SERVICES OF THE DEVELOPMENT AND STEWARDSHIP OFFICE

This list of resources is availble below for download in pdf format.

Parish Stewardship Services

Grow stewardship as a way of life in our homes, our parishes and throughout our local Church. Essential to this vision will be the encouragement and formation of our clergy and laity in practicing and teaching stewardship as a way of fulfilling one’s ministry. Services include: Parish Stewardship Resource (Tool Kit), Regional Parish Stewardship Workshops, Archdiocesan Stewardship Conference and Deanery/Parish Consultation.

Mission Advancement Training for Parishes and Schools

Teach “best practices in mission advancement” to our parish/school leadership. Services include: Regional Workshops, Deanery/Parish Consultation and Parish and School Resource (Tool Kit) for best practices in mission advancement.

Planned Giving Support

Planned gifts and endowments are wonderful opportunities to be stewards of the Church for future generations. Partnering with the Catholic Community Foundation, we will be inviting Catholics to support the church ministries most important to them through a planned gift.

Parish Capital Campaign Support

Assist parish leadership in following the right steps in preparing for and executing a successful parish capital campaign, including: archdiocesan approval, consultant selection, study and campaign counsel.

National and Archdiocesan Collections

Archdiocesan Campaign Initiatives – including the Catholic Services Appeal

Electronic Offertory Program

A hallmark of stewardship is that a family’s giving decision is a prayerful, planned response to God’s generosity. By inviting a family to budget their giving to their parish as they do other major household financial commitments, Electronic Offertory supports this principle of stewardship. 

Research shows that in today’s highly mobile society, regular Mass goers are away from their home parish an average of 17 times a year. (Source: “Why Catholics Don’t Give... And What Can be Done About It” by Dr. Charles Zech). Electronic Offertory ensures contributions are received even when such absences occur.

Electronic Offertory is a safe, secure and efficient process whereby parishioner donations are collected directly from their bank (checking or savings) accounts; or credit card account by a secure third-party provider and deposited into your parish account. Electronic Offertory ensures the parish a stabilized giving pattern, increased levels of giving and convenience for today’s busy households.

We understand the importance of continuing the personal, spiritual, ritual, and heart-felt aspect of giving; but are also sensitive to providing a convenient and secure means for parishioners to give.

If you are interested in implementing an Electronic Offertory Program in your parish and would like more information on a recommended vendor, contact the Office of Development and Stewardship, 651.290.1610; or contact:

Jan Jasmin
Vice President Sales

Vanco Services, LLC
12600 Whitewater Drive
Minnetonka, MN 55343
952.983.8678
email: jjasmin@vancoservices.com

www.vancoservices.com

Tips for Online Giving

Two churches, similar in almost every way, can experience substantially different results with their online giving pages. The difference is in promotion and execution. Below are seven ways to make your online giving program a winner. Many of these promotion tactics can be easily implemented by your church webmaster.

1. Location. Location. Location. Prominently feature a link on your home page to your donation page. Use a “Donate Now” button, a text link or, better yet, both! Donations are critically important and the link to your donation page should be placed in a position of corresponding importance. Don’t make members work hard to find the link to your donation page. Place the link where it will be visible without scrolling down the page. Online donors are looking for a straightforward contribution process so navigation from the home page to the giving page should take one click – two at most.
2. Offer multiple online links to your donation page. Provide links to your donation page from several locations throughout the church website. Ideally, a tab or link labeled “Electronic Giving,” “E-Giving,” “Contribute” or “Donate” will be a standard item in a fixed location on every page of your website. Insert a “Click here to donate” link within the text of all appeals and place a “Donate Now” button in all appropriate locations.
3. Adopt a more direct tone. For the majority of parish leaders, personally asking for funds is never easy—especially for things like operating expenses which lack the emotional tug of most charitable appeals. Fortunately, in an online environment, one can be far more direct when asking for financial support. In addition, a well-crafted financial appeal can be working at all times on the parish website allowing visitors to immediatelyrespond with a donation at any hour of the day or night.
4. Place a donation link at the beginning of your appeal. Too often parishes go into great detail describing a special need and then bury a tiny “click here to donate” link near the very end. Flip this arrangement on its head and place a link to the donation page right at the beginning of any appeal.
5. Offer multiple online donation methods. Just as businesses offer consumers different payment options, offer your parishioners different online payment options as well. Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT), credit card and debit card are the three most popular ways to donate online. Each method can be used for both one-time and recurring donations.
6. Direct donors to your site with multiple marketing methods. Promote your website and donation page at every opportunity. The parish web address should appear in all print communications and the availability of an online giving option should be mentioned in all financial appeals.
7. Encourage recurring donations. For some parishioners, missing Sunday Mass often means missing a contribution. Help members stay on track with their pledges by directing them to the parish's online giving page, where they can set up recurring donation plans. 

