Stewardship Resources
Annual giving, what we commonly call stewardship, is the bedrock of all church fundraising. If you are not doing stewardship effectively, then planned giving, capital campaigns and other kinds of giving will not be as successful.
Annual giving is different from all other kinds of church fundraising because it is about the personal transformation of the giver. We are not raising money for a specific project like a building or a ministry, and we are not seeking to ensure the enduring stability of our congregation.
By making a practice of giving away our wealth in service of the Gospel, we are actively rejecting a false idol and removing an obstacle to our relationship with God.
Annual giving is an ethic, a discipline like prayer and service and worship, that is essential to discipleship and transformational to the individual. And like the other elements of discipleship, it must be done year-round. We would never restrict prayer to three months a year, or only offer pastoral care for five weeks. Stewardship – the regular, thoughtful, prayerful commitment of earthly resources to the purposes of Christ – must be done year around.
The resources below offer tools for year-round annual giving practices as well as stewardship seasons that last just a few weeks. For help with any of these resources, please contact T.J. Houlihan.
- Episcopal Church Foundation (ECF): Annual Giving and Development
- Project Resource: Annual Giving Guide
- The Episcopal Network for Stewardship (TENS): Annual Giving Members of the Diocese of Chicago can access password-protected TENS materials with username: Matthew22:4. For questions on how to use TENS resources or to schedule time to discuss ways to strengthen your pledge campaign, contact T.J. Houlihan at 312.751.6725
- TENS also holds an annual conference open to congregations. Learn more at TENS.org.
- ECF Vital Practices, a free newsletter with articles, tools, and resources for congregational leaders, is published online monthly. Subscribe online.
Planned Giving Resources
A planned giving program can assist church members who wish to leave a legacy that will support the future of the church and its ministries. The resources below offer tools and planned giving practices. For help with any of these resources, please contact T.J. Houlihan.
Plan Your Will for Free with Giving Docs
The Episcopal Diocese of Chicago offers free access to Giving Docs, a simple, secure online tool for creating or updating your will and other essential planning documents. The Book of Common Prayer (p. 445) directs the Church to encourage all people “to make wills, while they are in health,” providing for their families and remembering, as they are able, the ministries that have shaped their faith. For people of faith, a will is more than a legal or financial task. It is an act of stewardship and love: a grateful response to all we have been given, and a way to care for the people God has given us long into the future.
What You Can Do with Giving Docs
Whether you’re starting fresh or reviewing an existing plan, Giving Docs helps you:
- Provide for the people you love. Name how your family and friends will be cared for.
- Make your wishes clear. Create a healthcare directive and power of attorney.
- Remember the ministries that shaped you. Include your congregation, the diocese, or another charity, as you are able.
- Pass on more than possessions. Share the values, faith, and stories that have shaped your life.
Charitable Gifts Are Always Optional
A will’s first work is providing for the people you love. Many Episcopalians also choose to remember their congregation, the diocese, or another cause close to their heart. Every such gift is entirely optional, and each one helps sustain worship, service, formation, and outreach for generations to come.
Before You Begin
It takes only a few minutes to start. Your documents take effect only once they are printed, signed, and witnessed as your state requires; Giving Docs walks you through those final steps.
Giving Docs is an independent third-party platform, separate from the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago. Giving Docs is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. If your estate is complex, we encourage you to consult an attorney.
Canon T.J. Houlihan
Canon for Development
The Episcopal Diocese of Chicago
312.751.6725
tjhoulihan@episcopalchicago.org