Passing the Plate: Why American Christians Don't Give Away More Money Review

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Passing the Plate: Why American Christians Don't Give Away More Money ReviewAs a seminary student with plans enter the priesthood, I found Passing the Plate valuable and helpful. The authors approach the inquiry of "Why American Christians don't give away more money" with genuine concern and interest in those who profess a faith but don't support it financially as their faith suggests they should. The tone throughout the book is measured not to criticize or accuse Christians of fault but moreso to help Christians live up to their faith and to fund the causes in which they believe. I appreciated their motives, processes, honesty and suggestions.
The authors present themselves as sociologists rather than theologians or Christian leaders. Their endeavor is to research and study Christian giving that they might determine the thoughts, attitudes, emotions and resources behind Christian giving or lack of it.
They study and analyze a plethora of data on giving and givers. They perform their own surveys and interviews of Christian leaders and parishoners to get to the core of the issue. The data results of their studies are eye opening to say the least, and most of their statistics are clear and tell a revealing story of who gives, how much they give and why they give or don't give.
The authors offer and test hypotheses of why American Christians don't give more money--at least closer to the 10% tithe prescribed by most Christian organizations. They discuss their findings in relation to these hypotheses.
After discussing their findings, they present suggestions for Christian leaders to implement in their congregations to increase giving in conformity with their faith. These are coherent, practical applications that are not manipulative or conniving but what I think are really helpful suggestions that readers can consider.
I think this book is one that pastors and Christian leaders will find valuable and instructional. I think it will also ease discomfort and anxiety that leaders may have when it comes to discussing money and teaching about finances within their churches.
Craig Stephans, author of Shakespeare On Spirituality: Life-Changing Wisdom from Shakespeare's PlaysPassing the Plate: Why American Christians Don't Give Away More Money Overview

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The Complete Guide to Fundraising Management (The AFP/Wiley Fund Development Series) Review

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The Complete Guide to Fundraising Management (The AFP/Wiley Fund Development Series) Review
I loved this book. It covers so much about nonprofit fundraising in such detail that I'm so glad I came across it a few years back when I was learning about the subject. I was working as an associate capital campaign consultant and found it kind of hard to find fundraising books that covered much of anything about capital campaigns. Then I found this book.
Most of the hardcover books I buy and read I don't bother to make notations using a pencil. I used this book so much to learn the basics of nonprofit fundraising that I broke tradition and used a pencil on it quite extensively. As a result, I have a few recommendations as to how the next edition could be improved. First, and foremost, I think the chapters should be reordered as follows:
PART 1. Fundraising Basics
1. (1.) The five major fundraising principles
2. (2.) Your organization and the nonprofit world
3. (3.) Managing the resource development function
4. (5.) Managing information
5. (15.) Human resources
6. (6A.) Prospect ID, research, and segmentation
7. (9.) Direct and select mail fundraising
8. (10.) Telephone solicitations
9. (7.) Nurturing relationships
Part II. Major Gift Fundraising
10. (4.) The Case for Support and fundraising materials
11. (6B.) Prospect ID, research, and segmentation
12. (8.) Major gift programs
13. (13.) Planned giving
14. (14.) Capital and endowment campaigns
Part III. Add-on ways to generate funds
15. (11.) Special event fundraisers
16. (12.) Grantsmanship
Part IV. An appendix
17. (16.) Evaluation
The numbers above in parenthesis are the actual chapter numbers. I would have liked the book much more if Chapter 6 had been split into two chapters. As far as I know, prospect identification differs significantly when working an annual campaign and soliciting funds using direct mail and the telephone. This topic could and should have had its own chapter. There is also the prospect identification, research and segmentation I am initimately used to that relates to major gift solicitation and capital campaigns. That topic should have had its own chapter (maybe even two chapters?).
I would have liked the book better if the content at pages 247 and 248 were reworked. I would reword the text as follows:
"Resource development professionals who have had years of capital and endowment campaign experience have come to recognize FIVE fundamental prerequisites indicating institutional readiness:
1. Does the nonprofit have a sound Case for Support?
2. Is there a good database of donor prospects with many high in CCCC, i.e., capacity, capability, connection, & commitment?
3. Are there sufficient volunteers who can provide strong leadership?
4. Is now a good time to initiate a campaign considering the current obligations of the nonprofit, the attitude and composition of its Board, and fundraising activities in the community from other nonprofits that share this nonprofit's constituents?
5. Can the nonprofit pay for and orchestrate the campaign effort?"
I would have liked to see some coverage of the Internet, Web sites, and email. There didn't have to be lots of this subject - just enough so the reader would know these topics are important to the fundraisers.
I loved the last chapter of the book. I thought it did a wonderful job of providing the reader with a checklist to effectively evalutate a fundraising department at a nonprofit. 5 stars!The Complete Guide to Fundraising Management (The AFP/Wiley Fund Development Series) Overview

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