Congregational Giving Program module—Do It Yourself

What is this program?

The Congregational Giving Program of Called to Be the Church: The Journey provides everything you need to get a congregational giving program off the ground.

Getting started

• Download and review the resources at the bottom of this page.
• Gather your Giving Team (1‒5 people).
• Use the Program Guide and the Planning Workbook to plan your program. 

Giving Team meeting 1: Planning

• Share Why I’m Here and Why I Give stories.
• Set your goals for the program. 
• Set your timeline for the program: 5-week, 3-week, or 1-week.
• Pick the full liturgies, sermons, and children’s resources for your program from the Worship Sampler or directly from the Stewardship in Worship page.

Giving Team meeting 2: Planning

• Plan your Invitation Package to Inspire, Invite. and Thank people to greater generosity.
• Work on your Narrative Budget.
• Commit your own gifts.
• Plan your communication to the community of faith.

Implement the program!

Inspire

Inspiring examples of living our faith inspire gratitude; inspire generosity; inspire giving.

• Why Am I Here? exercise
• Why I Give? exercise
• Narrative Budget how-to and samples

Invite 

We invite ALL people of our faith community to contribute to God’s mission here in our congregation, in our community, and through the Mission & Service of The United Church of Canada. The invitation is most effective when we reach out in a clear, direct, and personal way.

• Ways to Invite: Face-to-Face; Community Meal; Letter of Invitation (with samples)
• Decision-Making Tools: Intention Sheet and Response Card (with samples); Step Chart; Proportional Giving Chart
• Program announcements: Bulletin announcement; letter/e-mail samples

Thank

A culture of generosity is built on a foundation of gratitude. We cannot say thank you too many times. It’s just that simple!

• Timely: A message of thanks is provided soon after you receive a gift.
• Personal: The thank you is delivered face-to-face, in a handwritten note, or by e-mail.
• Sincere: The message communicates what a difference a person’s gift will make.

Giving Team meeting 3: Evaluating and celebrating

Use the Evaluation report in the Planning Workbook as a general guide.

• Review your experience.
• Do follow-up reporting and updating.
• Celebrate what you accomplished!

Get the stewardship support you need

Connect with the people and resources to help you succeed.