One of your top donors moves to be closer to their grandchildren. Another major donor gets a new job two states away. And then two or three of your oldest members pass away. When your annual stewardship drive comes along, your finance folks discover that--in spite of an overall growth in membership--these losses in the top quartile of your pledge distribution can really affect your bottom line. Here's what you can do:
How to Meet the Budget in a Time of Distress
- Reduce variable and discretionary expenses
- Raise income from within the congregation
- Increase pledges, even incrementally
- Increase pledge units, turn friends into members
- Special “fill the gap” campaign
- Large donor matching gift program
- Legacy Gift program
- Raise income from sources beyond the congregation
- Facility rental: generate new
- Facility rental: renegotiate tenant agreements
- Sell gift cards (bought at a discount) from local grocers
- Seek entrepreneurial opportunities
- Grants, crowdfunding campaigns
- Ensure you have technology to catch money from all sources
- Online donation capacity on your website
- Electronic Check capacity for recurring donations
- Onsite electronic payment tool (such as Square) for one-time payments or collections at special events
- Renegotiate debt
- Scale back ministries
- Cut staff benefits
- Cut staff hours
- Layoff staff
- Sell real property
- Merge or close