Exciting Line-up of Stewardship Webinars Offered
Join local church leaders from across the UCC this year to learn and discuss ways your congregation can infuse new life into your stewardship program. Seven free webinars are being offered by Rev. Andrew B. Warner, CFRE, who serves as a Generosity Outreach Officer of the national setting of the United Church of Christ and Director of Development for the Wisconsin Conference. Andrew connects people’s deepest passions with generative opportunities and initiatives.
Webinars offered from 6:30 to 7:30pm Central Time
Feb 23 – Year-Around Stewardship
Stewardship campaigns last for just a few weeks, but we hope that people will make gifts throughout the year. This webinar focuses on practical steps to move from a brief annual campaign to a year-around plan that continually engages and inspires
April 27 – 3 Best Practices for Increasing Giving
Research on stewardship makes clear three practices most likely to increase giving in a local congregation: teaching about generosity, pastoral leadership and online giving options. The webinar will look at why these practices matter and discuss how to implement them in a congregation.
May 25 – Matching Gift Challenges
A major gift from a single donor, or a small group of donors, can be leveraged to inspire gifts from a wider circle of donors. Learn practical ways to use a gift to issue a “challenge” to your congregation to support your own ministry or that of a partner organization of your congregation.
July 27 – Building an Endowment
An endowment can support a congregation and its wider mission. But where do you start? This webinar will provide ideas and policies for creating and growing an endowment for your congregation.
Aug 24 – Annual Campaigns 101
Designed for pastors and lay leaders planning an annual pledge campaign, we will explore ways to create an effective campaign. We will reflect on core purpose of a campaign, discuss practical steps leaders can take, and explore creative ideas to design a campaign uniquely suited to your congregation. Join this webinar to develop and strengthen plans for a successful fall campaign.
Sept. 28 – Narrative Budgets: Telling your Story by the Numbers
A narrative budget translates the line items of a traditional budget into a story of how your congregation makes a difference in the world. It can be a helpful tool for a stewardship campaign or annual meeting. By telling the story of our congregations’ impact, we can inspire generosity in our donors.
Oct. 26 – Planned Giving to Support Mission and Ministry
While significant wealth transfer occurs as each generation passes, many congregations and ministries remain unprepared to promote planned giving options. Only 5% of people leave a charitable bequest even though nearly a third of people would if asked or invited to consider one. Through this webinar, you will learn key concepts and create an action plan for your congregation or ministry.
About Andrew Warner
As a Generosity Outreach Officer of the national setting of the United Church of Christ, Rev. Andrew B. Warner, CFRE, trains, coaches, and mentors conference and congregational leaders to strengthen the culture of generosity across the UCC. Andrew also serves Director of Development for the Wisconsin Conference. He leads the fundraising efforts of the conference, supports the planned giving and effective philanthropy of congregations, and started a foundation. Previously, Andrew served for twenty-two years as pastor of Plymouth Church UCC of Milwaukee.
Andrew lives with his husband in Wisconsin. Their eldest son Tomas attends the University of St. Thomas while their youngest son David prepares to become a commercial pilot. Andrew loves to cook and entertain, a practice he calls his “gastro-evangelism.”