Q. We're concerned about all the ways that members are getting asked for money at church. There are the musicians that bring tapes, girl/boy scouts/school fund raisers, UNICEF, the collection plate, the service auction, regular/capital pledges, a church used booksale, youth group fund raisers, the spring and fall church rummage sale, plus other occasional items. Where do you draw the line? I guess I'm especially interested in the kids who run up with pleading eyes asking you to buy popcorn or cookies or pizza on behalf of their schools.

Beth Atkinson
Board President, 1st UU Church of Rochester, MN (265 members)

A. At the UU Church of Arlington, VA (870), all fundraisers must be approved in advance by the board, which has largely delegated the function to the finance committee, says Steve Owen. The general guideline is that the fundraiser, to be approved, be not likely to hurt the operating pledge drive, or compete with the major church fundraising events.

Generally, the appealing kids are out of luck. The Finance Committee turned down girl scout cookie sales, says Owen, on the basis that there are so many similar sales projects–boy scouts, soccer teams, school bands, etc., that it's impossible to draw a nonarbitrary line.

Beverly Moore, at First Unitarian Church, Louisville, KY (261), believes in offering many financial choices. "A frequent response to the plethora of fund raisers is a fear that people are being asked too much. However, in the book 44 Ways to Expand the Financial Base of Your Congregation, (UUA Bookstore, $12.95, currently out of print), Lyle Schaller points out that many congregations have found that the more choices people have to give (or spend) money the more they will give and it is likely to raise other participation as well. He says that people deserve the choices to give to causes they choose. However, I would look carefully at fund-raising that goes to another entity than one's church.

Q. As the new finance committee chair for First Parish, Portland, ME (434), I am interested in views on when best to run the annual canvass. We are among those who do it in the spring. We are discussing changing to mid-fall, to catch enthusiasm and attendance as the full church programs resume and to make it easier for us and pledging families to link their pledge to the calendar and tax year. Preferences?

Bill Dill

A. I don't think there is a right answer to the question of timing a canvass, says Carla Kindt, UUA director of major gifts. In my home church we always have a fall canvass and the fellowship dinner that kicks it off is usually extremely well attended. In my work as a capital campaign consultant, I have had great luck with fall campaigns. The energy as people are getting excited about the church year is wonderful. And some folks want to pay their pledge in December to take maximum advantage of the tax season. I suspect for people who are considering tax implications, they have a better sense in the fall as to what they can afford to give.

But the huge downside is that a good fall campaign requires meetings and organizational work during the summer. Furthermore, a highly successful campaign is often the result of a wonderful church year where people feel good about what has gone on and they develop hopes and dreams for the coming year. I am often struck by the fact that in congregations that have a strong history of generosity, the leaders don't talk a lot more about money, but it's the way they talk that is so effective.

In churches with a strong history of generosity, language is positive and inclusive and clear. I think in most churches the case for giving is being made all year long in subtle ways (positively or negatively). If your congregation is led by positive, can-do optimists, by spring the newcomers will understand that in your church members give generously–even if you don't ask them for a specific goal (like two or three or even five per cent of income).

On the other hand, if you have a negative culture around money, maybe you should canvass in the fall when the energy is the highest, when you probably have the greatest number of newcomers and before the drip, drip , drip of discouragement has taken its toll. Plus change often helps energize people. You want different results? Try something completely different. Good luck.

Kindt may be reached at 25 Beacon St., Boston, MA 02108; (617) 742-2100, ext. 506; ckindt@uua.org.