Survey on Contributions

Let’s be really honest – year-end giving wasn’t exactly what we hoped for. In a recent study conducted by the Barna Group, 57% of pastors surveyed said the economy had negatively impacted their church compared to last year. The good news is that only 8% of church leaders said the economic impact was “very negative,” and 9% actually described last year as financially positive. Even if your not one of the 57%, you’re probably not as comfortable going into 2010 as you’d like to be.

So what can churches do to weather this environment? Here’s a few suggestions:

1. Don’t abandon your mission, and certainly don’t abandon your message. Despite this economy, I believe (and have seen) that people still want to give generously to causes they are passionate about. The problem caused by the economy is that more nonprofit organizations are providing more services to more people in need with less available funding. That’s why it’s so important to trumpet a compelling vision to your contributors. There are simply more options for donors to consider, and with limited resources, they give to causes they are the most passionate about.
2. Communicate, communicate, communicate. Churches (and lots of other organizations) make the mistake of not wanting to communicate negative financial trends and results. But if you don’t communicate, how will your contributors know there’s a need? Many churches also make the mistake of talking about money only when the numbers are down. Generosity is ultimately a spiritual issue not a financial one, and that message is lost if you only talk about money in a bad economy.
3. Rethink budgets. Churches are generally very slow to make difficult decisions about (i.e. cutting) budgets, minstries, and staff. The line between faith and stewardship is often very faint, but in a giving environment like we’re experiencing now, churches must consider the efficiency of their ministries. When giving is up year after year after year, churches often add a little more “flair” to ministries than is really needed and let certain ministries linger on a little longer than they should. Spend some time thinking strategically about your ministries in light of your mission and your investment in those ministries, and you might be surprised what you find.

The economy we’ve been dealt presents its share of challenges for churches and ministries, but there are opportunities to impact the quality and direction of your ministries. And who knows – you might even find youself in the 9% next year.

If we can be of any help or answer any questions as you wrestle through these issues, please don’t hesitate to call me.