Raising Funds as a Component of Parish LifeRaising Funds as a Component of Parish LifeBoston Metropolis Clergy/Laity, October 1, 2011Boston Metropolis Clergy/Laity, October 1, 2011

Society promotes different values than it did Society promotes different values than it did just a just a shortshort time ago…time ago…

2010’s

1980’s

1950’s

But one thing remains the same:

• Love for Christ & His Church

• Profession: Doctors, Lawyers

• Ethnicity: Greek-American

• Love for Christ & His Church

• Profession: Web Developers

• Ethnicity: Much more diverse...global culture!

• Love for Christ & His Church

• Profession: Small Business Owners

• Ethnicity: Greek (often from same village)

Our messages must be adapted to a new generation…without losing our roots.

As society changes, so do the profiles of As society changes, so do the profiles of our parishes & our parishioners…our parishes & our parishioners…

• Solidly based in Orthodoxy

• Able to stand on its own

• Pertinent to each person in the room

• With intent to move an individual to action

Our (OPD) aim is to present content to Our (OPD) aim is to present content to people with these changing profiles that is:people with these changing profiles that is:

Office of Parish DevelopmentOffice of Parish DevelopmentOur mission is to educate and assist Our mission is to educate and assist our Greek Orthodox faithful of our Greek Orthodox faithful of America in the areas of: America in the areas of:

• StewardshipStewardship

• Capital CampaignsCapital Campaigns

• Planned GivingPlanned Giving

• Grant Research/Proposal WritingGrant Research/Proposal Writing

• Strategic Planning/Vision DevelopmentStrategic Planning/Vision Development

We should not ask a We should not ask a parishioner to give if:parishioner to give if:

(a)(a) The price of gas is over $4 a gallon.The price of gas is over $4 a gallon.

(b)(b) They are from Cephalonia (they don’t They are from Cephalonia (they don’t understand repression because the understand repression because the island was never under Ottoman rule).island was never under Ottoman rule).

(c)(c) They are rarely seen in the parish…They are rarely seen in the parish…either for worship or socially.either for worship or socially.

(d)(d) They are among the most hardworking They are among the most hardworking volunteers for the church festival.volunteers for the church festival.

In Capital Campaigns, it is In Capital Campaigns, it is critical for parishes to:critical for parishes to:

(a)(a) Focus all efforts on the top 10% most Focus all efforts on the top 10% most financially capable parishioners because financially capable parishioners because they will provide 90% of the goal.they will provide 90% of the goal.

(b)(b) Begin by looking for grants from private Begin by looking for grants from private foundations.foundations.

(c)(c) Get as many parishioners to participate at Get as many parishioners to participate at whatever level they can.whatever level they can.

(d)(d) Start the fundraising as soon as possible.Start the fundraising as soon as possible.

When we give to the church, we When we give to the church, we give because:give because:

(a)(a) We have been asked personally.We have been asked personally.

(b)(b) We feel good.We feel good.

(c)(c) We want to make sure things are done We want to make sure things are done right.right.

(d)(d) We like the priest.We like the priest.

(e)(e) All of the above.All of the above.

(f)(f) None of the above.None of the above.

How do some of us perceive “Stewardship”? How do some of us perceive “Stewardship”?

Is it the “raising of funds”?Is it the “raising of funds”?

Merriam-Webster's Dictionary

Stewardship:

"The careful and responsible management of something

entrusted to one's care"

The Lord provides us with clues The Lord provides us with clues about ourselves…about ourselves…

Stewardship Is …Stewardship Is …

• Submitting our will to God’s will in turning Submitting our will to God’s will in turning away from the desires away from the desires (our passions)(our passions) of of the world in some small way.the world in some small way.

• Our way of dealing responsibly with the Our way of dealing responsibly with the things in our life that we think of as “ours.”things in our life that we think of as “ours.”

• Giving back to God some small portion of all Giving back to God some small portion of all that He has given us to that He has given us to managemanage..

Lets examine the gift of our finances:Lets examine the gift of our finances: Specifically, how do we use our disposable income?

Opportunities to give…Opportunities to give…

Me Others

Ego Humility

Recognition No Recognition

Conditional Unconditional

:::::::::::: ::::::::::::

Buy something for me

Buy a gift for someone

Buy something for someone in a nursing home

Stewardship

Our Examples:

ChristSaintsHierarchs,

Clergy, Monastics

Stewardship Stewardship A Real-Life example:A Real-Life example:

10,000+10,000+5,000-9,9995,000-9,9992,000-4,9992,000-4,9991,000-1,9991,000-1,999500-999500-999250-499250-4991-2491-249

Yr 1Yr 1--2224247474

140140207207302302749749

$411,000$411,000

Yr 2Yr 2--4425257373

146146245245279279772772

$434,000$434,000

Yr 3Yr 3--4428288080151151252252325325840840

$450,000$450,000

Yr 4Yr 4116629299393164164227227334334854854

$496,000$496,000

Individual Spiritu

al Renewal

Parish Philanthropic Activity & Giving

Youth (and other!)

