Life is a jest and all things show it...

The best fundraising link of all time!

2010-05-19T10:52:00.002-04:00

http://www.ccsfundraising.com/images/stories/pdf/fundraising%20guidelines-adages%20and%20facts%202010_table.pdf

Amazing list of stats, facts, figures. Created by the big firm on the block CCS. Fantastic stuff-thank you CCS.

Something about this video...

2010-04-09T20:45:00.002-04:00

http://www.vimeo.com/5606758

Watch this video on full screen-click the little X on the lower right corner of the video player. Some sound as well.

...just seemed to be pretty amazing.

1969 to 2010 technology then and now!

2010-04-02T17:33:00.002-04:00

Take a look at this video of how today's technology was imagined in 1969. Pretty amazing how far we've come over a relatively short period of time. How close did they get it back then?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/02/the-internet-in-1969-how_n_523080.html

I wonder what the next 40 years will bring? My kids will be directing me to some new link in 2050! showing me how goofy we were back in 2010 I reckon.

Enjoy and Happy Easter!

File under: Why didnt I think of this!

2010-03-29T20:02:00.002-04:00

This company was started by a couple of undergrads from Babson College-who obviously were far more creative than I was when I was there!

http://www.ideapaint.com/

We are doing a full 10x10 wall in the conference room with this! Should be good fun to just write on the walls and not get in trouble for it.

The burden of the blog...

2010-03-27T16:38:00.003-04:00

The burden of a blog! A pastor in the Archdiocese of Boston recently told me that he had read my blog. Being a lifelong Catholic, guilt comes easily to me. I resolved to immediately resume blogging! This was ten days ago.

As the owner of the Cunneen Company I start each day with a long list of very important tasks-Heavy is the head that wears the crown.

So I begin: Check facebook, check email personal, check email company, post to my twitter account, change ring tone on Iphone, check email again, update facebook status, download the latest "Paper Toss" application to my I-Phone. You are welcome for THAT referral.

Being connected in this age of "social networking" of "virtual offices" of "smart phones" of 24/7 access is no small task. The blog? Can it be that the Blog is now past tense? We hardly knew you... I mean I can say a lot in 140 characters-thank you twitter. I don't even have to spell check there, its a forgiving medium.

I will think more about you Blog and make my decision soon! After all nobody really reads you and I ALREADY have followers on twitter-I can feel our relationship slipping away.

The Archdiocese of Boston Solid - article parish giving.

2010-02-11T11:41:00.004-05:00

http://www.parishfundraisingblog.com/blog/2009/12/11/whats-the-best-way-to-contribute-to-my-parish-in-2010.html

Now if only I can get them to suggest Cunneen's https://www.intentionalgiving.com/ as a viable electronic giving alternative to the ones mentioned in the article! Work is never done!

Tim Tebow! One more reason to like this guy!

2010-01-26T16:14:00.002-05:00

http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2010/01/26/crimesider/entry6143065.shtml

Courage, conviction. This is a brave act for a sports figure just beginning his career. Bravo Tim!

Our company family continues to grow!

2010-01-05T18:06:00.002-05:00

Throughout our almost 30 years in business, we have seen our family grow and would like to share some history with you.

Between the women and men working at Cunneen, we have:

42 Children (17 boys and 25 girls)
18 Grandchildren
7 Great grandchildren

We have 3 sets of twins ranging from 4 months, 20 years, to 43 years and one set of triplets at 2 1/2 years old.

In 2009, 3 year old “Maddie”, adopted from China, joined the Cunneen “work family”.

The Archdiocese of Cincinnati!

2010-01-04T15:53:00.002-05:00

Archdiocese of Cincinnati
. . . . .leading the way

The Cunneen Company wishes to congratulate Most Reverend Dennis M. Schnurr, Archbishop of Cincinnati, Michael Vanderburgh, Director of Stewardship, Brian Doyle, Associate Director of Stewardship, and members of the Pastor’s Advisory Council for boldly deciding to launch an Archdiocesan-wide Parish Stewardship Initiative in the Fall of 2010.

Beginning in September of 2010, the first of 218 parish stewardship initiatives will commence. The goals of the effort are to deepen parishioner understanding of Stewardship of Treasure. Parishioners will be encouraged to increase their regular giving, to use offertory envelopes, to consider electronic giving, and to be intentional, reflective and prayerful in their support of their parish. All 175,000 families will have access to a three-year subscription of Stewardship in Motion a newsletter which explores all aspects of parish stewardship-Time, Talent, and Treasure.

Leading the way among Catholic Dioceses across the United States, parishes in the Archdiocese will benefit from parish initiatives, which will be funded by the Archdiocese. Each program will be customized to meet specific parish needs, parish timetables, and will reflect the conversation that individual parishes and pastors have already had with their parishioners about Stewardship.

Cunneen welcomes the Archdiocese to its family of clients and applauds its bold leadership. We look forward to our Fall 2010 launch!

Happy New Year

2010-01-04T15:46:00.002-05:00

SAY WHAT YOU WILL ABOUT 2009
. . . . .BUT BORING IT WAS NOT!

Tasked with running our company in the midst of the greatest recession in seventy years, my brother and I have found the experience has left us with conflicting emotions. Over the past fourteen months, we’ve experienced great disappointment as well as extraordinary stress and pressure. This has been tempered, however, with many instances of our entire team pulling together in a spirit of collective sacrifice to help each other, to assist our clients, and to help the firm endure the hard times. As a company, we have never worked harder, better, more efficiently and dare I say, joyfully then we have over these past months. Hardship and sacrifice have brought out the best in us all.

As I proudly write this letter, I can’t help but think that every one of our client pastors could say the exact same things about their staff, about their volunteers, and about their parishioners. We have witnessed tens of thousands of families digging a bit deeper each weekend to help support their parish in these difficult times; the work of the church has never seemed more important! We have stood in awe as thousands of pledge cards from capital campaigns all across the country arrived in our office; each completed card giving witness to the importance of Church, Faith, Sacrifice and Hope.

We have witnessed the courage of pastors and lay leaders as they boldly made the difficult decisions that were necessary to keep their parishes operating and to maintain the services that their parishioners needed more than ever. We have seen those parishioners respond. Throughout one hundred fifty-seven appeals this fall and approximately three hundred over the course of the year, in dozens of dioceses, in almost thirty states; we have not seen a single instance where the faithful didn’t respond abundantly. It has been humbling.

Looking back, this has been the most difficult year in my professional life; it has also been the most rewarding. I have never felt more proud of the work that our firm does, of our staff, and of the clients we serve. What we do is important because what you do is essential. This year has been humbling and empowering; difficult, yet, wonderful. I look to the future with a renewed spirit of optimism and a deeper belief in the work that we do.

Thank you for permitting Cunneen to assist your parishes, your dioceses and the people who you serve. Your work is important; it is essential! It remains a privilege to serve our Church.

Hamden Hall dedicates its new Field House. I get a chance to speak!

2009-12-17T15:30:00.001-05:00

My favorite case letter of the season.

2009-11-18T16:40:00.003-05:00

This letter inspired by the words of our client-the pastor at Saint Francis-but credit for the writing belongs to Harry Colin of the Cunneen team.

Saint Francis of Assisi Parish is blessed in so many ways! We are an active, vibrant parish that accepts with great eagerness Christ's call to evangelization. We center our worship on the Eucharistic Liturgy and from this wellspring all of our ministries flow. It is sometimes instructive for all of us to review just how far and in what directions our outreach extends, so permit me to briefly review just some of the highlights of our parish life and to discuss some exciting plans for our future.

Our celebrations of the liturgy are infused with energy, passion and prayerfulness. Our music ministry is superb and in the words of Saint Augustine, “ one who sings prays twice.” To strengthen this integral component of our parish life we want to appoint a Worship Ministry Coordinator to make our celebrations even more powerful and consistent.

We educate children from Pre-K age all the way through the elementary, middles school and high school years. This process is critical to our future and requires adequate resources to insure our children are properly catechized to go forth into a challenging world. Our RCIA and adult education programs also are important to us.

Effective and Gospel- inspired social action is an important ministry for us here also. Among the most prominent programs are Americares, the Christmas toy collection, our food drive and our ongoing care and outreach to our sick. We also sponsor a number of social gatherings that are important to sustain and buildupon our fellowship here at Saint Francis.

Communication that is far-reaching and effective is required to link all of our people and ministries together. We want to revive the parish newsletter and strengthen our presence on the website to further this aim.

We have now reached an important, exciting yet critical point in our parish life. We must take the opportunity presented to us now to insure these ministries survive and prosper. All of these ministries require resources to operate. Our parish offertory collection is the lifeblood that nourishes the heart from which our actions draw their inspiration. That is why I am asking each one of you to prayerfully consider making a modest increase in your weekly giving.

The members of the parish finance committee and I understand these are challenging times. Such times, however, require more from our parish ministries, not less and a strengthened collection is the only way for this to occur. By making every effort to be a regular and consistent user of your envelopes, and by making the commitment to nudge your weekly gift upward a bit, we can survive and flourish in our parish life.

Please pray over this important request I have presented you and respond as best you can. We are good stewards of what you have given us and we ask that you in turn practice good stewardship with your blessings. As Sacred Scripture tells us, “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.” (Hebrews 13:16) Whatever your decision, I ask for your prayers and assure you of mine on your behalf.

This parish has recorded a 25% increase in weekly giving-the message worked!

One of those fundraising stories.

2009-10-26T11:45:00.003-04:00

This is one of those stories that fundraising people like me love to tell. I'll let the article do the telling but its one of thee good ones. Enjoy-and if you ever happen to be sitting in on one of my talks and I use this, please act surprised!

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=111091624

Leadership! You know it when you see it.

2009-10-26T11:36:00.001-04:00

Statement of Bishop Tobin in Response to Congressman Kennedy’s Attack on Catholic Church(PROVIDENCE, R.I.) -

The Most Rev. Thomas J. Tobin, Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence, today issued the following statement in response to a Cybercast News Service article that reported: Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-R.I) told CNSNews.com that the Catholic Church is doing nothing but fanning “the flames of dissent and discord” by taking the position that it will oppose the health-care reform bill under consideration in Congress unless it is amended to explicitly prohibit funding of abortion.

