Will you wait until it’s too late to make budget this year? The other day I received another desperate email from a church. In part here is what it said, “We are running in the red right now about 45,000 dollars.” While asking now late in November might be considered the eleventh hour none the less at least he was aware of the need to do something.
Right now do you know where you are in terms of whether or not you will make budget? Is your giving ahead of last year or behind? Are you on track to make budget or not? Knowing where you are is some part of the battle. Too many pastors have little to no clue of how to answer any of the previous questions. In fact I have stopped asking pastors as it embarrasses them.
So the first step is to accurately know where you stand with regard to your giving and budget. Knowing might not be half the battle but it is an important part.
The next step is to do something! Do you have a plan of action that will lead your church to closing the negative gap you are experiencing? Without some plan of action it is almost impossible for you to close out the year in the black.
It is not too late! Yes it is late but it is not too late. Consider that 22% of all the monies non-profits bring yearly comes the last two days of the year. So as you are reading this you have ample time to craft an appealing letter or email asking your members to support your missions and ministries.
Make it positive. Please don’t make your appeal sound desperate or laden with guilt. Neither of these approaches works very well.
Revolve the gift around missions and ministry not making budget. People give to causes that make a difference. Your budget is filled with causes that make a difference. So craft your appeal around fully funding your missions and ministries not simply to hit some number and people will be more apt to give.
Finally, don’t get yourself in this position again! Every time you have to make a desperate appeal you simply sink yourself lower in the estimation of your donor base. So plan ahead. So, my question for you is, will you wait until it’s too late?
Mark Brooks
Founder and President
The Charis Group and Charis Giving Solutions
PS. Start 2014 giving out right by attending my Jan. 8th webinar on my new e-book, “Six Weeks to Giving Success.” Stay tuned for more information!