Congregational Stewardship

StewardShops are short, practical, skills-based stewardship workshops. Participants practise skills to effectively raise funds for their congregation, community ministry, or organization. Each workshop outline includes notes for the facilitator and handouts for the participants.

The following are the first in the series. Please check this webpage again in the coming months—we'll be posting new StewardShops as they become available.

Stewardshop 101

Improve the effectiveness of your fundraising letters. Participants learn basic principles for effective fundraising letters and engage in guided practice in letter-writing. Peer review and editing complete the workshop.

• StewardShop 101 – Asking Words: Writing Donor Letters [PDF: 8 pp/63 KB] (congregational version)
• StewardShop 101A – Asking Words: Writing Donor Letters [PDF: 8 pp/64 KB] (community ministries, camps, other organizations)

Stewardshop 102

Develop your skill in face-to-face requests for contributions from potential donors. Participants take part in a series of guided-practice experiences in three connected arenas of contributions: annual pledge, special gift, and first-time giving.

• StewardShop 102 – Asking for Contributions [PDF: 8 pp/96 KB] (congregational version)
• StewardShop 102a – Asking for Contributions [PDF: 8 pp/90 KB] (community ministries, camps, other organizations)

Stewardshop 103

Learn and practise some principles of donor appreciation. Participants will gain insight into a variety of thanking methods, brainstorm ideas, and create a donor appreciation tool.

• StewardShop 103 – Thanking Six Times: Donor Appreciation [PDF: 8 pp/105 KB] (congregational version)
• StewardShop 103a – Thanking Six Times: Donor Appreciation [PDF: 8 pp/105 KB] (community ministries, camps, other organizations)

Stewardshop 104

Examine classic fundraising principles for "building a case"—providing a motivational basis for giving. Using a flowchart for developing case statements, participants complete a case statement for their own congregation or organization/ministry.

• StewardShop 104 – Build a Case [PDF: 11 pp/73 KB] (congregational version)
• StewardShop 104a – Build a Case [PDF: 11 pp/75 KB] (community ministries, camps, other organizations)