“Congressman Patrick Kennedy’s statement about the Catholic Church’s position on health care reform is irresponsible and ignorant of the facts. But the Congressman is correct in stating that “he can’t understand.” He got that part right.

As I wrote to Congressman Kennedy and other members of the Rhode Island Congressional Delegation recently, the Bishops of the United States are indeed in favor of comprehensive health care reform and have been for many years. But we are adamantly opposed to health care legislation that threatens the life of unborn children, requires taxpayers to pay for abortion, rations health care, or compromises the conscience of individuals.

Congressman Kennedy continues to be a disappointment to the Catholic Church and to the citizens of the State of Rhode Island. I believe the Congressman owes us an apology for his irresponsible comments. It is my fervent hope and prayer that he will find a way to provide more effective and morally responsible leadership for our state.

Our client in the news! Almost at goal...

2009-10-22T13:26:00.007-04:00

We are pleased to report that St. Mary Star of the Sea in New London, CT, has crossed well beyond the $500,000 mark and are closing in on their $600,000 goal! No small accomplishment in this economy and in an economically challenged community. Father Washabaugh is an outstanding leader and his parishioners have really rallied to restore this historic church.

It's fun to celebrate the victories!

www.theday.com/article/20090921/NWS01/309219975

A Widow's Might version 2.0

2009-10-07T14:10:00.000-04:00

A bone to the dog is not charity. Charity is the bone shared with the dog, when you are just as hungry as the dog. Jack London

Now THIS was a good question.

2009-10-07T13:44:00.002-04:00

At a morning meeting with Monsignor Greico of Weston, CT we were discussing the "case for support" for his parish's upcoming offertory enchancement appeal. We covered the usual topics of budget vs. income, rising expenses, a slight dip in offertory due to the recession, the desire to expand ministries.

I thought we were doing pretty well-Monsignor didnt seem quite satisfied. As the discussion continued Monsignor became quiet, leaned back in his chair and seemed to settle into deep reflection. After a few moments he asked me this question:

"John, with all that is going on today, where do my people go to get hope?"

And there you have it...

The Ask! A slightly different version.

2009-10-07T13:41:00.002-04:00

How Am i Doing,v by Jack Canfield,

One of life's fundamental truths states, "Ask and you shall receive." As kids we get used to asking for things, but somehow we lose this ability in adulthood. We come up with all sorts of excuses and reasons to avoid any possibility of criticism or rejection. This is especially true when it comes to asking for opinions on our appearance, behavior, or performance. When is the last time you asked for a status report from a beloved or co-worker on your attitude, for example? How about a report card from a best friend? A grade on your parenting from your spouse or kids?

If you are not moving closer to what you want, you probably aren't doing enough asking. And you're probably not asking the single most important question that can help you achieve a higher level of success and personal fulfillment: How am I doing? This question can be asked in a variety of settings--at work, at home, with friends and colleagues, and even within yourself. The information you gather can be used to set new goals, refine your habits, and generally help you to make the improvements you know you need to make. Have faith that the person you ask will enjoy offering you truthful answers. After all, it's an opportunity to enrich that relationship and exchange very personal insights. You may even find yourself answering the same question back at the other person.

How to Ask

Some people don't enjoy the fruits of asking because they don't ask effectively. If you use vague language you will not be clearly understood. Here are five ways to ensure that your asking gets results.

1) Ask Clearly
Be precise. Think clearly about your request. Take time to prepare. Use a note pad to pick words that have the greatest impact. Words are powerful, so choose them carefully. If you throw the "How am I doing?" question out without specifics, it may take time for the other person to understand what you're getting at. Instead of being vague at the start, it may help to begin with a direct reference to exactly what topic you're referring to. For example, if it's your fitness habits, try "I really appreciate your thoughts on how I'm doing in my attempts to shape up physically. I'm hoping to drop a few pounds and eat better, but I'm wondering (since you're my husband and you see me more than anybody else) how you think I'm doing?" Later on, you can add something like, "Where do you think I could be going wrong, or could be doing better?"

2) Ask with Confidence
People who ask confidently get more than those who are hesitant and uncertain. When you've figured out what you want to ask for, do it with certainty, boldness and confidence. Don't be shy or feel intimidated by the experience. You may face some unexpected criticism, but be prepared for it with confidence. Try to have an open mind and heart. Don't get defensive if you hear something you don't like or that makes you uncomfortable. It's good to get a little squirmy once in a while upon the observations of others. They will inspire you to stop, reflect, and take steps to make a lifestyle shift for the better.

3) Ask Consistently
Some people fold after making one timid request. They quit too soon. Keep asking until you find the answers. In prospecting there are usually four or five "no's" before you get a "yes." Top producers understand this. When you find a way to ask that works, keep on asking it. You may, for example, want to ask a co-worker about your performance on an important team project, but you sense a reluctance from that person to offer an opinion. You can always ask another person who is more receptive to the question, or consider how you are asking it and try again. Because people don't normally go around asking others for opinions on how well they are doing, it's not a question typically heard. So be prepared to ask over and over again before you hear a clear--useful--answer.

4) Ask Creatively
Everyone is busy these days keeping up with life and To Dos. Asking someone to stop and evaluate you can seem awkward or time-consuming. Your asking may get lost in the crowd, unheard by the people you hope to reach. There is a way around this. If you want someone's attention, don't ask the ordinary way. Use your creativity to dream up a high-impact presentation. Example: "If you wanted me to do one thing differently in our relationship, what would that be?" Find right time to ask the question.

5) Ask Sincerely
When you really need help, people will respond. Sincerity means dropping the image facade and showing a willingness to be vulnerable. Tell it the way it is, lumps and all. Don't worry if your presentation isn't perfect; ask from your heart. Keep it simple and people will open up to you.

If you own your own business or have a lead role at work in dealing with customers, the how-am-I-doing question can go a long way in bringing you priceless information. And don't for a minute think that this is only a question for Customer Service. Asking for feedback is critical regardless of one's position. How do you really know if your product or service, for instance, is meeting your customers' needs? Ask them, "How are we doing? What can we do to improve our service to you? Please share what you like or don't like about our products." Set up regular customer surveys that ask good questions and tough questions. It's a powerful way to fine-tune your business--and all the relationship you forge in that business.

Think about taking an inventory of "how-am-I-doing" from various people in your life at least once a year. Make it an annual habit. I trust you'll be surprised and delighted at what you discover about yourself in this process. And it will surely lead the way to higher, more satisfying levels of yourself.

(c) 2009 Jack Canfield

Jack Canfield is America's #1 Success Coach, co-founder of the billion-dollar Chicken Soup for the Soul brand

Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jack-canfield/how-am-i-doing-the-one-qu_b_268600.html?view=print

It takes a big shovel to fill an even deeper hole!

2009-07-22T16:05:00.001-04:00

Approximately eighteen months ago, we were given the unique opportunity of conducting a diocesan-wide offertory enhancement appeal for the Catholic Diocese of Ogdensburg, NY. Under the guidance of then Most Rev. Bishop Robert Cunningham (now Bishop of Syracuse) and with the careful attention of Vicar General Murphy and the Development office, we successfully raised the offertory by an average of 25% across their 113 parishes.

While I would love to spend the next several paragraphs expounding about the outstanding Cunneen process, that is not what this newsletter is about. We are proud of our work in Ogdensburg and they are very pleased with Cunneen. The purpose of this article is to challenge you, the reader, to think a bit bigger about parish and diocesan finance.

What impact would a 25% increase in giving have not just on the parishes in your diocese but on the entire diocese including all the programs and services funded through the Cathedraticum and diocesan assessment. A 25% increase in offertory at the parish level translates to a 25% increase in revenue derived from the Cathedraticum or assessment (without having to ask parishes for an even greater sacrifice).

Referencing the Diocese of Ogdensburg, they negotiated a 25% decrease from the regular fee and agreed to subsidize the remaining fee by one-third. This left the parishes with two-thirds of a greatly reduced fee. The diocese took it one step further and advanced this money to the parishes with the parishes reimbursing the diocese once their appeals were conducted. At that point, the new income was already flowing into the parish and the Cunneen guarantee met.

√ 100% of the parishes participated, and
√ 100% of the parishes realized a significant increase

Eighteen months later, pastors completed a survey and indicated that their increases were holding. The base was solidified, all parties benefited greatly, and the Church in Ogdensburg is stronger.

We, as a Church, as well as The Cunneen Company cannot keep trying to solve the same problems with the same solutions. We need to move beyond just fixing individual problems at individual parishes. Local solutions just aren’t big enough. If the will to conduct an appeal, diocesan-wide, does not exist, perhaps it does city-wide, deanery-wide or regionally. If the parishes who need it the most won’t or cannot conduct an appeal, perhaps the diocese can under- write the fee or subsidize its most needy parishes.

Cunneen remains ready to partner with your diocese, your parish, your deanery, or all of the parishes in your city on BIG solutions that solve BIG problems.

Do you have to? YES! Blogging, Facebook, Twitter and you…

2009-06-27T16:38:00.003-04:00

I had hoped never to have to write this article but alas the time has come.

It is time for Catholic parishes to move beyond bulletins and websites as the sole methods for communicating with their parishioners. Yes! This article is about embracing blogging, Facebook and dare I say Twitter.

As a society we are experiencing a major and rapid change in how we seek, acquire and ultimately consume information. We are migrating away from traditional sources such as the home delivered newspaper, the news magazine and the evening news. We are visiting websites of our choosing from our computers or our smart phones. We are simultaneously narrowing our focus to specific types of news or specific viewpoints while at the same time using technology to keep us informed on a remarkably broad range of subjects.

Want to know if a severe thunderstorm is approaching your area? No problem sign up for a weather alert and your phone will notify you with a warning. Are you interested in up to date scores of your favorite team? Instant notification is about ten keystrokes away. Ever wonder what happened to that funny kid who you bunked with in summer camp? She is on Facebook-waiting for you to “friend her”.

Modern technology has changed much about how people interact with each other and connect with their community. There is much to be concerned about; there is no question that “new” comes with a fair amount of “not quite as good as it was”.

