PHASE III FUND THE VISION … WE INVITE
“And he said to them, ‘Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation.’” (Mark 16: 15) Phase I and II have been accomplished. The vision is created and the congregation is living into it. The process has established a positive receptive environment. The time has come to put money where the hopes and dreams are. THE NECESSARY TOOLS“Grant us, Lord, not to be anxious about earthly things, but to love things heavenly:… to hold fast to those things that shall endure…” Collect, BCP p. 234 Let everything be done decently and in order. Colossians 14:40 Every task has its required tools and here are the ones that will be required for a successful Capital Campaign. It is crucial that leaders understand that this is not a place to cut corners. Every item on this list is essential and must be provided adequately. When you hear someone say “oh, we don’t need that,” it is time to be aware that cheap, inadequate tools can be very costly in the long run. ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTUREIntroductionIt is important that this capital campaign be done in a way that creates excitement and has spiritual integrity. It is built around a network of people designed to provide the necessary access and influence. The following suggested organizational structure can provide the leadership necessary for an effective program. It is helpful to build upon the structures and resources already in place. Leadership for all gathering money for ministry activities during the capital campaign will be centered in the following bodies: DISCERNING POTENTIAL GIVERSHow do we know who might be willing and able to give a Witness Gift? The three most important tools in this process are listening ears, a good database and a small discernment group of people willing to pray and think about who the witness givers might be. WHO MIGHT GIVE HOW MUCH?How much to give is a decision based on several factors. These include each individual’s:
DISCIPLING GIVERSDiscipling givers is much more than cultivating a donor. It is a significant act of spiritual mentoring. Its goal is not to secure a big donation for a project dear to the heart of the one doing the asking. It is an act of love that has as its primary purpose helping the giver discern God’s hope for their life and resources. ORGANIZING THE INVITATIONS TO GIVEThere are good ways and better ways to ask people to give money. A good way is to provide accurate, inviting information about the ways in which money will be used to everyone who might possibly give anything for the selected purpose. The better way is to spend some time thinking about who might have both the inclination and ability to give, how much they might give, and how might be the way to invite them to give in order to encourage the greatest potential gift. RECORDING AND ACKNOWLEDGING GIFTSIt is important that the system for posting gifts, their receipt and acknowledgment be set up and ready to go before anyone is asked to give. These functions, often referred to as “gift processing,” will be centralized to ensure uniform categorizing and timely acknowledgment. The generation of needed reports on pledge progress is also a function of this activity. Adapted from The Alleluia Fund: A Guide for Dioceses and Congregations |