A GUIDE FOR PARISHES:
Launching a Successful Appeal
How do you make it successful?
These steps, if followed, will assist each parish to reach and hopefully exceed their goal.
Promote, promote promote.... You should have posters up, envelopes in pews, a thermometer in the foyer letting people know where their goal stands. The Appeal should be on your website, Facebook..etc. There should be information in your bulletin, something in the announcements and in the intentions. There should be no doubt that the appeal is happening. (Materials will be in parishes at the end of April)
Use the in-pew process on the commitment weekend. When in pew and mail results are combined, many parishes exceed their goal. (if you don’t know what the in-pew process is it will be in the training manual and in the email next week)
Form an appeal committee that talks at the masses and tells people why they give.
Pick a parish project. When people can also give to a project where the monies up to 50% of the goal will not be assessed people tend to give who don’t normally do.
All registered parishioners will receive an initial mailing from the Archbishop. Let people know and encourage people to make a pledge or one time gift.
Schedule
Week of April 22nd
Materials sent to parishes. This includes posters, extra envelopes, and brochures.
Week of May 5th
Have posters in Parish. If using a thermometer to show progress have it in the church, have information in the bulletin
Week #1
May 11th & 12th Kick off Weekend- Have pledge envelopes and brochures available
Week #2
May 18th -19th- Commitment Weekend- We encourage you to do an in-pew commitment weekend. (see explanation later in booklet with suggestions)
Week #3
May 25th-26th -United in Mission Weekend- Celebrate how we are united in mission as one church throughout our archdiocese. Highlight challenges facing other parish communities, and our responsibility to care for one another. (don’t’ know what to say email us and we will help you)
Week #4
June 1st-2nd -Parish Project- what do you want to raise above your goal to use for a parish project? Explain the project.
Week #5
June 8th- 9th We are Connected- How we are connected to others? Explain why we are all United in Mission to spread the Word of God to others. Talk about how participating helps others receive sacraments and helps with priests to travel to remote areas. Does your parish get a subsidy? Tell people about the subsidy and what it is used for in the parish. The Appeal makes it possible.
Week #6
June 15th- 16th THANK YOU! Make sure and thank people who are participating and of course encourage people to give.
Week #7
June 22nd & 23Rd Follow up -Thank everyone that has participated and encourage those who haven’t given to please given and help you reach your goal in both money and participation
Best Practices for Delivery of Appeal
An effective presentation can contribute greatly to the success of a new program or the launch of a campaign such as the United in Mission- Be the Light! Annual Appeal. It is an opportunity to shed light and share timely information about our Church’s ministries and services to our faith communities, to relay updates or stories or offer an inspiring message, to generate parish community support, and to acquire new donors or volunteers.
As you prepare to present information about the 2024 United in Mission- Be the Light! Annual Appeal to your parish community, below are tips that may be useful in delivering your presentation:
Prepare ahead. Review materials, videos or resources that will be shared and practice the presentation in advance.
Ensure any technical aspects are set up prior to your in-parish presentation.
Know your audience. Adapt the presentation for your parish community. Personalize the request to your listeners and those with whom you have a rapport, so it resonates.
Know and repeat key messages. Before you present, review, and understand key talking points and repeat them during the presentation. This helps to ensure that your audience hears the points, realizes their relevance, and processes the information.
Be specific about why we’re asking. Make the situation real and specific for the listener.
Be specific about what’s needed. United in Mission - Be the Light! Annual Appeal is integral to the mission and services of the Archdiocese of Anchorage-Juneau.
Be brief and succinct. This is important not only in written communications but also for presentations from the pulpit, etc.
A clear, direct request, delivered with warmth and sincerity, will typically be more well-received than an uncomfortably long presentation.
Be personable. At the end of the day, you are asking for a donation from a person. Any pitch, whether via snail mail, e-mail or in person, individually or to a group should account for that. Strive for a tone of warmth, openness, friendliness, and honesty. Also, when speaking to past donors, make sure to thank them for their previous support.
Convey enthusiasm. Demonstrate the importance of the cause! Passion for a topic draws in people; talking without enthusiasm can deplete energy in a room and eclipse a message. Communicate in an upbeat fashion to engage the audience.
End with a call to action. Regardless of how the message is delivered, end with a very clear call-to-action on how to donate, whether it be a basket at the back of the church, a secure online link, a phone number to call, or an enclosed envelope. Make it as easy as possible for the donor to give.
Express appreciation. Thank the audience for their understanding and support.
When preparing for the commitment weekend make sure you have pencils, pledge envelopes and pencils