Ensuring monthly meetings have the financial resources they need can be challenging work; PYM formed a new cohort for Friends who hold fundraising or stewardship responsibilities in their meetings, called Fundraising Friends.
- Share the challenges and successes they meet with fundraising in their meetings
- Receive support and encouragement from peers and PYM staff
- Look at how the Spirit can lead our approach to money and generosity
Topics at the first meeting this past November were…
- The spirituality of money; how the ways we talk about and view money can add or detract from meeting life and fundraising
- Giving among new members; how meetings can communicate the need for donations to new members in ways that build connection
- Reaching meetings’ extended networks; one Friend described how they are asking relatives tied to their meeting and graveyard to take part in restoring their grounds
Another topic that came up often was confidentiality for Friends who give to their monthly meetings; PYM staff researched and shared sample language meetings can use when writing confidentiality and donor privacy policies. Other resources shared included examples of helpful software and links to reading on faith and finances.
November was the first meeting of Fundraising Friends; the group will continue to meet virtually on the second Thursday of each month at noon. Please join the PYM Community at future meetings if you…
- serve as treasurer, clerk, or hold another named role in your meeting
- sit on your meeting’s finance, stewardship, or fundraising committee
- carry an informal responsibility for making sure your meeting has enough funds
- feel led to learn more about contributing to your meeting’s financial health
- No previous fundraising or finance experience is required.
Friends who join will learn with others in similar roles; they will also share what they know and support the financial health of the yearly meeting.
Email Joe Kirkenir at jkirkenir@pym.org or click here to become a part of Fundraising Friends!
