CFC - Congregational Mission Funding Checklist

This checklist offers a general guide to the types of activities that many congregations can find effective. Every program needs to be adapted to local situation Detailed preparation is the key to the success of a stewardship program.

Decide what time of the year to hold the funding for mission program, campaign or main event. Most congregations have a funding for mission or stewardship campaign at the same time every year. Our belief is that stewardship should be a year around celebration.
Start planning three to six months in advance. Keep the church members inform of your plans and progress.
Organize a small group to decide the details. Identify and include someone who has good communication, motivation and computer skills. This person can well-designed letters and financial data.
Review the congregation plans, priorities and objectives, and see how these can be integrated into the stewardship program.
Decide the main theme for the year program. Yearly, Church Finance Council recommends the current year theme materials from the Ecumenical Stewardship Center which we are members, Grow One, and Gifted: Finding Joy in Common Life.
Decide what kind of central event to organize. Events based around a meal are very popular, as it gives time for more people participation.
If you want to invite a guest speaker, book her or him early.
Decide if there is to be support teaching on stewardship topics through sermons, bible studies, articles, Sunday school lessons, etc.
Analyze previous year planned giving patterns to identify strengths and weakness. Express giving patterns in weekly or monthly terms.
Provide a simplified summary of last year’s church income and spending, and this year budget.
Create a list of all those you want to approach. You can divide the list into groups such as:

Regular family giving units
New members
Those who have not made any commitments
Givers whose situations have changed in last year or so
Those who are erratically givers

Create suitable covering letters for each group. Keep it simple. Challenge or motivate each individual to take the most appropriate step forward in their Christian commitment, you should personalize each letter.
Put an information packet together:

Essential will be:
- Personalize covering letter (can use the letterhead provide with the theme materials)

Material to help people review their giving
Information of congregation priorities, finances, goals, etc.
Pledge card
Pre-address reply envelop

What is relevant:

Texts and prayers using the year theme materials
Estimate of Giving card
Posters
Worship bulletins
Bookmark
Time and talents form or card; ask for specifics

Remember to thank known givers for their generosity. You might summarize how their gifts have helped the denomination to its ministry of changes lives in the past year.