Money Flows Like A River

Posted on June 3, 2012 by Giving Speaks

Go forth, but return to this community,
Where rivers of tears may be shed,
Where dry souls are watered,
Where your joy bubbles,
Where your life cup overflows,
Where deep in your spirit you have found in this place a home.

All rivers run to the sea.

~Kayle Rice (excerpt)

Money and water have much in common. –

Think of words abundance, affluence, currency, lavish, bountiful, tributaries, profusion. All derive from words describing a flowing quality, such as water…energy…resources.

Water is known as the great solvent, cleanser, and purifier. Water is a highly valued commodity, for it sustains all living things. It occurs naturally, abundant in some places, scarce in others. Similarly, money is essential to the health and wellbeing of people and communities. In today’s world, it is difficult to exist without both of these essential resources.

Among the world’s great religions, philosophical systems, and earth-based traditions, water is an essential element in the teachings and rituals. With its qualities as solvent, cleanser and purifying agent, water is has been an irresistible symbol and source of inspiration for that which sustains all living things.

Generosity is the essential and sustaining element that must flow through our faith communities so that they may prosper. Givers in the congregation are like the tributary streams that flow into the river, carrying fresh supply of vital nutrients and abundant life energy. At the same time, it is important to remember that financial resources, like water, must continue to flow through the congregation and out into the community in healthy, life-sustaining ways. For when water is stagnant, it can become unhealthy—at times toxic—and unable to nourish living things. Faith communities function in similar ways to bodies of water.

Let us consider the waters of the Middle East. The Jordan River is a major river that diverts water from the Sea of Galilee down through valley between Israel, Palestine, and Jordan. Thermal springs bring salt to the Sea of Galilee, a body of water teeming with life and vitality. The Jordan River flows over 150 miles from the Sea of Galilee, carrying six million tons of water to the lowest point on the earth’s surface and with no outlet flow, The Dead Sea. With evaporation occurring in desert heat and thermal springs around the shores of the Dead Sea, there are high concentrations of salt and magnesium. Despite these high mineral concentrations and their value as commodities, with no flow of fresh water moving through, the Dead Sea is just that: a stagnant body of water unable to support life beyond micro-organisms.

As people of faith, we must understand the elemental nature of money and enable its steady flow into and through the congregation. It is money that provides the energy for the congregation’s mission and the essential nutrients to sustain its ministries, programs, infrastructure, and outreach.

The healthy, well-resourced congregation is like a major river with its currency abundantly supplied by its tributary streams, its givers. Its ministries flow out into the community, lavishly supplying plentiful resources to its surrounding communities. Without the in-flow and out-flow of money, our congregations cannot flourish. Just as environmental stewardship is necessary to effectively manage the world’s natural resources like water, so is congregational stewardship.

Sacred texts, poetry and literature are filled with the imagery and metaphorical wisdom to be gleaned from flowing water. These offer insight and inspiration for congregations seeking to nurture a culture of generosity and promote giving as a beneficial spiritual practice:

Thou in thy narrow banks art pent:
The stream I love unbounded goes
Through flood and sea and firmament;
Through light, through life, it forward flows. (Emerson’s Two Rivers)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

At times we flow toward the Beloved like a dancing stream.
At times we are still water held in His pitcher.
At times we boil in a pot turning to vapor –
that is the job of the Beloved. (Rumi’s One Whisper of the Beloved)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

You, Blessed One, are my first love.
The love that is always present, always pure, and freshly new.
And I shall never need a love that will be called “last.”
You are the source of well-being flowing through numberless troubled lives, the water from you spiritual stream always pure, as it was in the beginning. (Thich Naht Hahn, Call me by my true names)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Like the water of a deep stream,
love is always too much.
We did not make it.
Though we drink till we burst,
we cannot have it all, or want it all.
In its abundance it survives our thirst. (Wendell Berry Like the Water)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Resources for Nurturing Generosity and Congregational Stewardship: http: //www.uua.org/finance/fundraising/generosity/index.shtml

Shick, Stephen. Be The Change: Poems, Prayers & Meditations for Peacemakers & Justice Seekers. 2009. Skinner House Books. (several readings featuring water imagery.)

Rice, Kayle. All Rivers Run to the Sea http://www.uua.org/worship/words/closings/submissions/151326.shtml

Worship Resources, including Water Communion Ceremonies: http://www.uua.org/worship/holidays/174532.shtml

Water Justice Resources: http://www.uusc.org/environmentaljustice http://www.unicef.org/wash/index_3951.html

Legacy Giving and the Beloved Community

Posted on May 25, 2012 by Giving Speaks

To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you lived. This is to have succeeded.

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

There are many kinds of gifts that can be given and received. Gifts can be tangible or intangible, large or small, simple or complex, and everything in between. The gifts we give may be delivered with pizzazz for all to see, or stealthily without any public recognition. Our giving may take place at regular intervals throughout our lifetimes, or passed on after we die. Ultimately, most of us want our giving to make the world a better place.

Giving is a behavior or practice of making a choice to give a gift of money, time, possessions, talent, attention to others. Our giving is an expression of our deepest-held values and priorities, and at its best, a spiritual practice that benefits others and blesses the world. It is important to remember that our ability to give and making a positive difference does not require us to be of any particular age or in possession of great wealth. What is required is a spirit of generosity and a philanthropic mindset. There are a variety of means and tools available to help us with our giving in all its expressions.

