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Crucible. Financial Management, Part 2. Financial Software. Small Business Packages Peachtree Complete QuickBooks Pro Avanquest Bookkeeper Church Specific Software Shelby www.shelbysystems.com ACS Technologies www.acstechnologies.com. Talking about Money….
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Crucible Financial Management, Part 2
Financial Software • Small Business Packages • Peachtree Complete • QuickBooks Pro • Avanquest Bookkeeper • Church Specific Software • Shelby www.shelbysystems.com • ACS Technologies www.acstechnologies.com
Talking about Money… • Transparency as our Key Tenant • Two exceptions • Salary and Compensation Packages • Individual Giving Records • The Information Cycle • Monthly • Special Occasions
Talking about Money… • Communication with our Constituents • Quarterly Reports & Pledge Updates • Tell the story again and again and again! • Articulation of the Vision drives giving • “Your giving is changing lives!” • Never, “We can’t pay the light bill!”
Talking about Money… • The Annual Pledge Campaign • The Power of a Transformed Life • You get what you ask for! • Mail / Email Contact with prior givers • The follow-up process
Things I Must Know… • First Time Givers • The two most powerful words in the English language • Quarterly Giving Reports • A Canary in the Cage • Staff Giving
Building a Budget • The Revenue Side: we start here • I believe God can speak to us through a spreadsheet • It is a matter of faith to believe that the first dollar will land in the collection plate! • The best predictor of future performance is past performance
Building a Budget • Understanding the giving history is critical • What is the make-up of your giving? • Is there a depth and breadth to the giving? • Are there high capacity givers within the congregation? • Know the timing of the gifts
Building a Budget • Interpreting the Stewardship Campaign • 40% of our pledges on “Pledge Sunday” (moving to 70% within three weeks) • Solid projections based on participation and the growth/retraction of the average pledge • Moving from the Campaign to the Budget
Building a Budget • ONLY upon establishment of this top line do we move to project expenditures! • Discipline at this point is critical It is what it is…deal with it • The temptation is always to overestimate revenues and underestimate expenses
Building a Budget • The Expense Side of the Budget • Department Heads and “Wish Lists” • Zero based budgeting…each allocation must be justified • Not only amounts, but timing of the expense • This process demands intentionality, planning, and focus on the year’s objectives
Building a Budget • Some General Rules of Thumb • Total Allocation for Staff: Less than 50% • Total Interest Expense: Less than 15% • Fixed Costs will often total 94-95% • Ourpeople are our programming! • Never turn your back on a musician
Building a Budget • Bringing it all together • Closing out the fourth quarter • Current year giving and projections forward • Monthly updates to the Finance Committee and the Staff • The budget is finalized at the first Finance Committee meeting of the new year