Church management software is an unlikely hero. But whether you realize it or not, it’s an invaluable resource to help protect your church’s budget in 2014. Many church leaders view church management software as a place for contribution records and reports, but’s more than managing contributions.
Here are four ways you can leverage your church management software to protect your church’s generosity potential in 2014:
- Create a safeguard for financial accountability. A few weeks ago, Bryan Miles shared six ways to safeguard your church’s finances, which is an important part in protecting the trust your members have when they give. Donors want to make sure that the money they give is being stewarded well. Your church management software can provide the transparency that will give them confidence in their contributions.
- Manage givers just as much as contributions. Part of protecting your church’s finances is knowing the difference between managing finances and managing donors. Your church management software can provide a complete picture of your church members, from where they’re serving to what they’re passionate about. If you want to protect your church’s budget for next year, focus on cultivating relationships with givers as much as you focus on managing their donations.
- Leverage technology to cultivate relationships. As you start to cultivate relationships with givers, your church management software can tell you everything you need to know. When you take the time to create a tell-all giving report for your church and know how to act upon that information, you’ll cultivate generosity in a way you’ve never experienced before.
- Engage people in ministry to cultivate generosity. Most people think that the only way to increase generosity is by asking people to give more. However, when you improve your church’s process for ministry engagement, it could lead to an increase in generosity. People are more likely to give if they serve first.
Every church leader knows that meeting your financial goals for next year is not guaranteed. Protecting your church’s budget isn’t just about finances. Effectively motivating generous people in your church to give must happen in the entire context of your ministry, not just in the area of stewardship.
Has your church implemented any of these ideas in the past? How has it helped you overcome the stress and worry of not meeting your financial goals?
Photo Credit: bmward_2000 via Compfight cc