Embracing the new technology, however, can also be extraordinarily powerful. It can bring people together; it can dramatically expand the ease and speed in how you communicate with your parishioners, area Catholics, or supporters. Effective use of this technology also provides a forum for disseminating real content, for having real conversations, for tackling important topics.

Blog sites, Facebook and even twitter are all tools that Catholic Dioceses as well as parishes need to be investigating. A quick search on the term “Catholic Parish” on the Facebook website yields dozens of parishes who have built their own “groups” to promote the parish, to connect members of their youth programs, to discuss their faith. Some parishes have several hundred members in their groups that they can communicate within seconds, several hundred members who are learning about their parish, their youth group, parish activities or important elements of their faith.

An investigation of the www.Blogspot.com blog hosting company provides dozens of examples of blogs being maintained by Catholic pastors where important topics related to our faith are being discussed. There are blogs from business managers, youth ministers and energetic lay people. Discussions are happening, people are sharing, and people are connecting!

Most of these sites are free and have tools which allow for privacy, access and content control.

As for Twitter it is worth looking at if only to get a preview of where things may be heading. Essentially it is a real time, running dialog, of very short messages from an individual to a community of people who have elected to be kept informed of the individual’s activities.

The big message of this article is blogs, Facebook and even Twitter are important tools that individuals, leaders, businesses, nonprofit organizations and churches are using to communicate, to build community and to connect people with common interests and ideas to each other.

Sounds familiar, sounds relevant, sounds important!

John

(note: article to appear in an upcoming Cunneen Company newsletter, I am well aware that anyone reading this knows about blogs!)

Dont Waste the Summer-Ten things to do before the Fall!

2009-05-25T16:15:00.003-04:00

1.) Review all donor activity over the past six months. What is your average gift? Are the number of gifts you are receiving increasing or decreasing, are you missing any key givers from prior years? Now is the time to do some "data mining" in an attempt to spot any trends or to pull out a few key names for personal attention over the quieter summer months.

2.) Select five key donors and schedule a casual meeting with them to discuss their ideas for your organization, some of your goals, the challenges that you will face once the fall begins. Consider doing something you couldn't otherwise do during the fall or winter-attend a local sporting event, afternoon cocktails on the patio, boating-something informal and different.

3.) Launch a blog, create a facebook presence for your organization, start twittering. Embrace all of the fancy new technology. The summer tends to be a bit slower, take the time to learn, read, experiment with the many new ways available to you to spread the word about what your organization does! I read an article yesterday that some churches are encouraging members to twitter while in church and are broadcasting those messages on a screen during services! A bit nutty-but it's different and perhaps it will draw folks in? Learn them now-they are not going away!

4.) Throw away all of those winter and spring "to do lists" and make new lists! No sense mourning the unaccomplished. Priorities change, the economy is improving! If you didn't do it in January or March it probably didn't need to get done. Make a new list for the Fall!

5.) Pick the largest pile of manila folders on your desk, file rack or file cabinet and obliterate it! Throw out, re-file, give to somebody else. I have discovered that 75% of the things contained in manila folders in my office are outdated and useless. Make them go away.

6.) Draft the first appeal or solicitation letter that you intend to use this fall. Write it, put it in your desk and let it sit for a month or two. Re-visit and edit late in the summer. How often do we have this luxury? I can't tell you how many letters I have created and mailed that a bit of time and reflection wouldn't have dramatically improved.

7.) Read a book on planned giving! (This has been on my summer list for five years!)

8.) End your list at eight! Call it a day and go home early! It's the Summer-enjoy it!

The Cunneen Company-Good news!

2009-05-25T16:01:00.002-04:00

Just a moment or two to celebrate some outstanding news here at The Cunneen Company. Over the past several months we have been in discussions with several dioceses across the country about conducting an offertory enhancement appeal for all their parishes.

I am thrilled to announce that starting this Fall the Catholic Diocese of Fargo, North Dakota will be utilizing our firm to conduct an offertory appeal for all 119 of its parishes.

I am equally thrilled that the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Pasaaic has also placed its trust with Cunneen to conduct an offertory appeal for all 93 of its parishes in the coming months!

Congratulations to all of the Cunneen team members who made this possible. Our sincere thanks to the church leaders in Pasaaic and Fargo their confidence in our firm!

More "big news" to follow in the coming weeks!

Well if he said it...

2009-05-19T14:55:00.000-04:00

"The Nation that makes a great distinction between its scholars and its warriors will have its thinking done by cowards and its fighting done by fools."

Thucydides (a really long time ago)

For the Dan Brown fans out there - I present:

2009-05-19T13:46:00.005-04:00

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/19/opinion/19douthat.html?_r=1&em

The author of this fantastic little article is a graduate of my High School-Hamden Hall in Hamden, CT. Ross was a few years behind me. I wish I could say I knew him well (I am sure many folks knew him better now that he is a world famous columnist).

Ross Douthat replaces Bill Kristol as the "conservative" voice in the New York Times.

Fantastic article about the controversial yet absurdly popular author Dan Brown.

Well done Ross-and to think we had the same English teachers!

Now isnt this interesting...

2009-05-11T11:32:00.005-04:00

Sales! Sales! Sales! SALES!

2009-04-23T17:24:00.003-04:00

We are all salespeople! Yes even our parish priests, our business managers our non profit directors-we, in one way or another are always selling something. Selling our vision, selling our passion, selling our product or service, selling our solutions, selling others on our mission-selling, selling, selling!

In order to sell you must believe that you are a salesperson!

Back in August I wrote a blogpost about this: http://cunneen.blogspot.com/2008/08/face-it-you-are-salesperson.html Apparently I was ably assisted in my passion for all things sales by Tom Peters. As a long time follower of Tom's work I can only conclude based on the following video that he was the first to introduce me to the "everyone is a salesperson" school of thought.

Tom's style is not for everyone but his message is usually pretty good. Enjoy if you can.

Tom Peters on Yes! You Are in Sales! from Tom Peters on Vimeo.

Lots of facts and figures on giving-some good, some not so...

2009-04-22T12:59:00.000-04:00

http://www.usatoday.com/news/sharing/2009-04-13-numbers_N.htm

Fascinating Map (New York Times)

2009-04-09T12:19:00.000-04:00

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/03/03/us/20090303_LEONHARDT.html?ref=business

Good Advice!

2009-04-09T11:38:00.001-04:00

Consider ...
Daily Wisdom for Troubled Times

Get up earlier.
Go to bed later.
Work harder.
Finish what you start.
Learn one new thing.
Renew one contact.
Ask, "How can I help you?" at least once.
Make yourself visible.
Be of good cheer.

Catch a break.
Or not.

Repeat tomorrow.

Courtesy of Tom Peters blog. http://www.tompeters.com/

I thought so!

2009-04-08T17:00:00.001-04:00

Top 5 Most Taxed States

1. Vermont
Population: 620,000
Average tax burden per person: $3,861

2. Hawaii
Population: 1.29 million
Average tax burden per person: $3,856

3. Connecticut
Population: 3.5 million
Average tax burden per person: $3,596

4. Minnesota
Population: 5.2 million
Average tax burden per person: $3,203

5. New Jersey
Population: 8.7 million
Average tax burden per person: $3,024

Things are looking up!

2009-03-31T17:26:00.002-04:00

‘Times are tough, but people still give’

Twin Cities United Way posts fundraising record for 2008

The above headline and sub-header were part of a very recent front page article in the Minneapolis StarTribune. The article, in part, discussed all that the United Way has done and continues to do for the community in the areas of ‘hunger, homelessness, financial and health problems, family violence, and children’s success in school.’

Not only are their efforts important and needed for the community but they clearly understand better than some nonprofits, that even when times are tough, when asked, those who can will give. As Randi Yoder from the United Way stated, ‘People understand there are pressing needs in our community-made worse by layoffs, foreclosures, and other economic stresses-and want to make life better for those who need a helping hand.’ Amazingly, in the midst of these very troubled times, their efforts raised an all time record $95,000,000!

While acknowledging the seriously challenging times that all nonprofit charitable organizations face and pointing out that ‘there may be leaner times ahead’, the CEO of United Way specifically noted the importance of all their agencies to both stay focused on their core missions while keeping close tabs on finances. Even cautioning that ‘in this economy, flat may become the new up’. But with that, also noting that this most recent effort once again proved that people will support causes they believe in when asked to do so.

As a Catholic parish fundraiser, this article clearly reaffirmed an axiom we have always known to be true; if you respectfully ask for their support, people will give. But with that said, the flip side of that is equally true; if you don’t ask, they will give to those who do.

While United Way obviously understands the need and importance of asking, we are now frequently seeing Catholic parishes who, despite the same needs, have decided to not ask their parishioners to do anything. Neither asking regular supporters to consider a new level of support or to minimally recommit to their current level of support. Or to ask the majority of parishioners at every parish, those who currently give very little to nothing, to consider some committed level of support. Pastors and Finance Committees at some parishes have essentially shelved the parishes financial needs as an area of emphasis or discussion. Even if it has meant to possibly run in the red or to cut back on the ministries, services, support, and staff, they have traditionally provided. This, even though when asked, most Catholics say their church is their #1 charitable priority.

Why the concern to ask? The two most common explanations I frequently hear from Pastors who have chosen this approach to their finances is that it would either be ‘insensitive to ask now’ or that they are going to ‘wait until things get better.’ Unfortunately, the question with no clear answer for any parish is, when exactly will that better time be? In the meantime, many of their parishioners support United Way and other charitable causes, and will continue to do so, because those organizations do ask.

If you agree that doing nothing is not a good option and may prove very troubling for your parish, we will be happy to meet and discuss your overall needs. Following that we will review your options towards developing a plan that will assure that your parish will, now and always, be able to continue to provide for all who need your help, support, and guidance.

Wayne Miller
Regional Director
The Cunneen Company
866.223.7128

Wayne-Thank you for putting this together-I couldnt agree more! Awesome article and a great message for our clients and those that read this blog. Good stuff.
-John

Creativity! It's fun to see.

2009-03-24T16:23:00.002-04:00

Jill Sobule, a musician, was struggling to get a new album produced. Apparently she needed to raise $75,000 to self finance the studio time and production costs. Read the "message from Jill" section and check out the creative way she motivated and memorialized gifts.

