Raising Money for Your Congregation

How do you recruit your members to join your governing board or head up one of your congregation’s key committees or ministries? Even more basic, how do you invite people to worship with you and eventually encourage them to become members? Here is how you do it: You ask them, in as artful and effective way as possible. And that is how you can raise money for your congregation as well.

As Bob Connolly, whose company has helped religious congregations of all faiths and denominations raise over a billion dollars during the past thirty-plus years, points out in this little booklet: “Money is an expression of our values—an expression of what we believe in, what is important to us, what really interests us. I often tell people in my workshops: If you want to know what you really believe in, look at your checkbook or credit card statement and see what you spend it on.”

In this invaluable and timely congregational-development tool, Connolly gives specific, practical, tried-and-true advice—laced with examples, humor, and stories—on how congregations can raise, on an ongoing and sustainable basis, the money they need to carry out their ministry and mission. He succinctly covers the issues of recruiting and training leaders; developing relationships with people both inside and outside the congregation; and choosing the best strategies to insure the right “mix” of money for your congregation. He gives a detailed outline of strategies for annual giving, capital and debt reduction appeals, earned income, and endowment funds.

Topics include:

• Why to Raise Money
• How to Raise Money
• Endowment Funds
• Annual Giving Campaigns
• Earned Income
• The Art of the Ask