How many times has a parishioner or visitor asked you to pray for them or someone they love? I bet you get prayer requests on a weekly, if not daily basis. What’s the most common response to a prayer request? “I’ll pray for you,” meaning, “At some point in the future, I’ll remember you in […]
Not all fundraising activities are created equal. All parish and school fundraising opportunities are unique and while your leaders likely have a firm grasp on how they differ, it’s important to let your parishioners and school families know the purpose and goal of each fundraising event. Consider the following as a general outline to separate […]
Magazine subscriptions. Chocolate sales. Caramel corn delivery services. We’ve all participated in these sorts of gimmicky fundraising schemes, hawked by companies that claim their particular product will raise tens of thousands of dollars for your Catholic parish. They tend to be some of the worst fundraising ideas ever. Here are four reasons to avoid them […]
You’re getting bombarded with new programs every week – ministry programs that claim to lead hundreds into RCIA, pack the pews, invigorate the young people in your church and so on. It’s a sign of the times. We all know that demographically, Catholicism is declining in the Western Hemisphere, and we are all looking for […]
The CSM team often works with pastors and staff that say, “We wish parishioners would increase their financial support.” The response that we offer, though simple, often comes as a surprise to many. We ask in return, “Have you asked for it?” People are willing to increase their support if they feel engaged in the mission and […]
Your pastor is busy. Your committee chairs have day jobs. Your volunteers are being pulled in a million different directions and the only difference between you hosting a successful parish event and overseeing a complete disaster is the information contained in the email you are about to send. How do you make sure your email […]
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 […]