Its cool to see neat people finding creative ways to fund their dreams!

http://www.jillsnextrecord.com/

She did in fact raise the $75,000 and the album will be coming out shortly-great stuff!

Who needs 15 minutes of fame - l will gladly accept my 15 seconds!

2009-03-19T00:54:00.003-04:00

http://www.wtnh.com/dpp/news/news_wtnh_hamden_banking_economy_200903182337_rev1

This was easy to do because it is true. We always make a point of trying to do our business locally it strengthens our ties with the community, helps our friends and neighbors and provides us with much better service. A true win win!

Mark Candido and Dick Barredo the leaders of the Quinnipiac Bank and Trust Company are good people running a great bank-our economic recovery might really benefit from some "back to the basics" relationship building.

Why we do it!

2009-03-11T22:37:00.001-04:00

http://www.cunneen.com/yale_impact_article.pdf

Thank you to all the friends, family and co-workers that made things just a little bit easier over these past two years. Cheryl and I are truly blessed!

Enough by John C. Bogle - send me an email and ill send you this book!

2009-03-06T16:33:00.003-05:00

Tom Peter's the management guru referencing one of the best business books he has ever read. The book titled ENOUGH by John C. Bogle shares with us his thoughts on the current economy and society in general.

The chapter titles-they speak volumes:

"Too Much Cost, Not Enough Value"
"Too Much Speculation, Not Enough Investment"
"Too Much Complexity, Not Enough Simplicity"
"Too Much Counting, Not Enough Trust"
"Too Much Business Conduct, Not Enough Professional Conduct"
"Too Much Salesmanship, Not Enough Stewardship"
"Too Much Focus on Things, Not Enough Focus on Commitment"
"Too Many Twenty-first Century Values, Not Enough Eighteenth-Century Values"
"Too Much 'Success,' Not Enough Character

The overarching theme captured by the book's title, "Enough".

A final message from a pastor to his parishoners..

2009-03-05T12:25:00.005-05:00

"This weekend the "Ordinary Time" of the year comes to an end, and
we move forward into Lent, a penitential period of preparation for the future, joy God extends to all. This year, the end of ordinary times has a special meaning to me.

I know you have placed me, my friends, in God's presence, as you seek from him healing for me. For that I offer you my love and prayers.

As the paralyzed man brought before Jesus, I am desirous of His healing. But more importantly I seek His forgiveness - and yours. With this latest medical turn I do not know when or if I will resume "ordinary time" with you. I want to thank you beforehand for carrying me into the Lord's presence.

You have been, along with my family and fellow Oblates, a real support and inspiration for me. You have kept me going, and hopefully growing, in God's life. Perhaps I shall return with post-Easter ordinary time. That is my goal and hope.

Meanwhile - and always - know that I love you all, those with whom I have agreed as well as those with whom I felt compelled to take an opposing position.

Please - for God's sake - for that is what this is all about, work together as a Parish, not as a parish "and" a school "and" a youth
group "and" a finance committee "and" a PSA, etc.

Be parish! Be family! For the Father's sake! We are called to carry together the paralyzed one in our midst. We will meet in the future in the Risen Life

God gives through forgiveness of sin. God love you all!"

-A beloved pastor to his parishioners and a Cunneen client - his final bulletin announcement before passing.

Now more than ever!

2009-02-21T16:38:00.007-05:00

If not now WHEN? When has it been more important for our churches, schools, community based non-profits, social service organizations, and health care organizations, to ask for and to receive money to fulfill their essential missions?

If not now when?

When have we faced more of a challenge to our confidence, to our financial well being, to our sense of what is right, to our belief that we can improve tomorrow by the work we do today?

The Cunneen Company, my firm, works in hundreds of Catholic communities in every corner of the country. We also assist schools, social service organizations and health care agencies, nursing homes and community action groups. In every organization in every part of the country the work of our clients is necessary, it is important, it is essential. It is needed NOW MORE THAN EVER!

If you are using your valuable time to read this blog you do so for one reason-you care about your organization. You care about the people you serve, the faithful that fill your pews, the everyday folks that utilize your services or send their children to your schools.

If you are reading this blog, you, like me,spend time not only worrying about the future but more importantly planning, organizing and taking action to meet that future head on-to accept every challenge and to insure that your organization can fulfill its mission and serve its people.

Leadership, boldness, unwavering belief in the importance of your mission, confidence that your supporters will not let you down (they wont) is needed NOW MORE THAN EVER.

If you are not asking your supporters for gifts, if you are not moving forward with your annual appeal, offertory enhancement program, and essential maintenance projects you are missing an opportunity. An opportunity to experience the great joy of witnessing a community come together, in the most difficult of times, to support the most essential of causes-your organization.

Now More Than Ever!

Interesting...

2009-01-24T15:34:00.001-05:00

Oh this video works for me in many ways.

Tips 10-11-12 ! For fundraising in 2009!

2009-01-19T16:39:00.003-05:00

10.) Have Fun. Times are tough, we are all feeling it. One of the principal reasons donors support an organization is it makes them feel good. Make sure that even in these extraordinarily difficult times you maintain an element of fun, and spontaneity. Keep all communication with your donors as upbeat and positive as possible and as appropriate. Doom and gloom does not raise money.

11.) Do not take your donors/parishioners for granted. Most of my clients rarely enjoy hearing this but: "Your donors have a choice". I guarantee you that your donors have another choice in which church they attend or support, which hospital they give to or what private school their children attend.

Moreover they have a choice as to if and at what level they chose to donate to your organization. In these difficult times make an extra effort to say thank you to your donors, make sure they get the handwritten note, the invitation to an appreciation event, the proper mention in your publication. It will make a big difference.

12.) Doing nothing is not the answer. Your parishioners, patients, students or clients are all counting on you and your leadership team to meet the challenges that 2009 will surely deliver. Your donors expect you to lead and are ready and willing to help you financially with volunteer help and professional expertise. Failure to lead, failure to act, letting difficult circumstances freeze you in place is not acceptable. Analyze the challenges, draft a plan and execute!

Tips 7-8-9 ! For fundraising in 2009!

2009-01-16T12:16:00.004-05:00

7.) Stick with what works. If your annual appeal always seems to work, even though its a tad tired or not that much fun-stick with it! If that big spring event has always been your best fundraiser, don't cancel, don't try and reinvent it, run it again only this time be a bit more efficient and more focused. With limited resources and donors who are feeling a bit under siege, now is the time to keep focused on the basics and on the fundamentals.

8.) Consider greater use of online resources. Increased communication, increased donor stewardship, learn more about your donors, make sure you are telling your donors as much about you as possible. There are many free or close to free ways of communicating with your donors-consider starting a blog, using twitter, setting up a facebook profile for your organization, utilize an online newsletter service such as constantcontact.com. There are many very affordable ways of dramatically increasing the touch points between your parish or non profit and your supporters.

9.) Cut expenses strategically. Every organization has expenses that can be trimmed. But you must resist the urge to overdo it or to cut in areas which might ultimately jeopardize your income. Now is NOT the time to cut your major gifts officer, to dial back from three to two annual appeal mailings or to cut back on your communication, outreach and stewardship efforts. It does take money to make money. Cutting the wrong expenses could actually accelerate the pace of financial pressures your organization is facing.

The good folks in the Diocese of Syracuse!

2009-01-15T16:49:00.001-05:00

I post a fair bit about the successes that our parish clients are experiencing with their offertory enhancement appeals-even in this difficult economy. This article which recently appeared in the Catholic Sun, the newspaper for the Diocese of Syracuse does a great job of sharing a success story or two! Thank you to the newspaper and to the wonderful pastors and parishioners in greater Syracuse, New York area.

http://www.syrdio.org/NewsStories.asp?id=1650

Cheers to Beth Lucia, the longest serving member of the Cunneen team for her careful guidance of these important appeals.

Tips 4-5-6! For fundraising in 2009!

2009-01-15T10:01:00.004-05:00

4.) Ask! If you are like most churches or non-profits you have real and compelling needs. You are still fulfilling your mission, still serving your community and therefor still require funding. Do not let fear of asking paralyze you. If you believe in your mission, if fulfilling your mission requires funding, if your funding comes from donors, then you MUST ask!

5.) Trust your donors. Your donors give to you for a reason. They believe in your mission, they were positively impacted by you in the past, they have strong faith, or any of a dozen additional reasons. Most donors give because they WANT to, out of a sense of gratitude, responsibility, personal fulfillment-it makes them happy, gives them satisfaction. These are good people giving to you for good reasons, in difficult times they are the people you should trust, they are the people you should turn to for advice and support. Trust your donors-they trust you and they wont let you down.

6.) Communicate, communicate, communicate. Good leaders understand that in difficult times effective communication is an essential element of outstanding leadership. Your employees, donors, volunteers,and board members need to know, demand to know,exactly what is happening with your organization.

Now is the time to celebrate your successes twice as loudly and three times as often. Now is the time to articulate your challenges in a blunt, honest and direct manner. Now is the time to remind those that care about organization exactly what your goals are, exactly why your organization exists and why its not important but ESSENTIAL! Say more, say it louder, say it more frequently, say it honestly and directly. Silence shows fear and indecision-communicating shows a determined resolve to lead!

Tips 1-2-3! For fundraising in 2009

2009-01-14T14:33:00.006-05:00

1.) Know your numbers. How many donors regularly support your organization. What is the average gift? Who are the ten largest givers and what do they give? How are your numbers tracking weekly/monthly this year vs. last year?

2.) Focus your case. Now is not the time for pie in the sky type thinking. It is great, important and liberating to dream but your donors are a bit tired and scared at the moment-do the dreaming privately right now. Save the twenty year/twenty million dollar plan for another day. Now is the time to focus your case on your core mission, core needs, and core one, three, six and twelve month goals.

3.) Build relationships. Take your top donors to lunch and share your thoughts, plans and concerns. Host a small dinner, cocktail hour or coffee with your key volunteers, key donors or leadership team to discuss the economy, funding challenges and your goals. Always be reaching out to the people who can and who want to assist you. You will enjoy the fellowship, you will derive comfort from their enthusiasm and maybe even raise a few dollars.

Results!

