church finances — Page 19

Posted on October 15, 2009 Written by Steve Law

The trend is for each successive generation to want to be more actively involved and see tangible results. They want control over when, where, and how each dollar is spent. Younger generations want to know, see and touch where their monies are go AND they want their monies to go to causes that change lives in direct, tangible ways. Several secular non-profits are successfully reaching younger generations who feel they can (and must) “save the world.” The questions for today’s church are:

Remove Roadblocks
o How does the church change its governance, bylaws, and policies to facilitate giving?
o How does the church develop new channels and methods of giving that are in line with younger generations’ patterns?
Tell Your Story
o How does the church communicate (using Websites, social networking, and even printed media) its programming opportunities and building needs in ways that appeal to younger adults?
o How does the church encourage financial support from non-members and non-attendees who believe in our causes?
Be Creative
o How does the church (ministers and members) change its mindset from funding programs and activities through the annual budget to each one being self-funding?
o How does the church expand the types of revenue streams so that we have a diversified portfolio and are less vulnerable to risk? See “The Baker’s Dozen.

The Baker’s Dozen – Ways to Increase Church Income
1. Undesignated Gifts
2. Wills, bequests and planned giving
3. Grants and foundations
4. Endowments, reserves, investments, and interest income
5. Fees for service
6. Rental income
7. Event registration
8. Cost recovery
9. Special offerings
10. Capital campaigns
11. Designated gifts
12. Sale of materials or resources
13. In-kind services

Lead On!
Steve

Six Generations in Church – part 1

Posted on October 14, 2009 Written by Steve Law

Due to increased longevity of our populations, churches have six generations alive at the same time and actively involved. Churches must deal with six different attitudes toward architecture, furniture, expectations of staff, worship styles, what to wear to church, giving, going “green” at church, etc. All churches face this logistical nightmare. As this generational shift relates to giving, there is a chasm between the mindsets of younger and older generations. Whereas the oldest generation is known for giving to appeals, Generation Y prefers to give to causes.

GI Generation (1901-1924)
o They are trying not to outlive their money
o They prefer to give to institutions
o They have very high trust levels of institutions and organizations
o They are the Greatest Generation that fought World War II
Silent Generation (1925-1945)
o They are trying not to outlive their money
o They like to give to institutions
o They have high trust levels of institutions
o They grew up in the shadow of World War II and the prosperity of the 1950s
Baby Boomers (1946-1964)
o They are in their peak giving years
o The like giving to designated funds and causes
o They trust organizations moderately
o They grew up during the 1960s and Watergate
Baby Busters (1965-1983)
o They are beginning to be major givers
o They really like designated giving
o They have low trust levels of government and organizations
o They grew up during Iran-Contra, Jim Bakker and PTL, and plenty of other scandals
Gen Y or Millennials (1984-2002)
o They are just beginning to give
o They prefer to give designated gifts
o They have low or no trust levels of organizations
o They grew up with the Web and know they have access to anything and everything
Gen Z or iGeneration (2003- )
o They are too young to have a view on giving right now
o They will probably give significantly to designated causes

Lead On!
Steve

Six Generations In Church – Part 2

Six Generations in Church – part 1

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