Tips for Online Giving is reproduced with permission from © 2010 Vanco Services, LLC.

Further Reading - Suggested Resources for Stewardship Education

United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

At www.usccbpublishing.org (Under Catalog: Leadership; Stewardship) (Publishing Services, USCCB, 3211 Fourth St. NE, Washington, DC 20017-1104) (1-800-235-8722)

• “Stewardship: A Disciple’s Response” (Bishops’ Pastoral Letter on Stewardship, available in both English and Spanish)
• “To be a Christian Steward” (Summary of Bishops’ Pastoral in pamphlet format)
• “Stewardship and Young Adults: An Invitation to Change the World” (Pamphlet geared to young adults in promoting stewardship)
• “Stewardship – A 3-D Way of Life: Not for Adults Only” (A videotape that explains and promotes stewardship among teens of your parish)
• “Stewardship – A 3-D Way of Life: Money Back Guarantee” (A videotape to explain and promote adult stewardship in the parish.

Ave Maria Press

At www.avemariapress.com (800) 282-1865, ext. 1

• “Forming Generous Hearts: Stewardship planning for life long faith formation”, by Liesa Anslinger

International Catholic Stewardship Council (ICSC)

At www.catholicstewardship.org (202-289-1093) (Materials are available in both English and Spanish)

• “Stewardship: Disciples’ Respond – A Practical Guide for Pastoral Leaders” (A manual for parish leaders for the purpose of promoting stewardship as a way of life)
• “Children’s Stewardship Manual” (A manual for parish and diocesan leaders who are interested in promoting stewardship for children)
• “Keeping Stewardship Alive: Proven Stewardship Ideas” (A manual and CD of creative and practical ideas submitted by parishes, dioceses, and individual contributors for the purposes of promoting stewardship beyond the first years)
• Matthew R. Paratore, Former Secretary General of the International Catholic Stewardship Council, has written a series of reflections on stewardship. They can be found on the ICSC website.

Liturgical Press

At www.litpress.org (keyword: stewardship) (1-800-858-5450)

• “Called to be Stewards: Bringing New Life to Catholic Parishes” (A book by Patrick McNamara with examples of bringing a stewardship approach to funding and ministry)
• “Creating a Stewardship Council” (A booklet detailing the development and formation of a stewardship committee)
• “Grateful Caretakers of God’s Many Gifts: A Parish Manual to Foster the Sharing of Time, Talent and Treasure” (A manual by Msgr. Joseph Champlin to help foster stewardship in the parish)
• “The Heart of Stewardship: Sacrificial Giving” (A video by Msgr. Joseph Champlin and Dutch & Barbara Schultz to promote stewardship as described in the Pastoral Letter)
• “Parish Stewardship Manual” (Step-by-step timetable with examples of letters, prayers, and bulletin announcements; packets with reflection guides, posters, and sample mailings are also available)
• “Sharing God’s Gifts” (A small educational reflection guide that explains the meaning of stewardship)
• “Sixty-Second Stewardship Sermons” (A resource book for pastors and deacons in preparing stewardship homilies. These short “sermons” on stewardship can also be used in newsletters and parish bulletins.)
• “Sustaining and Strengthening Stewardship” (A book by Jim Kelley with bulletin announcements, stewardship Scripture passages, and questions and answers on stewardship)
• “A Way of Life” (A booklet by Msgr. Joseph Champlin with four faith-sharing sessions on stewardship)

Our Sunday Visitor

At www.osv.com (1-800-348-2440)