2009-01-14T14:02:00.005-05:00

As I sit here early in the New Year reviewing a spreadsheet from our late fall campaigns, I felt compelled to draft a quick report of how these parish appeals performed. I think the results speak for themselves.

Seventy-nine Catholic pastors are receiving a final report from The Cunneen Company outlining the results of their offertory enhancement appeals. If their parish is realizing our typical Fall 2008 results, they are seeing positive results. The average 1,000 family parish conducting a Cunneen offertory campaign this Fall has realized the following:

 23% increase in weekly giving
 30 to 50 families signing up for electronic giving
 25 new envelope or regular givers
 15 new families on the parish database

Even in these difficult economic times, parishioners continue to prayerfully reflect on the blessings they have received, their need as Catholics to be good stewards, and the very real need of the parish to receive additional funding to maintain the parish facility, fund essential ministries, and meet the needs of its parishioners.

While I would enjoy attributing the success of these fall appeals to the effectiveness of the Cunneen program, I feel that most of the explanation lies in the unwavering faith of the tens of thousands of Catholic families who understand that, in times of distress, churches need more of their help not less.

Many of the people who read this blog are in a position of leadership in their diocese, sharing the burden of assisting parishes, pastors, and lay leaders as they navigate their parishes through these difficult times. While Cunneen cannot make the economy improve or make the uncertainty any more certain for your parishioners; we can assist your diocese and the parishes it serves in designing a program to properly address the pressing financial concerns that every parish is facing.

We can also accept all financial risk for the program by providing your diocese and its parishes with a guarantee that protects 100% of the investment in our service.

 A New York Catholic Diocese has recorded a twenty-five percent increase in regular giving across its parishes
 A New England Diocese is currently seeing a twenty-three percent increase in regular giving among a third of its parishes.

Thank you to the 79 pastors and parish leaders who worked with Cunneen in the late fall on offertory enhancement appeals. We are thrilled with your results!

A Christmas Bulletin Announcement

2008-12-08T14:44:00.001-05:00

WELCOME HOME!

We know that the Christmas season provides us with the pleasure of seeing in person many folks who do not regularly join us for Mass. It's so good to see you! We hope you find the Liturgy inspirational and that you experience the profound joy that comes from the contemplation of the coming of Our Lord and His presence in the Holy Eucharist. Let's take the advice of Saint Paul of the Cross who said, “Celebrate the feast of Christmas every day, even every moment in the interior of your spirit, remaining like a bay in the bosom of the Heavenly Father, where you will be reborn each moment in the Divine Word, Jesus Christ.”

You are important to us. The heart and soul of Christian stewardship is the belief that God is the source of all of our blessings, talents and possessions. We are simply His stewards. Why not share your talents with us? This is your parish and we are strongest when we all participate. As we know from Sacred Scripture, “We have gifts that differ according to the grace given us.” (Rom 12:6) Think about taking this opportunity to share your talents with your fellow parishioners. You have much to offer – and we are eager to have your help.

Another integral component of Christian stewardship is sharing your treasure. Remember, it isn't money that is the root of all evil; it is the LOVE of money that is the root of all evil! (I Tim 6:10) We are called not to equal giving, but to equal sacrifice. May we humbly suggest you step forward now to help YOUR parish flourish. A great way to accomplish that is by selecting the Electronic Giving option the parish offers. By doing so your gift will arrive regularly on a schedule you determine and your good intentions will not be derailed by travel, attending another parish's Mass or by work -related obligations. Signing up is simple! Take it from those who do so, regular giving is a fruitful and gratifying use of your resources and as we know, we cannot out give Our Lord. He will repay us abundantly.

Written by: Harry Colin, Vice President of Consulting-The Cunneen Company

Thank you Father Schrader and Beth Lucia of Cunneen!

2008-12-04T11:07:00.002-05:00

To Any Pastoral Leader Pondering a Fiscal Campaign:

This past Spring when our Facilities Committee came up with a 5-year plan for the upkeep and improvement of the twelve buildings on our parish’s three church sites, the cost when linked with our annual diocesan appeal for this year came to $900,000. Wondering what to do at a time of rapidly escalating gasoline prices and other related increases, our Pastoral and Financial Councils decided to contact Cunneen to see what was possible. I was severely skeptical that anything could successfully be done to reach that amount in such a year of economic stress. After all, we had difficulty reaching just our $123,000 diocesan appeal alone in the better-off 2007-08 fiscal year.

All I can say now is that anything is possible for those who believe! Thanks to a special gift by bequest to the campaign in the summer, we went over the $900,000 mark on October 29th, the end of one of the worst Octobers in recent history. Then, two days before Thanksgiving, the pledges alone (apart from the $150,000 bequest itself) reached the $900,000 mark. The people were elated when I announced at our Mass on Thanksgiving morning that we had over $1,050,000 committed to the campaign. I know one thing for sure: I simply could not have done it without Cunneen. I also know that challenging economic times are no hindrance to success if your need is genuine and you convey it convincingly to those who have in their hearts the same mission that your campaign supports. It was Cunneen that helped us to map out a strategy and get the message conveyed in a clear and compelling way. Consider this a strong endorsement of their services!!!

Rev. Robert J. Schrader, Pastor
Peace of Christ Parish
Rochester, NY

A drill or a hole? The what or the why?

2008-12-02T17:44:00.003-05:00

I've linked to this blog before-and even wrote an earlier blog article about how closely related sales is to fundraising-this article quoting sales guru Zig Ziglar does a pretty neat job of it.

And I agree-we are in the "hole" business! Or as I say often enough the "why" not the "what".

http://fundraisingcoach.com/2008/12/02/fundraising-secret-28-nobody-wants-to-buy-a-drill/

Enjoy and thanks again Marc for the excellent blog post.

I just couldn't resist!

2008-12-02T17:40:00.000-05:00

"The budget should be balanced, the Treasury should
be refilled, public debt should be reduced, the arrogance
of officialdom should be tempered and controlled, and
the assistance to foreign lands should be curtailed lest
Rome become bankrupt. People must again learn to
work, instead of living on public assistance."

- Marcus Tullius Cicero, 55 BC

Enjoying the success of a client.

2008-11-14T15:15:00.006-05:00

Bishop Tobin of the Catholic Diocese of Providence RI, Jim Cunneen and Ray Coogan both of the Cunneen Company, enjoy a moment of celebration as the guests of Father Spina, pastor of St. Martha's in East Providence.

Bishop Tobin was congratulating Father Spina and the parishioners of St. Martha's on their recently completed $1 million capital campaign to conduct major renovations.

Seeing these projects completed is by far the most rewarding part of our jobs. Congratulations to Father Spina and the good people of St. Martha's.

My friends...

2008-11-06T18:10:00.006-05:00

To members of the Cunneen family of clients:

“One of the tests of leadership is the ability to recognize a problem before it becomes an emergency” Arnold Glasgow

If you are receiving this newsletter you are a leader; a leader of a parish, finance council, development office, stewardship department or an entire diocese. Leadership in a faith based (Catholic)organization during these extraordinarily complicated times is difficult. Employees, parishioners, volunteers, peers, and colleagues look to you for guidance, instruction, comfort and inspiration. You are expected to have the right answer, to chart the proper course of action, and to assure those around you that everything will be fine.

“Faith is deliberate confidence in the character of God whose ways you may not understand at the time." Oswald Chambers

Like you, I have this deliberate confidence. I have faith that God will show me the way that He will guide my hand and my actions.

In the coming months we will all be challenged to make difficult decisions about the organizations we lead. Raising money, increasing weekly giving, introducing electronic giving, conducting capital campaigns are not easy things to do when the economy is suffering or when your parishioners are feeling insecure about their jobs, homes and financial security.

However, as leaders we must lead! We must “recognize a problem before it becomes an emergency”. Now more than ever, Catholic parishes must address their regular, electronic, and capital giving. A weak economy does not correlate with a parish’s expenses or capital needs. The electric bill will not be reduced, fuel costs will remain high, the snow must be ploughed, the leak in the roof has to be repaired, and the insurance premiums must be paid. It isn’t easy but it is necessary.

Twenty-eight years of service to the Catholic Church assures us that parishioners will respond. In good times and bad, the generosity of the faithful never fails to meet the needs of our Church. Please know that The Cunneen Company remains committed to assisting your parish or diocese.

Our offertory enhancement, electronic giving and capital campaign programs are obtaining meaningful and lasting results. Offertory enhancement appeals conducted in September and October of this year have seen an average increase of 23%. It is comforting to witness the “deliberate confidence” of the tens of thousands of Catholics who supported their parishes over these difficult weeks. We are heartened by their response.

As always, thank you for your time, consideration and for granting us the privilege to serve your parish or diocese.

Sincerely,

John Cunneen

Good stewards have faith.

2008-11-04T14:30:00.003-05:00

Bad Economic Times can provide a Healthy Perspective

“It is the heart that makes a man rich.
He is rich according to what he is, not according to what he has.”
-Henry Ward Beecher

Whether or not we are in an official “recession,” there is now no denying that our country is experiencing an historic and catastrophic downturn in the economy. While it is the large banks and Wall Street firms that have received all the publicity and “bailouts”, it is in the individual family wallet and budget where we all are feeling the pinch of the tough economy more acutely than anywhere else. When difficulties are experienced and our safety is threatened, we find out if our religious beliefs are more than mere slogans or platitudes. Is it possible to find a silver lining in the economic rain cloud hanging over our heads?

If we are to find our way through these tough times, we must first understand the “motivation of crisis.” You know the old saying, “Necessity is the mother of invention.” Well, bad economic times can create the pressure needed for us to finally review our financial stewardship and how faithful and disciplined we are in the way we use our personal financial resources. The economists tell us this particular crisis was brought on by unwise debt and mortgage lending. If we have personally overextended our family finances with too much debt, these times will be very tough for us indeed and we will have to make serious cutbacks in our expenses. But if we learn this painful lesson and begin to live within our family’s financial means, the future can hold great promise. When finances are flush and times are good, it is easy to be less disciplined in our spending and how we use our money. Yard sales are testimonies to how much “junk” most families have and could easily live without. When times are difficult, we are much more careful how we spend our money and we come much closer to limiting our purchases to useful necessities.

