By Matthew Swain, RS For many years, a congregation in the central valley of California, the breadbasket of America, thrived by serving a cross-section of the American population — from migrant workers to white-collar business professionals and everyone in between. This particular parish was built back in the 1960s, outgrew existing spaces, and added buildings […]
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By Tobin Perry Only two teams in the history of Major League Baseball have won at least 116 games: the 2001 Seattle Mariners and the 1906 Chicago Cubs. Both teams dominated the regular seasons, quickly dispatching with opponents through good pitching, timely hitting, and stellar defense. But neither team won the World Series. Effective baseball […]
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“You all know that my wife and I have given 10 percent of our gross income to this church since day one,” my pastor reminded the congregation one Sunday. “What we haven’t shared is, as our children have moved on, we’ve realized that we have more margin in our lives, and we have increased our […]
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3 experts share tried-and-true strategies Given your experience, how important are gifts given during the Christmas season to a church’s bottom-line budget? Jasmin: Giving during the Christmas season is crucial to the work that churches do all year. It’s true that giving at year’s end represents an increasing portion of total giving in many churches […]
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By Vincent Schera and Rev. Dr. Perry J. Hopper Whether it is by phone, in person — either one-on-one or with a search committee — interviewing is one of the most important steps in the hiring process. You can increase the likelihood of hiring the person who is right for the position by thinking ahead […]
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By Colin Nass, CFP®, AEP®, RICP® When discussing the need for retirement planning, millennials might not be the first age group that comes to mind. Millennials — also known as Generation Y — were born after 1980, and they’re the first generation to come of age in the new millennium. Typically, researchers use the […]
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Today, millennials are the demographic on the top of most organizations’ priority list. It’s no surprise that brands are reinventing the way they market in order to reach the fastest-growing generation in the workforce and marketplace, and officially, the nation’s largest living generation. The millennial generation, which comprises those born between 1981 and 1997, grew […]
Read More >By Joe Garecht Most faith-based organizations rely on supporters to fund their work. Many organizations of faith don’t think of their supporters as “donors,” though; churches and dioceses think about “members,” while religious schools think about “students,” “families” and “alumni.” Other faith-based organizations talk about “donors,” but wonder about how to solicit donations while still honoring their higher calling. […]
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By Dan Mikes Throughout my 27 years of providing financing for religious institutions, I have seen a number of instances in which all the financial and other factors were right, but the loan could not be made because the collateral (the land and buildings) was unacceptable due to environmental contamination. While this is a […]
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By Matthew Swain, RS Each year, through blistering summer heat and winter’s icy blast, the church’s roof deteriorates a little more. The carpet in the narthex and office becomes a little more worn and tired. The boiler, air-conditioning and elevator continue to age. The parking lot begins to crack. Real property — the buildings in […]
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