Capital Campaign Assistance for Small Orthodox Parishes

Stewardship AdvocatesTM

The 2010 Atlas of American Orthodox Churches estimated that the average number of regular Sunday attendees in the 2,370 Orthodox churches in the United States totaled 124 souls. The number of total adherents per parish was estimated to be higher at 439.

Dividing these numbers by the present average American household of 2.54 persons yields an average of 48 households at Sunday Liturgy and 172 households in the average parish community that on some level adhere to Orthodoxy.

These numbers suggest that a capital campaign for a small parish that needs to acquire property, build a church, a hall or possibly a school will be a daunting challenge.

Small Orthodox Parishes

Small parishes undertake these tasks as they continue to fund the operating costs of the parish through stewardship.

The challenge increases when we consider that clergy receive zero training in major gift fundraising and managing capital campaigns at seminary, and like most people, clergy often find the fundraising task to be emotionally difficult and possibly intrusive upon the pastoral relationship.

Finally, Orthodox Christians rarely practice sacrificial giving in stewardship and are wholly inexperienced in giving from appreciated assets and estates, easily forgetting that these too come from God.

Furthermore…

• A specially announced effort

• To raise extraordinary funds

• Over multiple years

• Funds raised through personal

cultivation and solicitations

• For land acquisition,

renovation or construction

• An annually announced effort

• To raise ordinary funds

• Over a one-year period

• Funds raised through mailings, pleas and announcements

• For the operating budget, programs and ministries

Capital CampaignStewardship

Different Goals Require Different Methods of Fundraising

Capital Campaign Assistance to be Rendered

• Community campaign planning study followed by written report with recommendations

• Customized content for a capital campaign manual (to be assembled by the parish staff or volunteers)

• One or two three-day onsite visits for major prospect review, training the fundraising committee and coaching the priest

• Establish, or ramp up if already existing, a parish planned giving and endowment program

• If second onsite three-day visit is exercised then problem-solving, strategizing, further training of the fundraising committee and actual assistance with fundraising

• Phone, email and text support for two months following the last visit

• Deliverables: written report, campaign manual, training materials, planned giving brochure, charter endowment document, training and coaching for effective fundraising.

Suggested Next Steps

1. Visit the Stewardship Advocates website (link follows) to learn more about Anthony and to access free material on general parish development – especially pre-campaign planning.

2. Contact Anthony to describe the present state of your project together with the goals and objectives.

3. If necessary, seek further information regarding the details of the service to be rendered.

4. Ask questions to receive further clarity on credentials, experience, or references.

5. If appropriate, show the Powerpoint to the parish council.6. If appropriate, schedule a conference call with Anthony and

relevant parish leadership7. Request a written proposal from Anthony.

Ordained Bastille Day 1974; 38 years a priest; four parishes served; B.A., M.Div., plus 30 courses of study in nonprofit organizational development;12 years serving as Vice Chancellor of Advancement at St. Vladimir's Seminary; 16 years as consultant to well over 100 Orthodox parishes and organizations; author and editor of Good and Faithful Servant: Stewardship in the Orthodox Church.

In 2012, at his own request, Anthony was honorably returned to the ranks of the laity in order to receive the sacrament of holy matrimony.

Anthony L. Scott

The Principal of Stewardship Advocates

Further Information

Read an abbreviated summary of Anthony Scott’s work within the Orthodox Church

View a sampling of Orthodox clients served by Stewardship Advocates

See endorsements offered by previous clients

Contact Information and Social Media

phone/text: 347.831.1848

Email Anthony Scott

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17 Parish Development Powerpoints

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