Beyond Fundraising: A Complete Guide to Congregational Stewardship

Written by Wayne B. Clark, Ph.D., Congregational Stewardship Network Director at the Unitarian Universalist Association, Beyond Fundraising moves congregations from a myth of scarcity to a culture that welcomes, and even expects, a focus on the reality of abundance. Clark suggests that we diminish our emphasis on money by putting fundraising under the umbrella of spiritual stewardship. Beyond Fundraising introduces a new and comprehensive stewardship development program called Forward Through the Ages (FORTH) that puts money in perspective by making it one of five components of stewardship development: stewardship education; joyful giving; ministry and good works; annual budget drive; and planned giving.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: The Spiritual Roots of Stewardship

• Myths about Giving
• Why we Give
• A Culture of Giving
• Learning to Receive
• Sharing the Responsibility

Chapter 2: Hiring a Fundraising Consultant

• When to Hire a Consultant
• Twelve Steps in Hiring
• The Assessment Visit

Chapter 3: Searching for the Future: The First Step of Strategic Planning

• Appreciative Inquiry
• Guiding Principles
• Terminology
• Preparation
• Sample Workshop Agenda
• Workshop Follow-up
• The Strategic Planning Team

Chapter 3: Annual Budget Drive

• Stewardship Conversations
• Commitment Sunday
• Cottage Meetings
• Annual Congregational Dinner
• Faith Promise
• Pony Express
• Telephone Appeal
• Direct Mail Appeal

Chapter 5: Personal Stewardship Conversations

• The Leadership Team
• Calendar
• The Stewardship Contact List
• Letters to the Congregation
• Leadership Reception
• How Many Visiting Stewards?
• Recruiting Visiting Stewards
• Orientation Workshops
• Guidelines for Stewardship Conversations
• The Fellowship Event
• The Follow-Up Phase
• The Close of the Drive

Chapter 6: Written Materials

• Case Statement
• Summary of Programs and Ministries
• Program Budget Charts
• Essential Gifts Chart
• Suggested Fair-Share Giving Guide
• Brochure
• Financial Commitment Form

Chapter 7: Forward Through the Ages: A New Stewardship Development Program

• Phase 1- Accepting
• Phase 2- Growing and Investing
• Phase 3- Giving Back
• Phase 4- Giving Generously
• Phase 5- Applying Recent Learnings

Chapter 8: Planned Giving

• Approve the Enabling Resolution
• Approve the Committee Structure
• Develop a Mission Statement
• Create an Endowment Document
• Define the Endowment Fund
• Manage the Endowment Fund
• Market the Program
• Identity Prospects
• Create a Bequest 
• Recognition Society
• Evaluate the Program

Chapter 9: Do You Really Need to Build?

• Create Growth Projections
• Analyze Existing Facilities
• Review Options

Chapter 10: Planning and Implementing a Building Project

• Seek Guidance
• Organize the Leadership
• Hire an Architect
• Develop Preliminary Plans
• Develop Financial Projections
• Present the Plans for a Vote
• Conduct a Financial Feasibility Study
• Launch a Capital Campaign 
• Approve the Final Plans
• Prepare for Construction
• Begin Construction
• Celebrate as Often as Possible

Chapter 11: Debt is More than a Four-Letter Word

• First Steps for Financing 
• Financial Comfort Level
• Local Bank Financing
• Unitarian Universalist Association Financing

Chapter 12: The Capital Campaign Team

• Recruiting Team Members
• Campaign Chair
• Leadership Gifts Chair
• Fellowship Event Chair
• General Gifts Chair
• Group Communications Chair
• Publicity Chair
• Publications Chair
• Follow-Up Chair
• Campaign Treasurer
• Administrative Support Chair
• Financial Monitoring Chair
• Dedication Service
• First Meeting
• Subsequent Meeting

Final Words

Glossary

Resources

For Further Reading