Make time to increase generosity in your congregation or nonprofit for the remainder of the year. Here are three surefire ways to make giving a joy:
- Say "thank you" as often as possible. I have yet to hear of anyone complaining about getting a hand-written thank you note, have you? Nary a negative Ned or Nellie has said, "Please, stop thanking me." In fact, having a grateful heart, and expressing it, has a direct link to making you happy. You make someone else feel good and – voila! – you feel great too. Our Sunday School class watched this terrific TED Talk by Shawn Achor on "The Happiness Advantage." It's funny and Shawn is amped up. Check out what he has to say about the importance of expressing gratitude.
- Tell your story…and emphasize how the donor is a part of it. It's easy to get tunnel vision and focus only on the future. That's all well and good but people want to know how their donations, no matter the size, made a difference. Don't forget to share with them the good news. And remember, it's not about "how great we are" it's about how awesome they are. "Because of you (the donor), we are able to do these great things and make a difference."
- Develop a generosity plan. If you aren't intentional, it usually doesn't get done. You can access the 2018 Generosity/Stewardship Calendar right here. If you'd like to personalize it for your situation, shoot me an email at [email protected] and I'll send you the calendar in a Word format. Think about working with a "generosity buddy" to hold you accountable as you check off your stewardship "things to do."
What a great year, right? And it will be even better if you carve out space in your day to be thankful and to thank, to find great stories to share, and develop a plan to increase generosity in your congregation or nonprofit. Generosity resolutions? You've got it covered.
Cesie Delve Scheuermann,Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference
United Methodist Church Giving is about people working together to accomplish something bigger than themselves. In so doing, we effect change around the world, all in the name of Jesus Christ. To read stories about the generosity of United Methodists click here.
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