How Planting Seeds Will Reap A Rewarding Harvest It All Starts with A Zucchini

The Essence of Stewardship “The essence of stewardship is providing continuing satisfaction and reinforcement to current or past donors. Donors to our organization must be tracked, communicated with, acknowledged, responded to and periodically audited for satisfaction. The ultimate goal of stewardship is to build lasting relationships with donors by ensuring that their expectations regarding the giving experience are met.” - from The Artful Journey, by William T. Sturtevant

Where are We Going ? O What does stewardship look like in your organization? O Do we define it the same way? O How do we use it effectively? O Why do we care about it? O If you were giving $1,000- How would you want to be treated? How did it make you feel?

Good Stewardship God Owns Everything Mission Relationships ConstantEffective Transparency Impact

It should look like this: O Mission: the heart of WHO your organization is. (God is central!) O Relationship: nothing exists without that special human connection. O Constant: build it over time and remain consistent O Effective: appeals, newsletters, events and the ‘one on one’ get together O Transparency: be honest, be open and show the numbers and the effect O Impact: how donor giving has made a difference.

Stewardship Gone Awry O Stewardship is more than: O How might an organization drop the ball? O How to avoid the trap of getting too close to the donor.

Creative Stewardship

What this looks like: O How to creatively steward donors. O Good stewardship requires work. O Effective stewardship comes about by doing the unexpected for donors. O Identify key people including staff members who can effectively assist with donor cultivation. O Showing donors they matter. The Love Letters

How Do We Make it Happen O Cultivation is Starting. O Don’t Just Sit There, Pick Up The Phone! O Cultivation is Ongoing! O Is your correspondence saying the right thing at the right time? O What are your needs and how will their donation make a difference in the lives of those you serve.

Involving Entire Organization in Stewardship Practices O How can you get the CEO & Senior Leadership to get involved with donor cultivation and relationship building. O How to train and involve staff members and board members in stewardship.

Conclusion 1. Cultivate, Cultivate, Cultivate - Build Relationships 2. Know Your Mission- Tell Your Story 3. Believe in Your Mission! 4. It all goes back to the Gospel message – the ministry of fundraising

Questions & Answers

Mary Bannon, Chief Development Officer Franciscan Sisters of Chicago Lemont, Illinois Anne Delaney, Director of Development Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary Wheaton, Illinois Joe Voss, Officer of Planned Giving Society of the Little Flower Darien, Illinois Donor Stewardship presented by: