by Kimberly Reynolds

Raising money for your church is an important task that deserves best approach. This article examines campaigns based around donor recognition that aim to strengthen community ties with your church.

What does advertising do to help make a business successful?

They build brand awareness. Your fundraising needs to build your church's "brand" by reinforcing message of who you are and what your "value proposition" is for your congregation.

No, I am not saying that you need golden arches out front with a neon sign that says "Over 1 Million Saved." What I am saying is that you want your supporters to have a strong emotional tie to your church.

Your fundraising campaign should be structured to strengthen those emotional ties through establishing concrete links to your congregation that are visible to community.

What types of fundraising campaigns provide that visibility?

Donor recognition programs serve that purpose. They are easy to conduct and are available in a wide range of price points that offer ways for your entire congregation to show their support.

A donor campaign seeks a pledge of a certain contribution amount that could be a one-time donation, a weekly offering, a monthly automatic withdrawal, or an annual tithe.

Donation of a certain amount is rewarded with some type of donor recognition. Inexpensive items can be given to donors for smaller contributions in $25 and up range while larger donations are usually recognized at your church.

What are some inexpensive examples?

An example of an entry-level price point offering for a donor recognition campaign is a custom pewter medallion or ornament which is hand crafted to display your church's exterior view. Two message lines can be added to reinforce your "brand." See examples ($10) at http://www.church-fundraisers.org

Another example would be creating a unique coffee mug with your church's picture and message. The idea here is that each donor gets a coffee mug as a thank you for their support. The mug and your message help maintain awareness of their "belonging." See examples ($4) at http://www.bryanchina.com/churches.htm

What recognition can you give to spur more donations?

Likewise we don't quite know what to do if someone refuses a tithe from us, or tithes back to us. This issue, rather than share another success story from a subscriber (keep 'em coming, though -- I enjoy reading about them and will share more in our next issue!), I'm going to share with you a few tips on etiquette of tithing, that I've found helpful.

1: Be open and receptive to gifts of time, talent and treasures that are offered to you. Tithes, donations, charity, whatever you call blessings of your income, your time or your unique abilities, are acts of good. Charity, being benevolent, means doing good or causing good to be done. Our history is filled with "benefactors" who created trust funds or otherwise supported artists, musicians, composers, writers, teachers, ministers, rabbis, etc. These acts of charity brought attention to and provided support for creative work they were doing. Today, much of this benevolent work is done through tax-deductible charities, but much is also still done through individuals with no thought to tax benefit. You participate in this wondrous flow every time you tip a street performer, or throw a house concert, or tithe to other creative individuals.

2: Don't let others take your prosperity away by refusing your tithe (and don't refuse tithes that are offered you). I'm often moved by incredible music. Several weeks ago I tithed directly to soloist and pianist (I'm blessed to get to listen to incomparable Jazz pianist Stefan Scaggiari) at my home church. They both attempted to turn down tithe and I simply said, "please don't stand in way of my prosperity. You fed my soul and I feel compelled to give you this gift. Please accept it graciously in spirit in which it is being given." Simple words that carry a profound message.