this successful concept to work for your ministry:
10 Questions for Dick Towner of Willow Creek Association
How can Christian nonprofits improve their support relationships with churches? What is the key to unleashing biblical stewardship in churches? How do you approach church leaders about stewardship? In an interview with Stewardship Connections Editor Mike Buwalda, Dick Towner answers these questions and more.
PR / Marketing / Communications
After conducting 100 e-marketing campaigns for some of the largest organizations in the country, Grizzard has now compiled a list of the best elements of a successful e-campaign. The primary purpose of these campaigns has been to drive new Web site traffic that will help clients acquire new customers and/or donors. IN the next Baker's Dozen article, we will be covering E-Retention Marketing, "online cultivation strategies."
Newly Developed Biblical Principles for Stewardship and Fundraising
Christian leaders, including development staff, who believe in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and choose prayerfully to pursue eternal kingdom values (Mt. 6:19-21), will seek to identify the sacred kingdom resources of God's economy within these parameters:
CSA's Covenant for Christian Stewards
CSA's Stewardship Code of Ethical Pursuit
The true nature of giving is revealed in the Holy Scriptures as being related to humankind's attitudes toward both God and fellow persons. Therefore, we agree that our approach to donors should be done in a godly fashion and that people should be encouraged to support our ministry from a scriptural motivation. With this in mind, we submit ourselves to the following Christian Stewardship Association standards:
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