Ministry Activity

Stewardship Workshops Stewardship Workshops First Steps:First Steps:

• Identify 15 couples or individuals that can be invited to a special 3 hr session (approx. 30 attendees)

• Discuss how we can each be good stewards (in our own unique way), and the qualities thereof

• Ask some of them to consider talking with others personally about the church and its ministries

• Start re-building the “fiber” of the community through these committed Christians

• Share success stories (anonymously)

• Commit to this program on a yearly basis, and invite new individuals to expand this “web”

(Can be done conjunction with your current program)

Different Gifts for Different GoalsDifferent Gifts for Different Goals

Source: Center of Philanthropy, Indiana University

Parishioner (Donor)

Give Towards

Operating Expenses

Annual Giving

Source of Gift

Current

Income

Planned Giving

Endowment or Other Capital Needs

Estate

Capital Campaig

n

Special, Significant Project, Building or Equipment

Assets

Different Relationships, Different Different Relationships, Different CommunicationCommunication

Mail

Events

Letter & call

Workshop/Visits

Multiple visits

Thoughtful personal contact, careful listening, planning

Friend

Donor

Repeat Donor

Increased Donor

Special Donor

Planned,Capital Donor

Source: Center of Philanthropy, Indiana University

Pers

onal

Cont

act

Capital Campaign Life CycleCapital Campaign Life Cycle

Fundraising Phase 2

Public Phase

PlanningStudy

Earl

y P

roje

ct

Pla

nn

ing

Parish Agrees to Explore Project

Announce Major Progress

Fundraising Phase 1

Quiet Phase

Parish Agrees Start Campaign

CampaignPlan

Communication with ParishProfessional

Assistance

PositionAnalysis

ExampleExampleCapital Campaign Gift ChartCapital Campaign Gift Chart

Participation is the most important goal.

90% of capital funds may come from 10% of families.

Funds to be Raised: $2,000,000Number Amount Subtotal Cumulative

1 $200,000+ $200,000 $200,000

4 100,000+ 400,000 600,000 8

50,000+ 400,000 1,000,000

15 25,000+ 375,000 1,375,000

20 10,000+ 200,000 1,575,000

30 5,000+ 150,000 1,725,000

Many Up to $5,000  $275,000 $2,000,000

Capital CampaignCapital CampaignFirst Steps: First Steps:

Conduct Planning Study (or Position Analysis)!Conduct Planning Study (or Position Analysis)!

• Seek assistance from the Office of Parish Seek assistance from the Office of Parish Development – Development – we will tell you what you need to we will tell you what you need to hear; not what you want to hear.hear; not what you want to hear.

• Prepare a “Statement of Need”Prepare a “Statement of Need”• Develop a detailed questionnaireDevelop a detailed questionnaire• Identify potential donorsIdentify potential donors• Use Use inclusiveinclusive methodology methodology• Without soliciting directly, determine interest and Without soliciting directly, determine interest and

gather inputgather input• Report back to the committeeReport back to the committee• Timetable: 2-3Timetable: 2-3 months months

Planned gifts can be our most Planned gifts can be our most extraordinary testimony of faith!extraordinary testimony of faith!

• Charitable trusts (lead, remainder, annuity)

• Wills• Financial instruments (stocks, bonds,

401k)• Life insurance benefit• Estate property• Other bequests

Establishing a Establishing a Planned Giving ProgramPlanned Giving Program

• Define goal to share with parishioners: What will the Endowment be used for? Ministry expansion?

• Establish policies to guide the receiving of gifts by will or other contract (life insurance, etc.)

• Determine who will bear responsibility for the endowment or other gifts’ use

• Collect names of reputable financial planners and local legal counsel who can assist parishioners

• Organize gifts committee• Prepare promotional plan• Establish office management procedures

We should not ask a We should not ask a parishioner to give if:parishioner to give if:

(a)(a) The price of gas is over $4 a gallon.The price of gas is over $4 a gallon.

(b)(b) They are from Cephalonia (they don’t They are from Cephalonia (they don’t understand repression because the understand repression because the island was never under Ottoman rule).island was never under Ottoman rule).

(c)(c) They are rarely seen in the parish…They are rarely seen in the parish…either for worship or socially.either for worship or socially.

(d)(d) They are among the most hardworking They are among the most hardworking volunteers for the church festival.volunteers for the church festival.

In Capital Campaigns, it is In Capital Campaigns, it is critical for parishes to:critical for parishes to:

(a)(a) Focus all efforts on the top 20% most Focus all efforts on the top 20% most financially capable parishioners because financially capable parishioners because they will provide 80% of the goal.they will provide 80% of the goal.

(b)(b) Begin by looking for grants from private Begin by looking for grants from private foundations.foundations.

(c)(c) Get as many parishioners to participate at Get as many parishioners to participate at whatever level they can.whatever level they can.

(d)(d) Start the fundraising as soon as possible.Start the fundraising as soon as possible.

When we give to the church, When we give to the church, we give because:we give because:

(a)(a) We have been asked personally.We have been asked personally.

(b)(b) We feel good.We feel good.

(c)(c) We want to make sure things are done We want to make sure things are done right.right.

(d)(d) We like the priest.We like the priest.

(e)(e) All of the aboveAll of the above

(f)(f) None of the above.None of the above.

We give back when we realize that all we have is a gift from Our Lord and Savior…

Contact informationContact information

Office of Parish DevelopmentOffice of Parish DevelopmentGreek Orthodox Archdiocese of AmericaGreek Orthodox Archdiocese of America

3 S. Prospect Ave, Suite 113 S. Prospect Ave, Suite 11Park Ridge, IL 60068Park Ridge, IL 60068

Jerry MinetosJerry Minetos847.825.1432847.825.1432

847.825.4287 (fax)847.825.4287 (fax)jminetos@goarch.orgjminetos@goarch.org