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