For many years, we have used the word “stewardship.” Unfortunately, it has not always had the best reception and so we are now moving toward using the word “generosity.” Generosity has a wider scope and points to a more positive way of speaking about our relationship with God, Faith, and Money. We invite you to use these introductory topics as a way to have initial conversations about stewardship and generosity.
The resources on this page are designed for congregations to use for ongoing stewardship education, stewardship campaigns, and to learn more about generosity.
Fundamentals
- The Generosity Project Foundations and Fundamentals
- Stewardship Resources in Difficult Times
- Stewards of God’s Love – The Basic “How To” of Stewardship
- How to Improve Financial Stewardship
- Stewardship 101
- Giving to God by Mark Allan Powel
- Unlacing the Heart: Connecting with What Really Matters by Henry Freeman
- Ask Thank Tell by Charles Lane
- Embracing Stewardship: How to Put Stewardship at the Heart of Your Congregation by Charles Lane and Grace Pomroy
Campaigns
- A Closer Look: Analyzing Response Methods
- ELCA Macedonia Project:
- Message Map
- Abundance – Creating a Culture of Generosity by Michael Ward
- Building a Culture of Generosity: Gronlund, Sayther, and Brunkow
How/Why We Give
- 7 Strategies to Engage New Givers
- Generational Differences in Philanthropic Giving
- Motivations for Intergenerational Giving
- The Future of Philanthropy
- How Kids Can Help the Earth
- The Generosity Project: Growing in God’s Grace Generation to Generation
- Giving Over 70 1/2 – Required Minimum Distribution
- Your Offering at Work
- Whose Offering Plate Is It? by Clif Christopher
Personal Money Management
- Philanthropic Autobiography – Lake
- Philanthropic Autobiography – UCC
- Qualified Charitable Distributions – Fidelity
- Six Weeks on Money – ELCA Personal Money Management Course
- Moving to Generosity
- Required Minimum Distribution
Congregational Money Management
- Church Finances for Missional Leaders by Bonnie Marden
- The Church Money Manual by Clif Christopher
- Rich Church Poor Church by Clif Christopher
- 10 Ah-Ha Moments About Church Funding Today by Grace Pomroy
- ELCA Congregational Financial Assessment
Bible Studies/Theological Reflection
- Cheerful Givers: 2 Corinthians 9:6-12
- First Fruits: Deuteronomy 26:1-11
- Love of Money: 2 Timothy 6:2b-10
- Thinking Pastorally and Practically About Money in This Time
- Preaching and Stewardship: Proclaiming God’s Invitation to Grow by Craig A. Satterlee
- The Spirituality of Fundraising by Henry Nouwen
- The Spirituality of Fundraising Workbook
- Giving to God by Mark Allan Powel
Digital Giving Resources
Additional Resources
- Center for Faith and Giving
- ELCA – The Generosity Project
- ELCA – Stewardship Resources
- The Generosity Project – Annotated Bibliography
- Lake Institute – Lilly Family School of Philanthropy
- Lake Institute Resource Library
- Lutheran Seminary Stewardship Leaders Faith+Lead
- Gronlund Sathyer Brunkow – Generosity Consulting
- Planned Giving and Endowments
- United Methodist Stewardship Resources
- Vanco Financial Services – Church Stewardship Tips
Stewardship Consulting
These organizations provide stewardship consulting. It can be done on an individual congregational basis or on a regular basis the ELCA negotiates consulting as a group. Contact Pastor David Sprang, Assistant to the Bishop and Director for Evangelical Mission, for the latest course and consulting offerings.
- Building a Culture of Generosity: Gronlund, Sayther, and Brunkow provides religious based generosity consulting and training. The majority of the staff are ELCA Lutherans and they consult with congregations, outdoor ministry organizations, social services organizations, and non-profits. Building A Culture of Generosity is a step-by-step process for creating and effective stewardship campaign. Fee based. Learn more.
- Stewardship for All Seasons: Gronlund, Sayther, and Brunkow also provides a more extensive consulting service for generosity-based stewardship year-round. Fee based. Learn more.
- Cultivating Generous Congregations: The Lake Institute on Faith and Giving is part of the Indiana University Lilly School of Philanthropy, the nation’s leading consulting and teaching organization on religious and non-profit giving. Cultivating Generous Congregations maps the new landscape of religious giving and provides you and your team with tools to help you build a culture of generosity unique to your congregation’s needs and challenges. Fee based. Learn more.