December 31 is just nine short months away, and with it will come year-end giving decisions for many of your parishioners. In addition to reminding them of the tax benefits and various ways they can support the parish, you also need to give them food for thought so their giving is in line with their […]
For centuries religious institutions were some of the most trusted organizations in most cultures. But in the modern era, suspicion of all authority figures and public institutions is on the rise. The “Me Too” era has shined a light into many dark areas of our culture, exposing abuse and corruption. (See here for an example of what […]
When our team conducted a national research project focused on giving trends in Catholic parishes, we asked parishes how many registered households had an email address on file with the parish. Churches that had emails for 70% or more of their households reported average household giving that was 21% higher than churches that had emails […]
Hopefully it’s easy for new parishioners to register at your parish. What happens after a new household registers is just as important as the registration itself. An increasing number of parishes in North America are implementing welcome teams to help draw new parishioners closer to the heart of the community. Here are a few way to get started: Choose […]
Maybe you take prayer requests at your Catholic parish, but have you ever considered taking prayer requests online? In our work with we promote clean, simple online giving forms. Today, consider adding just one more field to your giving page – a prayer request form. By asking a donor to share his or her prayer […]
It’s an age-old question: fundraising letters or emails? If you’re responsible for your church’s annual stewardship drive, you’re probably wondering whether this is the year you should move from regular mail and checks to email and online giving. Our team’s recommendation, based on deep research and professional experience, is that yes, you should definitely start moving […]
Parish entry point giving is a topic rarely discussed in Catholic churches. This week, take a few minutes to review your parish’s online gift portal. When someone makes a first-time gift online, is the “Amount of Gift” box empty, or is it automatically filled with an appropriate amount? Ideally, it should be filled with what […]
When’s the last time you took a moment to count your blessings at the parish? We’ve all heard it before: an “attitude of gratitude” can make all the difference in someone’s life. But how do you practice gratitude on a parish-wide level at your Catholic church? Earlier we shared how you can begin thanking volunteers […]
With everything going on at your Catholic parish, it can be easy to forget that thanking parishioners well is one of them most important tasks. One of our CSM employees once asked a major donor at a local church: “What can the parish do better?” The response was simple: “Make sure Father and the staff […]
How is your parish celebrating baptisms? Outside of the sacrament itself, there are lots of ways to commemorate a new life claimed in Christ. Here are just a few thoughts: Start a program where each newly baptized infant receives a “Welcome to God’s family!” card one week after his or her baptism. Bonus points if […]