When we experience financial woes, we must remember Jesus’ teaching in Luke 12:13-34 that if we build our treasures here on earth, moth and rust can destroy them and thieves can break in and steal them. But treasures built in Heaven are safe from these dangers and will provide a safe and secure foundation upon which a life can be built that will endure the financial struggles that will inevitably occur. Further, Jesus promises that just as the birds of the air and the flowers are provided for by God, so too will He provide our basic and essential needs. To worry about these things, Jesus taught, is folly and doesn’t help the situation at all.

As times improve, and they eventually will, good stewards will remember the lessons learned and the more disciplined priorities of these lean times. We will keep our future expenditures under control and representative of the teachings of our Lord. These economic times will pass, although we don’t know how soon. But people of FAITH will make the most of the time to review and re-order their lives and stewardship, and will look back on 2008 as a great year when they rediscovered the power of their faith and trust in their Lord to provide their needs.

A Capital Campaign for needed improvements or additions can provide an excellent opportunity for your parishioners to step out in faith and make a Statement of Intention that will be a testament to their faith in the future and their trust in God to provide their needs

Article by: Ralph Salzgaber. Cunneen consultant, campaign director and author of Cunneen's Stewardship in Motion newsletter

Some good news!

2008-11-02T18:31:00.007-05:00

http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=6157679&page=1

This closely reflects what we are seeing in many of our programs. People still give! Parishes still need to ask! The work of the church and your non-profit must continue.

Just because the economy has slowed doesn't mean the electric bill is going to decrease or the insurance premiums will be reduced or the roof will automatically stop leaking. Just as your donors/parishioners must continue to meet their regular obligations so to must the parish or non-profit.

Now is the time for bold and confident leadership your parish, your non profit and the people your organization serves are counting on it.

More thoughts about fundaising in these difficult times...

2008-11-01T10:09:00.006-04:00

A solid fundraising blog:

http://fundraisingcoach.com/2008/10/21/theres-nothing-compassionate-about-not-asking/

Here at the Cunneen Company we are in the midst of dozens of parish offertory enhancement programs. Fortunately for Cunneen and for our parish clients the pastors and parish leaders had the courage and confidence to move forward with their appeals. We are seeing an average increase in weekly giving at Catholic parishes across the country of around 23%! A 23% increase in giving at the height of the economic uncertainty.

If you ask, if you have been a good steward of your resources, a good communicator of your parish or organizations short, medium and long term funding goals, your supporters WILL give!

We have seen almost no decrease in gifts that come from income. These would be moderate capital campaign gifts, annual fund, weekly giving and offertory support. We have seen a weakening in our major and leadership gifts levels. These gifts traditionally come from assets or from "wealth". There is no question that even the most affluent of donors are feeling a lot less wealthy, less secure during these uncertain times. Needless to say gifts of appreciated securities (stock) have been a bit slow of late.

If you are considering a modest capital campaign (up to two times annual giving or offertory) or are focusing on your annual giving, weekly stewardship or offertory-it is still a good if not essential time for you to be conducting a professionally guided program.

Oh my....

2008-10-08T23:45:00.007-04:00

">

Watching this with the sound up is worth the three minutes-if you are not riveted by 1:07 - well... This video really struck me here late on a Wednesday evening.

I would like to thank my friends at the http://faithandaction.org . Thier site is worth a visit-thier work-is essential.

Harry's article sweeps the nation...

2008-10-08T23:28:00.003-04:00

Harry Colin's outstanding article "Fighting Faith with Fear" - linked below - has swept the nation. We recently emailed the article to over 1,500 Catholic pastors, business managers, and lay leaders. The response has been great. The article appears to have struck a cord with many of us that care deeply about our faith, the church and the responsibility we have as Catholics to be good Stewards of our church.

A diocesan development director in the mid-west forwarded the article to DRE's, stewardship coordinators and pastors throughout his diocese.

A careful mix of hope, acceptance of our individual roles in this crisis, a willingness to embrace a more deliberate and responsible lifestyle and an acceptance that we must all lift each other up. That we must place our trust in God - is a message that we can all benefit from.

Thank you again to Harry for giving us all smoething to think about in your wonderful article.

Back to the basics!

2008-10-08T23:21:00.002-04:00

Just a few quick thoughts regarding fundraising in these difficult times.

At a speech I gave recently to the Connecticut Council on Philanthropy I encouraged the audience to get back to the basics-to focus on doing the little things right, the blocking and tackling that leads to donor loyalty, major and even planned gifts.

In the parish setting the basics would be offertory. This is an important time to encourage your donors to make reasonable increases in weekly giving if they are able. It is also an important time to share with them the financial state of the parish, the number of regular supporters, the average weekly gift. Focus your parishioners attention on electronic giving, use of envelopes, monthly gifts and making up when they are unable to attend mass.

Next week I intend to post results from offertory enhancement appeals that the firm is running right now-in the heart of the economic crisis-you are going to be very pleased with the results. The generosity of the faithful is always a sight to behold!

If you are a school or other non profit now is the time to master your annual appeal. Analyze giving patterns, increase the frequency of your direct mail solicitations, focus on building donor loyalty, modest increases in annual giving and showing appreciation to your generous supporters.

An intense focus on your annual giving, donor loyalty programs, upgrading gifts, cultivating relationships and solidifying and perfecting your case for support will serve you well in the future when this economy turns around. And make no mistake about it this economy will turn around!

More coming-but hang in there folks! Your parishioners, your donors are not letting you down!

Reading this made me a better person!

2008-10-04T16:22:00.001-04:00

A must read! Simple as that...

http://solinusonstewardship.blogspot.com/2008/10/fighting-fear-with-faith.html

Recent Memo to our Clients

2008-09-26T11:06:00.005-04:00

Thoughts on the Economy and your Appeal

 We are recommending that all clients move forward with their campaigns or offertory appeals as planned.

 While the state of the economy and the stock market and the bailout package are uncertain, there is no assurance that in the coming weeks that the situation will improve, grow worse or even become clearer.

 Panic creates its own momentum and stopping all fundraising sends a signal that the situation is terrible and thus leads to a self-fulfilling prophecy as people respond to that signal.

 All offertory enhancement appeals derive success from hundreds of families making personal and individual decisions to make moderate increases in their weekly/monthly giving. While a weakened or uncertain economy makes this decision more difficult, a $5, $10, $20 or even a $50 per week increase in giving is not as significant a commitment as a multi -year, multi-thousand dollar commitment for large purchases such as homes and automobiles.

 Families are asked to do the best they can. The church certainly understands that circumstances may change requiring an adjustment to that commitment.

 Keep in mind that the average Catholic family contributes just over one percent of his/her income to the church; so there is, for most parishioners, some room to adjust their giving without undue stress to their household budgets.

 Be forthright in all pulpit talks. We strongly urge you to acknowledge that you understand the market and the economy are in a period of uncertainty and that you also understand the rising price of fuel and health care is hurting many families. Mention that you would not be conducting the appeal if the parish needs were not significant.

 Encourage families that “CAN” to increase and those that cannot to just respond by saying they are doing as much as they can considering present economic pressures. There are enough families in your parish that “CAN” make a modest
increase in giving without undue financial hardship to make your appeal a success.

 Mention that the appeal is not designed to pressure or judge people who are unable or who simply are uncomfortable increasing at the present time. The appeal is designed to help the parish; to keep the parish on a solid financial footing. It is not meant to make the lives of the people it serves more difficult.

 We urge you not to apologize for asking. Appeals do not succeed when the organization makes an awkward apology for asking. Your parish made the decision to move forward with an offertory appeal because you analyzed your present finances and concluded that to be a good Steward of your parish increased funding was essential.

 Apologizing about the need to fund the mission of your church, even in difficult times, is not required and will only hurt your appeal without providing much comfort or understanding to the donors who may be struggling financially.

 It is important to note that in troubled economic times, the demand for pastoral resources increases. Ministries that distribute food and goods will need greater resources not fewer and increased budgetary flexibility will enable the parish to expand its counseling and support structure.

 There is a tendency in these times to wait for the “ideal” moment or time to proceed. Identifying such a time is an illusory thought. No one can accurately predict what economies or markets will do. Prudent stewardship is the answer at all times and in all economic markets. Most of the churches and schools we attended growing up were built by people with far fewer resources in considerably more desperate economic times.

 Please call your local director if you have any additional questions or concerns. Please do not hesitate to call me directly at 800-842-4488 if I can be of further assistance.

An unexpected source of inspiration...

2008-09-23T17:56:00.003-04:00

Sitting here struggling to craft a letter to 16,000 Catholic pastors in an effort to motivate them to conduct an offertory enhancement appeal this fall I have been assaulted by the incessant interruptions of the drudgereport.com updating the news about the country's financial crisis.

How do you raise money during uncertain economic times?
How do you instill a sense of optimism, boldness and leadership in pastors who spend their days assisting real people on real financial, family and personal crisis?

The answer? I am not sure! but I came upon this odd gem, I found it oddly uplifting, hopeful, I believe it says more than it says when you consider the source.

"No one has ever become poor by giving".
- Anne Frank

There are many ways to become poor and I think Wall Street and our government may even be inventing some new ones at the moment but giving, quite simply, isnt one of them!

Interestingly, I now know what I am going to say! Stay tuned.

Pax at bonum

2008-09-14T14:13:00.004-04:00

Peace and all good (be with you)

Does a greeting get any better then that? I picked this up from my good friend and colleague Harry Colin over at his awesome blog http://solinusonstewardship.blogspot.com/

Good stuff and don't be shocked if I "borrow" this and make liberal use of it!

"Pax et bonum" is the traditional Franciscan welcome and goodbye. Francis himself favored its use, and often began and ended his sermons and letters with the words. Translated from the Latin, it reads "peace and all good [be with you]."

Update on The Cunneen Company

2008-09-14T13:52:00.003-04:00

Business here at The Cunneen Company has been bristling! We are quite busy with the launch of our fall campaigns. Having just reviewed the calendar with Jim Cunneen, my brother and partner in this business, he informs me that we will be breaking the 100 Stewardship/Offertory appeal mark in a week or so. Of these 100 appeals fully a quarter of them will be promoting electronic giving.

