The Episcopal Diocese of West Texas
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Capital Giving


Capital Giving
  • is Extraordinary Stewardship
  • involves the special occasions that arise in the life of Christian communities that call us to give beyond our ordinary habit.  They involve increased risk and encourage us to experiment with sacrificial giving in order to help the community realize an especially important goal.
  • is that portion of our assets, either earned annually or accumulated, that we give to God in order to build, furnish or repair God's house.
  • is an opportunity to pray, discuss, communicate and develop God's vision for His church.
  • is a unique spiritual adventure
Our Philosophy

Stewardship is based upon the concept of giving as a fundamental expression of what God means in our life.  We are made in the image and likeness of God and are called to be generous with those gifts given us.  We are always to be faithful stewards.

Stewardship and Philanthropy:
The Christian Strategy with Regard to Funding Mission (PDF file to print)
by Terry Parsons

While we often talk about stewardship and philanthropy together when we talk about funding mission, they are different concepts.

Philanthropy

This approach relies upon the presentation of a "case" which outlines the needs being experienced by persons other than either the prospective donor or the solicitor. The solicitor presents the needs of the "other' and the ways in which they may be met or alleviated through the generosity of the donor. As the name implies, the appeal is to our love of humanity and desire to do good.

Key Elements

Primary strategy is focused on persuading a prospective donor to become involved in the mission of the organization doing the asking. The mission is the organization's. The money is the donor's. The assumption is that as a donor becomes more involved with the organization, the amount of their donations will increase. Organizations, therefore, look for opportunities to strengthen these relationships.

The relationship between solicitor and donor is very important. In deciding who should ask whom for a contribution, a key assumption is that it is important for peers to ask peers. In many communities, a "you support my cause and I'll support yours" quid pro quo is taken for granted.

Recognition Programs - These may take many forms, including: naming of buildings, rooms, positions (university teaching chairs); listing in publications and other donor lists; and a variety of physical acknowledgements such as plaques on furniture, art, trees, etc.

Stewardship

Stewardship teaches that all that we have and all that we are is a gift from God. We are, therefore, stewards of God's gifts during our lifetime. Discerning and carrying out God's purpose is the primary purpose of our lives. The gifts we have been given, time, talent, and money, are to be used for that purpose. The primary role of the church is to guide individuals in discernment of the mission for their lives and use of their resources in accomplishing it.

Key Elements

The primary objective of the organization (church) is to bring people into a closer relationship with God. Strengthening relationships with individuals is an important part of this but the goal is always to create an environment in which the relationship with God is strengthened.

The key strategy is to encourage individuals to discern the gifts God has given them and the work God is calling them to do. God is the source of the mission and the money. Both are gifts over which the giver exercises faithful stewardship.
Giving is taught as a significant spiritual practice. The Church encourages giving by providing a variety of opportunities to give. Giving is also seen as a joyful response to God's generosity to us.

Recognition is seen as a means of witness. The goal of recognition programs is to provide givers with an opportunity to express their faith and encourage others.

From The Alleluia Fund, A Guide for Dioceses and Congregations, published by the Office of Stewardship, Episcopal Church Center, 2002

Stewardship in Capital Campaigns (PDF file to print)

Fund raising and stewardship are about opportunity.  Rather than seeing fund raising as a competition between needs and campaigns, we see fund raising as presenting people with invitations to share in noble works.  The world of fund raising is not that of an ever-shrinking "pie" of resources cut into ever-smaller "pieces."  On the contrary, the world of fund raising is one of almost unlimited opportunity.  We believe in the largesse of our communities and the opportunities presented by untapped financial and human resources.

Capital campaigns present great opportunities to involve people in action, emotional connection and giving.  One of the great and often unforeseen rewards of fund raising and capital campaign activity is the opportunity to build community, to create networks of commitment and shared effort on behalf of a common goal, a common love.  At the end of most successful campaigns, we find that people who have worked and people who have given have grown to a deeper appreciation of each other, their faith and the institutions for which they have campaigned.

When we speak of stewardship, we acknowledge that giving involves time, talent and treasure of volunteerism, skills and finances.  The sharing of these three values varies with each individual.  Each individual is asked to share no less than his or her best in time, talent or treasure.  Time and talent, however, are no replacement for the sharing of financial resources.  Persons of means are called upon to share of their financial resources proportionally.

Capital campaigns should be seen as a time to reinforce annual giving - not replace annual giving.  Where people can only make one gift, we would suggest their resources be used to support annual programs at the institution.  Capital campaigns succeed when those who can give beyond income reach into their assets and make life-value statements by giving well beyond their historic annual giving.

Ultimately, successful campaigns instill, foster or reinforce the development of a culture of philanthropy in which the concepts of giving, asking, sharing and gratitude permeate the life of an institution.  In this way, every event, every meeting and every committee is seen as promoting the good work of stewardship - presenting people with the invitation and the opportunity to willingly, joyfully and graciously share of their time, talent and treasure.

(From The Dini Partners - Philosophy of Stewardship .  Richard F. Dini founder of Dini Partners has served as consultant and counselor for the Diocesan Development Program since 1999.)

The Capital Giving Consultant Defined
(PDF file)

The experienced consultant can be of invaluable assistance in helping to diagnose and analyze the congregation in order to identify the best stewardship development program for a particular time in the life of a congregation.

Call the diocesan office for additional information and to begin the process. 

Committee Chair:

Staff Liaison:

  • Nancy Stinson, Diocese of West Texas
    Work: (210 or 888) 824-5387
    Cell: (210) 834-7888 
    e-mail: nancy.stinson@dwtx.org

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