Generosity is a state of being and mindset, with an inner awareness of having enough to share. Generosity offers a way of living in deep relationship with the world and its inhabitants and expressing gratitude for all that is received. Faith communities nurture generosity through religious teachings and opportunities for mission- and values-based giving.

Philanthropy derives from the Greek meaning “loving of humankind” and involves one’s actions and giving in support of humanitarian purposes. Similarly, Charity refers to love of humanity and benevolent goodwill toward others. Religious organizations and faith communities are uniquely positioned as venues for charitable giving.

Legacy Giving involves giving that is planned during one’s lifetime for the benefit of the people, causes, communities, and organizations beyond their lifetime. This is done through explicitly stating how one’s money, possessions, or property is to be distributed, such as making a bequest of dollar amounts or percentage of assets. Religious organizations and local congregations must make planned giving opportunities available to those who care deeply about sustaining their faith and their beloved community into the future.

What we do know from national giving data (USA Giving 2010) is that the majority of charitable dollars are given by individuals (81%), with bequests making up eight percent (8%) of total giving. The largest proportion of charitable dollars are given to religious organizations, but this share is decreasing with the dramatic increase of other secular and nonprofit organizations competing for financial support.

Mature Americans (age 55 years and older) account for nearly $7 trillion in the following financial categories:

-80% of all funds in savings,

-77% of America’s financial assets,

-70% of the net worth of all U.S. households

However, only forty percent (40%) of Americans have prepared wills and a mere six percent (6%) have included charitable bequests in their wills. Our elders whom make up what is known as the “silent” or “greatest generation” have amassed unprecedented wealth, with much of it held in real estate and retirement plans.

Currently, with the aging of the generations, we are experiencing the greatest transference of wealth ever seen, estimated at $41 trillion. This is the right time for all congregations and faith-based organizations to establish or strengthen their planned giving programs. These programs should be carefully structured and managed in keeping with recommended standards and best practices that honor the givers and their intent for their gifts. There are many planning tools available, and most religious organizations have current information, knowledgeable staff, and giving programs available to assist congregations and individual donors.

It is essential for congregations to nurture generosity inspired by and connected to the values and teachings of the faith, to actively encourage expression of gratitude through intentional giving, and to offer opportunities for the faithful to leave a legacy of benefit to their beloved community.

You can’t do anything about the length of your life, but you can do something about its width and depth.

~Evan Esar

For more information on charitable giving and planned giving programs:

The Unitarian Universalist Association’s Planned Giving Office: http://www.uua.org/giving/planned/index.shtml

For more information about Philanthropic Giving, the Donor Bill of Rights, and Model Standards of Practice for the Charitable Gift Planner:

The Association of Fundraising Professionals: http://www.afpnet.org/

Partnership for Philanthropic Planning: http://pppnet.org

The Sharpe Group: http://www.sharpenet.com/gt/pdfs/2012/may12.pdf

Gathering in Those Remaining Pledges

Posted on May 11, 2012 by Giving Speaks

Many congregations run their annual campaigns in the early spring. By now, the hope is that all the pledges are collected by now, forecasting an ample supply of dollars for the next year’s funding goals. In our ideal scene, the budget presented for congregational vote shimmers with abundance and glows with the promise of all that can be accomplished in the coming months.

However, many stewardship leaders report that after the first flurry of pledge returns, things slow down. Some households in the congregation are difficult to reach and it can be a challenge to gather in all the remaining pledges to wrap up the campaign and fulfill the budgeted income goals. Congregation leaders wonder….how can we gather in those remaining pledges?

In his book Ask, Thank, Tell, Charles R. Lane offers the following advice about wrapping up the annual campaign:

Have the follow-up plans in place before the campaign begins;
Consider having one person of the stewardship team to focus on the follow-up
Follow-up should occur quickly, within three weeks after the majority of the pledges are in;
Send out letters, campaign info, and pledge cards out with an envelope addressed to the church (stamped can help!) for faster return.
Stop the contacts after the follow-up letter to avoid perceptions of badgering, which can do more harm than good.

Other ideas for gathering in the remaining pledges include:

Send out two email messages, spaced two weeks apart, followed up with a phone call.
Provide campaign and pledge updates on your congregation’s website and social media sites, encouraging people to join in with their pledge.
Send out a reminder postcard with information about where to find pledge forms or how to pledge online.
Announcements in the orders of service or on Sunday mornings.
Put pledge cards in the orders of service or in the pews and invite people to fill them out and put them in the offering plate as it comes by.
The Minister, Senior Staff, or Elected Leaders make personal contact with all lapsed major donors to check in and encourage another generous pledge.
Scheduling small group social events where conversations about the congregation and how the mission, ministry and programs are funded, with pledging information available.
Newsletter updates on the annual campaign and ways people can pledge and contribute their financial support—it’s never too late!
Small groups and committees that are active in the congregation may provide a means for communicating about the annual campaign—these leaders can help spread the word.
If not already available, consider setting up an online pledge form or giving link on your congregation’s website.
Don’t forget to have a ready supply of current information about stewardship and annual pledging on your pamphlet racks, on bulletin boards, and at your visitors table for newcomers.
Consider a celebration or community social event to catch people’s attention! An ice cream social after the service or Sunday Brunch may be an enjoyable way to engage people’s support.

If you would like some assistance with planning your next annual funding campaign or with strengthening your year-round stewardship program, let’s connect! I am here to help you and your organization flourish~