In addition to this business we will be guiding almost two dozen capital campaigns in the coming months. These campaigns range from small renovation campaigns to major building efforts. We have over 70 clients currently utilizing the firm for Pledge Redemption.

Most of our clients are currently Catholic parishes and Catholic Dioceses but we have an interesting mix of secular non profits currently making their way through the RFP/sales process.

Being in business in 2008 is a challenge! I always grind my teeth when the economy is weak in a presidential election year-this happened in 2004. The party seeking to unseat the incumbents exploits and exaggerates every bit of bad news for political advantage (I don't blame them but it does begin to have an impact on the economy, and the donors who we seek to motivate on behalf of our clients). The economy isn't great but it isn't nearly as bad as the politicians or the media will have us believe.

On my list of interesting "to do's" in the coming months I have:

9/29 A speech on Stewardship to the Catholic Diocese of St. Cloud, MN.
10/7 A speech to CT. Assoc. of Non Profits on Annual Fundraising and Major Gifts.
10/11-10/14 International Catholic Stewardship Conference in Chicago.
11/13 A speech to the CT. Philanthropy Day sponsored by AFP on "The Ask"-major gifts.
11/14 Remarks at Hamden Hall's "thanks to major donors" event.

There are a million additional items on the list including another trip to the mid-west for a major presentation on a Diocesan-wide offertory enhancement appeal as well as trips locally supporting our sales team and maintaining relationships with our core Diocesan markets.

Just figured I would take a few moments to give the reader a peak into a day in the life of our awesome company!

CATHOLIC STEWARDSHIP!

2008-09-05T00:04:00.007-04:00

An awesome post that expresses my views on Catholic Stewardship far better then I could ever do. Harry Colin our Vice President of Consulting and my most trusted resource on all things Catholic, Stewardship and a good bit of politics too!

Check it out below!

http://www.solinusonstewardship.blogspot.com/2008/09/dipping-into-countercultural-pool.html

Great stuff just great! If only I could get the Finance and Stewardship Committee's of 18,000 Catholic parishes to read it.

"The Ask"

2008-08-23T17:06:00.003-04:00

Much has been written, much more will be written (I think I am writing about it even now) about "The Ask".

Much like exercise or dieting the literature surrounding "the ask" is all about making the act of asking easier, painless, effortless, not difficult. "Ten easy ways to...fifteen ways to guarantee success..." As I browse the titles of books and articles on the subject I feel as though I am in the diet/self help aisle of my local Barnes and Noble.

Do we really enjoy the task of asking so little that we are desperate for the quick fix? How has an entire profession been created around the central task of asking for money while so many that practice the profession will do virtually anything to avoid performing the primary function of the entire industry-asking for money?

I have more to say here, we consulting types always do, but I promise that I have no easy steps, no painless methods, no tactics to give you rock solid results in only ten minutes a day - no "asks of steel" from me!

The perils of not raising money from private sources!

2008-08-22T20:48:00.005-04:00

I took a call today from a non-profit operating in Southern New England. They provide substance abuse as well as HIV/Aids counselling and support. They have been in business for 30 years, have 25 people in their residential facility and several hundred others in various outpatient programs. They have a budget just north of $1.5million. They are teetering on the edge of disaster, quite possibly faced with laying off half their staff overnight and cutting half of their programs.

Why?

They are 100% dependent on state, federal and city funding. The state has cut their allocation by 30%, the federal grant which accounts for 40% of their budget and usually comes by September has been silent, not a word from the department that makes the annual allocation. They have a mailing list with zero names, received exactly zero private or individual donations, have 15 board members-none of whom give, and conducted one event (a 30 year anniversary celebration) which actually cost them money.

THIRTY YEARS! in business and not a single name on the mailing list! THIRTY YEARS of blood, sweat and tears tending to some of the most desperate in our inner cities yet not a single private gift or foundation supporting them.

My caller today was rather desperate, when he received my letter he thought it was exactly what he needed, a life raft, a source of hope. It was difficult informing him that building a program of private support would take time, it would take money, it would not likely yield immediate results and certainly couldn't plug a major funding shortfall that is mere weeks away.

I don't know how we prevent this. Perhaps there is more that the local community foundations can do to educate area non-profits about the importance of building internal capacity. Perhaps there is more that the United Way could do to member organizations about teaching their recipient organizations to build mailing lists, to develop case materials, encourage/require board support, conduct special events, seek major gifts.

Seeing an organization that does so much good possibly fail because of a slight shift in local, state or federal funding priorities is a real and to some degree preventable tragedy.

I offered to do a foundation search for this organization free fo charge. I will assemble a list of private foundations that might be interested in supporting their organization based on past gifts and funding parameters. I fear it will be far to little and far to late.

How NOT To Use Powerpoint By Comedian Don McMillan

2008-08-15T21:33:00.001-04:00

I personally cannot stand Powerpoint in any form. It is so wildly over used, makes most topics mind numbingly boring and serves as a crutch for very poor presenters.

This guy says it all!

A brand called you!

2008-08-09T16:43:00.006-04:00

Two or three years ago Fast Company magazine ran a cover story called "A Brand Called You". Written by Tom Peters - This was the first time that I read about the concept of personal branding, as in branding yourself, the individual. What is the John Cunneen brand?

Now I had witnessed this with various personalities such as the sales guru Brian Tracy or Zig Ziglar, Tom Peters himself was a major personal brander, Tony Robbins-these folks, for me, were the original personal branders. The Fast Company article was the first to begin to fuse together one's personal and professional achievements, web presence and blogosphere/social networking renown.

I link the article as a reminder to myself and to anyone who happens to be reading this blog. The world has changed, you are a brand, we are all brands, we collectively make up the brand that is The Cunneen Company. You as a development director, pastor, volunteer, are all part of your non-profits brand, you are all your own brand.

What does this mean to our organizations?
What does this mean to us invidiually?

I havent the slightest clue but I find it far more interesting then this clumsy post gives it credit for.

Dont listen to me, check out what Tom Peters has to say:
http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/10/brandyou.html?page=0%2C0

John :)

Face it-You are a salesperson!

2008-08-09T16:15:00.001-04:00

Aren't we?

I will be giving a talk in a few weeks at Connecticut Philanthropy Day on Major Giving. While I am still working on exactly what I am going to present I am leaning toward giving a "you are a salesperson speech"!

Of the several hundred development directors and fundraising professionals that I have met with, interviewed, shared a conference or class room table with I cant even begin to count how many never actually go out and ASK for the gift. How many do not have a list of prospects, rate the prospects, list the interest or selling points for their case for each prospect, have hot/cold/warm prospect files etc.

Being a development director, or at least a good one, is no different than being a good salesperson. You must get out of your office, you must make face to face, person to person meetings with your prospects. You must find what interests your prospects and make sure you tailor your presentation or ask to meet those interests. You have to cold call, follow up, drop in, send nice little notes, and you have to get a bit lucky! Its one of the most difficult jobs in the world (being a salesperson) but its by far one of the most rewarding.

We are all selling! Always! At home my oldest is currently working on her "potty training". My wife is a master salesperson. She discusses the "case" with my daughter, seeks to find out what motivates her (is it being a big girl, going to school soon, being like her big cousins?) she seeks to discover what is motivating the little one. She constantly builds her "ask" her "sale" around those key motivations. There is a reward structure in place, there is constant contact, affirmation, stickers and applause! This is selling, this is major gifts fundraising!

I have a vivid memory of my 12th grade poetry teacher-Mr. Hunter. There was never a man so enthusiastic about poetry as "Hunter"-there was never a student so uninterested in poetry as yours truly. I can recall Hunter's enthusiasm, his passion for the subject, he tried to find some way to connect with each student, some way to make poetry meet our interests, some way for us to "buy" what he was "selling". Hunter was an outstanding teacher because he was a darn good salesperson-at least on this topic-a topic he was passionate about.

Embrace your inner salesperson-chances are without knowing it or admitting it you already have!

Based on the ads I see this must be true!

2008-08-03T13:33:00.001-04:00

http://view.break.com/542649 - Watch more free videos

When the joy is absent from giving.

2008-07-28T19:54:00.004-04:00

As someone who owns a fundraising consulting firm, has managed many capital campaigns and annual appeals,trained hundreds of volunteers and as a donor to many worthy organizations in my community I firmly subscribe to the old adage about the "joy of giving"! I teach it, I write about it, it's in my proposals and in this particular case I really do think giving, when done properly, is fantastic - A true joy!

However there is a form of giving that I am forced to participate in that lacks any real joy. This is that neato solicitation from my clients!

Yes those wonderful clients who you've taught so well, trained on building a case, trained on the proper ask, trained on the proper timing of the ask-who invite you to lunch (that I ultimately pay for)and somewhere between the lobster bisque and the healthy fish of the day they slide a "really neat sponsorship" "worthy raffle" "great anniversary book" "incredible golf tournament flag sponsorship" "high profile advertisement in informative directory" "lunch sponsor at their event which they refuse to let me speak at" giving opportunity!

This solicitation, of course, comes with almost no explanation, no discussion of what the money is being used for, no pitch on the case. No head fake in my direction to pretend that I might be interested in the actual project. Just that sorta half smile, slightly awkward yet expectant slide across the table of the important information!

I know this comes off as another half rant/complaint and it is meant to! I am after all whining rather vigorously. However I do believe there is a lesson here. A lesson for me as a fundraising professional, a lesson for me as a business owner and an important lesson for my clients. Never take your relationships for granted. It doesn't matter how much you've done for a client, or they've done for you, how much you as the school or church have done for the donor-how many favors, extra effort or special exceptions you may have made.

At the end of the day giving is a deeply personal and emotional experience. When someone signs that check they want to feel good, they want to feel appreciated, they want to feel that their gift was needed. Appreciate your donors (all of them, even those that "should" give) always make your case, always approach the ask as if this were a first time solicitation.

As I said NO to a major sponsorship today it was as if a small light popped on in the deep recesses of my fundraising/business/emotional brain. "No mas!" Do it right, ask properly or "No mas!"

If it's hot where you are-this is my current desktop.

2008-07-25T16:55:00.001-04:00

I am more of a Fall/Winter person. I find that this amazing image, taken in Norway I do believe cools me off just a bit. Enjoy!

