Speakers: Wayne B. Clark, Director of Building Programs
Jerry L. King, First Unitarian Church, Toledo, OH

Fundraising faces every congregation with the problem of raising money. This brings the issues of money and fairness face to face with feeling good, power, and control.

Jerry King, one of the UUA's consultants on fundraising, gave a stimulating rundown of what works in fundraising. People give for emotional and not rational reasons. Someone asks for help in making a dream come true, and people feel good to be a part of that dream.

Giving is a problem for UUs. In spite of being a denomination with among the highest personal incomes, we are near the bottom in how much we give to our church. Why are the Mormons at the top and we near the bottom? Living their commitment is the key. Mormons give a year or two to their church, and this level of commitment translates to commitment over the years. How many UUs even understand their church's mission statement? Asking for the money is the wrong question; asking for the commitment to the congregation is the right question; questions like: "Is this your place? Help us to support it."

Fund-raising is not just something that occurs during Pledge week. It is a process which the membership has to be interested in at a participatory level, as a result of their involvement in each of the functions of the church. Churches therefore need to change their culture from a top-down to a bottom-up budgeting process, from one in which the Budget Committee makes a budget in the name of the congregation to one in which the people who spend the money discuss the needs of the church.

One of the major tools is to develop "program budgets." Utilities, the minister's time, insurance, the secretary's salary are divided among programs such as Sunday worship, Music, RE, etc. in order to present the budget in a more meaningful way.

Let committees get together to make their presentations to each other and the Finance Committee. Someone asked, "But wouldn't this involve over half the church?" Jerry King just smiled. "Precisely!" he answered. He point is, people become invested in their projects and in working together to make the dreams come true. Other tools include having a Committee Fair: Each committee has a table and presents its achievements for the year and plans for the future. In addition to involving many people, everyone becomes aware of what everyone else is doing, and people have an opportunity to find committees with whom to work.

"But what about the guy who loves line-item budgets and who criticizes every dollar?" asked one member of the audience.

"Bring them in from the beginning. Ask for their help by asking if they can help decide where to put items in the program budget."

Getting new members involved early in the church life and in giving is crucial. Many people have no idea about what is required. Make certain they know. Don't even think of showing a histogram of amount given per pledge vs number of people making that pledge. Instead show one of total dollars raised from the range being considered vs, pledge amount. Newcomers tend to pledge at the peak of the histogram! Make sure that's a good figure.

Always remember that fun is the first word in FUNdraising. Make the process authentic and fun. Canvassers should enjoy the process. They also need to be prepared to share what they give, even if it's nothing this year because they are unemployed. In general, some sort of face to face process seems to work best.

Have a party, particularly a potluck. Put pledge cards in the RE classroom and ask for the money when people bring their children by. Don't do the same thing every year, and always remember, if you don't ask, you won't get the money.

Reported by Bob Hurst, formatted for the web by Margy Levine Young

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