• “Why Catholics Don’t Give, And What Can be Done About It” (A book by Charles Zech, Chair of the Economics Department at Villanova University)
• “Best Practices in Parish Stewardship” (a book by Charles Zech, based on surveys of stewardship parishes across the country)
• “Grace in Action” (Newsletters that can be used as bulletin inserts with feature stories on stewardship)
• “Stewardship by the Book” (English and Spanish available in both CD ROM and Paperback, this book by Sharon Hueckel, has stewardship bulletin announcements that reflect the Sunday Scripture readings)
• “Living Catholic Stewardship: Joyful Generosity” (An informative reflection guide written by Sharon Hueckel on stewardship)
• “Living Catholic Stewardship: Discerning Your Gifts” (A reflection guide on discernment for discovering an individual’s gifts and talents by Lorene Hanley Duquin)
• "What the Church Teaches: Stewardship” (A concise reflection guide on the Church teachings about stewardship)
• “Taking Care of God’s Gifts: Stewardship A Way of Life (K-2)” (A coloring and activity book for children in grades K-2 by Laurie Whitfield and Robert Cammarata)
• “Taking Care of God’s Gifts: Stewardship A Way of Life (3-5)” (A coloring and activity book for children in grades 3-5 by Laurie Whitfield and Robert Cammarata)
• “Catholic Stewardship: Sharing God’s Gifts” (An informative paperback booklet by Colleen Smith sure to motivate people to a better practice of stewardship)
• “Living Catholic Stewardship Conferences”, sponsored by Our Sunday Visitor, provide outstanding speakers and presentations on the various topics of stewardship. For more information go to: www.osvenvelopes.com (under Stewardship Products & Services; Conferences & Events)
• “7 Steps To Becoming Financially Free – A Catholic Guide to Managing Money” (Book, CD and Workbook Materials)

St. Catherine of Siena Institute

At www.siena.org (1-888-878-6789)

• “Called and Gifted” (A workshop facilitated by the St. Catherine of Siena Institute to help parishioners recognize their unique gifts and their response to God’s call)
• “Living Your Strengths” by Winsmen and Clifton
• “I Like Being In Parish Ministry” by Dan Conway

Twenty-Third Publications

At www.twentythirdpublications.com (1-800-321-0411)

• “Why Catholics Don’t Give, And What Can be Done About It” (A book by Charles Zech, Chair of the Economics Department at Villanova University)
• “What Do I Own and What Owns Me?” (A book on the Spirituality of Stewardship written by Daniel Conway with a DVD of Archbishop Thomas Murphy and his reflections on the Pastoral Letter)
• “The Catholic Kid’s Guide to Stewardship” (A book on children’s stewardship written by Elizabeth M. Johnson)

Trumbauer Consulting

4302 14th Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55407-3226 (612-823-7706)

• “Sharing the Ministry: A Practical Guide for Transforming Volunteers into Ministers” (A resource for helping parishioners recognize their unique gifts and their call into shared ministry by Jean Morris Trumbauer)
• “Created and Called” (A program by Jean Morris Trumbauer for helping churches develop and manage a comprehensive approach to gifts-based ministry)

Parish Publishing

Office of Stewardship and Development (502-585-3291)

“Stewardship” (A newsletter, available in both English and Spanish, published monthly to help stimulate a better understanding of true giving)

Archdiocese of Louisville

Office of Stewardship and Development (502-585-3291)

• “Good Things are for Sharing: A Curriculum Guide in Stewardship for the Elementary School Level”
• “From the Heart: A Curriculum Guide in Stewardship for Middle and High School Levels”

Resources for children’s envelopes

• Our Sunday Visitor: www.osv.com (1-800-348-2440)
• Cathedral Corporation: www.cathedralstewardship.com (1-800-698-0299)
• National Church Service, Inc. – The Envelope Service: www.envelopeservice.com (1-800-627-9900)

Resources for parish programs, retreats and missions with a stewardship focus

• The Marian College Center for Catholic Stewardship offers programs, parish retreats and missions by Fr. Dan Mahan: www.marian.edu/stewardship.
• Partners in Stewardship for Life offers retreats, missions, evenings of reflection and workshops with Ed and April Laughlin, at www.partnersinstewardship.com.