The Bishops often say it better.

2008-07-25T16:19:00.008-04:00

STEWARDSHIP OF TREASURE

"Within a total stewardship context, parishes and dioceses
should not hesitate to use the best available ethically
sound fund-raising practices to ask the Catholic people to
make financial contributions that are planned, proportionate,
and sacrificial. Provided that the basic approach
is consistent with the theology and practice of stewardship,
the principles and techniques of professional fund
raising can be extremely helpful to the overall stewardship
and development efforts of the parish or diocese."

Bishop's Pastoral on Stewardship 10th Anniversary Edition

The 10th Anniversary of the Bishop's Pastoral on Stewardship really advanced the discussion on Stewardship. It took the orginal letter outlined in the first edition ten years earlier and added practical and meaningful steps to assist parishes in approaching this important effort in thier parishes.

The seven steps outlined by the Bishops are:

1.) Personal Witness
2.) Committment of Leadership
3.) Evangelization and Outreach
4.) Communication and Education
5.) Gifts of time and talent (volunteers)
6.) Stewardship of Treasure
7.) Accountability

This edition of the Bishop's pastoral is an essential tool for all parishes that are seriously considering Stewardship, making a serious effort at developing a strategic plan or considering a major fundraising program such as a capital campaign.

I strongly urge everyone to take an hour and review this important document. (This includes you kind and dedicated souls that work for Cunneen!)

http://www.usccb.org/stewardship/disciplesresponse.pdf

Relevant? He's charging what??

2008-07-19T16:33:00.007-04:00

Tough economy, increased competition, hard to differentiate yourself. I get it-its not easy doing business today.

Every business owner, salesperson, self employed professional or consultant has to wake up each morning and ask themselves "Am I as relevant today as I was yesterday?"-"How can I be more relevant tomorrow?"

It is very easy in today's fast moving economy to lose your relevance, to see your approach to business go from being innovative and cutting edge to old fashioned and boring. It isn't difficult to go from market leader to tired old dinosaur. To go from bestseller to bargain rack.

Rarely a day goes by where I am not jarred into a moment of fear as 100 images of the various aspects of my business scroll by each one with a "relevant-yes/no" query box popping up.

Cunneen has certainly made its share of strategic blunders over the past twenty seven years but one thing it has never failed to do is innovate! We fail grandly on occasion but we do innovate, we do change, we do improve-we maintain our relevance! Our firm is MORE relevant today to our Catholic clients than we have been at anytime over the past decade. I promise in the next year or two to become an even more essential tool-even more relevant to our clients, to their needs.

We work very hard at innovation, we work very hard to be relevant-to craft products and services that meet and exceed our clients needs, to be ahead of the "need curve" for our clients. We also believe, strongly, that we should be well compensated for this effort.

Maintaining healthy and robust fees permits the company to pay well, to reward excellent performance to invest in new technology, to maintain excellence among our staff and to provide the quality of services that our clients not only expect but deserve.

Reducing fee's, while potentially making the sales process a bit easier would invariably erode quality. An erosion of quality would lead to a decrease in faith in our business, in the consulting field, in stewardship. A decrease in faith in our business would lead to fewer parishes and non-profits hiring Cunneen or any other firm to assist with their fundraising efforts.

The industry, not just fundraising consulting, but any industry, all industries, suffer when price competition becomes de rigueur. Compete on quality, compete on service, compete on relevance, compete on technology, compete on delivery, but once a market starts down that steep slope of competing on "the low cost" or "lowest fee" its a very quick descent into oblivion.

I am not sure if this post is a plea, a whine, a lecture or merely an observation (likely a combination of all four) but it was certainly on my mind this afternoon.

The Cunneen Company makes many promises-we deliver on most of them. We will never promise to provide the best product at the lowest price. We wont even promise to provide the worst product at the lowest price. Our clients and our profession deserve better.

The payoff!

2008-07-16T17:49:00.002-04:00

Our profession, fundraising consulting, is a very rewarding one. We get to work with committed volunteers on interesting projects-many of which help and/or benefit our communities! As a firm that works closely with the Catholic Church and as a lifelong Catholic I get the additional benefit of getting a chance to participate in my faith in ways that have a direct, tangible impact.

However, there have been few projects that I have been more committed to than the capital campaign at my former high school Hamden Hall. This campaign to build a new athletic center is something my brother and I, as well as our firm took a personal interest in. Not so much because of our committment to athletics, I think sports are fun, but tend not to take it much further than that-but because Hamden Hall itself had such a meaningful impact on my life, my brother's and now our children.

Giving back has never felt so good.

Following please find a link to our groundbreaking. I was given the oppurtunity to speak at this event and it was a real special moment.

http://www.hamdenhall.org/ground_breaking.asp

Electronic Giving-How big a deal is it in the typical Catholic parish?

2008-07-13T08:19:00.005-04:00

Well in my opinion the answer is: bigger then any "trend" to sweep giving in a long time but not quite as big as everyone would like to believe.

I believe, quite firmly, that every Catholic parish in the nation will have some form of electronic giving in place within five years. The future for the envelope companies that fail to adapt is bleak. However, just like the envelope, electronic giving does not and will not solve every giving problem in a parish.

Sure it improves the frequency of giving, raises the average gift, improves consistency of giving, insulates the parish against the ups and downs of bad weather, seasonal fluctuations in attendance and other factors which currently impact Mass attendance and thus giving.

My earlier post touted the importance of dissociating Mass attendance from giving; electronic giving is an important part of this process.

My concerns however lie in the current belief that by merely introducing electronic giving that financial support in parishes will dramatically improve. It will go up, it will meet the demands of your donors for new methods of giving-but it will not effect the fundamental principals of what motivates donors to give generously.

The parish must still articulate a clear case for giving, must still challenge donors to give robustly, must still encourage increased gifts on a regular basis, must still be good Stewards of the financial resources and present this stewardship in an open and transparent manner.

The parish must still "ASK"! Donors must still be challenged! The mere act of introducing electronic giving does not mean the parish is practicing good Stewardship of Treasure. Introducing electronic giving creates a great vessel for gifts, a new way to give, a convenient way to give, and a great way to introduce the concepts of Intentional Giving (giving of your first fruits) but it DOES NOT replace the core activities that all successful parishes employ annually.

Cunneen offers the most robust electronic giving program in the nation for Catholic Parishes. Our program called Intentional Giving marries the principles of good stewardship to a robust and cost effective electronic giving solution. While it is the strongest electronic giving solution found anywhere in the United States -long term financial success requires more!

Duluth!

2008-07-10T20:41:00.002-04:00

Pictures to come soon. Just wanted to post that the views from the offices of the Catholic Diocese of Duluth, MN are the most amazing ive seen in all the many Development offices that I have visited over the years.

Quite simply it was spectacular! An amazing explosion of the most vivid blue waters of Lake Superior from high atop a hill!

Separating Mass attendance from Giving!

2008-07-10T20:11:00.004-04:00

Attending Mass and providing financial support to the church are unrelated! Or at least they should be.

For generations our Catholic Churches have insisted that the only way to provide financial support was to attend (utilize envelopes or place money in the basket). While this worked pretty well when Mass attendance was 75% or even 50% of the registered households-it is really burdening the parishes now that Mass attendance hovers around 25%-35%.

While the physical act of placing an offering in the basket is deeply routed in Catholic tradition and for many is an important and expected part of the Mass -dependence on this method for virtually all of a parish's financial support is a recipe for disaster.

Today's Catholic Church has a real challenge when it comes to filling the pews and increasing Mass attendance. This challenge is actually far greater and far more difficult to address than decreasing offertories. Parishes should task their evangelization committee's with developing ways to fill the pews, welcome new families, provide activities for the children, before and after Mass fellowship etc. The finance council should rightfully claim responsibility for giving-separate it from actually attending Mass and begin to take steps to make it EASIER TO GIVE to the local church.

Electronic giving, monthly giving programs, a parish annual report (mailed or emailed to the homes of donors) are all ways to begin to develop a sophisticated and effective giving program at the local parish.

Our Catholic Parishes must:
1.) articulate their case for giving (being church isnt good enough)
2.) develop methods to communicate this case to potential donors
3.) provide easy and accessible ways for donors to give
4.) be accountable

More to follow on electronic giving....

Major Gifts-An up hill battle?

2008-07-06T20:20:00.005-04:00

I have recently been asked to speak at the Connecticut Fundraising Day in the Fall. My topic is major gifts-from concept to gift or something along those lines. My initial thought was to deliver a standard - good stewardship, cultivate, ask, follow up, and thank a million times-type speech. However after a recent conversation with my wife I am re-thinking the entire approach.

When discussing a major gift challenge that one of my clients is currently facing she remaked "you guys face an uphill battle in your business"! Upon a bit of probing she elaborated that in her opinion only 10% of the people that we KNOW would even consider a major gift-to ANY organization (major in this case was $10,000 or greater).

Is that true? Only 10% of the people in our entire reference group-most of whom would be considered major gift prospects for all but the wealthiest of charities. Is the universe of major gifts prospects really limited to 10% of the affluent? What percentage of the truly wealthy? And is the precentage even measurable for the middle class?

While I am a bit skeptical of the 10% figure it has given me pause. Would/Do? my friends make major gifts? Is there really just a fraction of a fraction of people willing to make major gifts to qualified organizations. This warrants further investigation and likely a shift in topics for my fall presentation

And so it begins!

2008-07-04T15:13:00.004-04:00

My first blogpost! Is that one word? As someone who spends a fair bit of time writing articles, letters, proposals, case brochures I must confess to being somewhat puzzled by the entire blog posting concept-what does one write here?

The answer of course:

"You will write if you write without thinking of the result in terms of a result, but think of the writing in terms of discovery, which is to say that creation must take place between the pen and the paper, not before in a thought or afterwards in a recasting. It will come if it is there and if you will let it come, and if you have anything you will get a sudden creative recognition." Gertrude Stein

I hope, over time, to explore some interesting ideas, business challenges, discussions of my profession - fundraising and development consulting and perhaps in a moment of madness explore some of my thoughts on politics, the Catholic Church, and life in general.

To the people reading this (hi Cheryl!) I humbly thank you for pretending that I have something important to say!

John