Your church’s ministry in planned giving and endowment funding can provide an exciting momentum for your church only if the members know about its many opportunities and possibilities. Organizing the Permanent Endowment Fund Committee is never enough. Only when members and constituents understand the plans and catch the vision, excitement and enthusiasm will planned gifts be made to fund the endowments which will benefit the Church.

Far too often in the local church we establish a committee, work out a plan, tell the congregation about it once, and then sit back and wonder why no one responds. It is critical that the work of the Committee includes an on-going effort to help members and constituents understand how planned gifts can be beneficial to them and their church, to encourage (and assist) them in their gift planning, and to keep before them the value and importance of endowment funding in support of the mission and ministry of the Church.

One of the keys to any successful funding program is the communication of a clear vision of the mission and ministry of your church. People want to give, but in today’s world it is not enough to simply say “You should give to the Church.” People want to know how their gifts will be used to accomplish God’s purposes through their church.

It is vital for success in the local church’s planned giving and endowment program that members and constituents:

1. Understand and support the vision for mission and ministry
2. Know about the opportunities for giving
3. Understand the creative gift planning options available
4. Be given clearly defined and repeated opportunities to participate

Not everyone is ready to hear your message at the same time. Some will respond the first time you give them an opportunity. Others will take longer to respond. That is why repeated efforts on your part are essential to success. There are times in everyone’s life when they are more responsive than at other times. The key to your promotional efforts is to have the information readily available at those key moments. Those key moments might include:

Marriage Birth of a child Birth of a grandchild Death of a friend or family member Divorce Planning a long trip Reaching one of the “big birthdays” Receiving a large inheritance Having the last child leave home Changing occupations

Changing place of residence Setting the retirement date Change in tax laws Major illness Suggestions by a professional (i.e., CPA, attorney) The need to dispose of property Selling the family business Selling real or personal property Selling highly appreciated securities

As you can see, no one mailing or event will reach all the people at their key moment of receptiveness. You will need to include repeated ways through the year to inform your members of possibilities to respond.

For More Information

• Things a Pastor Can Do
• Promotional Plans
• Memorial & Honor Giving


• Promotional Plans for your Church (pdf)
• Ideas for Bulletins and Newsletters (pdf)
  
  
• UMF's Endowment Services
• The Endowment Committee

 

A man has made at least a start on discovering the meaning of human life when he plants shade trees under which he knows full well he will never sit.

D. Elton Trueblood