3 Goals For A Come From Behind Giving Strategy

I have 3 goals for a come-from-behind giving strategy, and none of the three are about increasing dollars! Yet if you strive to hit these three goals you will increase the amount of money you raise. However, hitting my three goals will not only increase what you take in for any special offering but increase your giving long term.

I just released my 2024 annual come-from-behind giving strategy, this year is called “Recovering Your Lost Offerings: The Coach’s Annual Come-From Behind Playbook.” With the majority of churches reporting giving off from last year, most churches are ending summer, our worst time for giving, and are already behind. I always advise my clients not to let the decline mount before they are in desperation mode. Right now is the perfect time for a come-from-behind giving strategy. Click here for your copy! https://acts17generosity.com/shop/the-forgotten-sermon/

Special come-from-behind offerings are typically focused on one thing and one thing only: raising cash! There is nothing wrong with that. You need cash to continue the life-changing ministry your church provides. If that is your only objective, you will continue to struggle financially. Special offerings to make up a giving deficit are like putting a band-aid on a gaping wound. You are still going to bleed out. Here is my key point,

A come-from-behind giving strategy that focuses on more than simply raising immediate cash must have at least three subset goals. Here they are,

The first subset goal of any come-from-behind offering is to motivate new donors to give to support your vision.  Every year, you lose donors either from death, transfer, or other reasons.  We call this The Churn Rate.  Like attendance, your church has a front door and a back door.  Since you are losing donors yearly out the back door, you must continue to replace them with donors coming in the front door.  Special offerings, done correctly, allow you to attract new donors as a result of your compelling vision and message.

Another subset goal of a come-from-behind giving strategy is to engage younger generations in beginning their own generosity journey.  Even before COVID-19 hit, giving was in decline, and most churches were facing serious future challenges due to the aging population.  With Baby Boomers, your largest donor group, retiring, we must raise up a new generation of faithful stewards if we are to be funded in the future.  A good come-from-behind plan can help move younger generations from being a rookie giver to becoming radical givers.

A final subset goal of a come-from-behind giving strategy is to encourage and assure your leaders.  Don’t take this key segment for granted!  Let me share two important points.  First, your leaders, especially your giving leaders, will always be the most responsive to requests for additional funds.  It is essential to take your message to the right target group if you are to have success.  Yet, you never want to take them for granted, assuming they will always float the boat for you.  The second important point is that your top donors will appreciate a giving campaign that includes everyone doing their part.

I always advise that you get your leaders on board early by informing them ahead of time about the special come-from-behind offering you will be launching.  Stressing that your plan will help encourage others to do their part will greatly encourage your leaders to do more. 

Not sure how to accomplish any of the above? No worries, I have you covered with my manual, “Recovering Your Lost Offerings: The Coach’s Annual Come From Behind Playbook.” Get your copy at https://acts17generosity.com/shop/recovering-your-lost-offering/

Hitting these 3 goals will help you start down the path to financial stability.

Mark Brooks – The Stewardship Coach

@stewardshipman