When it comes to creative stewardship, people are often encouraged to think “outside the box”. Sometimes, however, it pays to think “inside the box” — inside the boxed treasures found inside their own home. Many people own valuable physical assets that can be creatively gifted to your ministry. Tangible Personal Property Physical assets are referred to by the IRS as “tangible [...]

Will Rogers famously exclaimed “Buy land. They ain’t making any more of the stuff”. For those of us seeking to encourage creative generosity, we might paraphrase this to say – “give land, or any other type of real estate, and receive a great tax benefit”. Just like gifts of securities, real estate can provide donors with many of the [...]

There are many myths associated with church capital campaigns. Here at CGS, we decided it was time to investigate the myths and find reality. To do so, we commissioned an independent agency (Arbor Research) to conduct a rigorous research project. Their study encompassed 52 pastors representing 17 different denominations. The findings from the study were surprising and many myths got [...]

What percentage of your constituent’s total assets would you say are found in cash or checking accounts? Answer: about 10%. What percentage of your annual church giving comes from cash or checking accounts? Answer: generally 95% (and sometimes more!). What’s wrong with this picture? “What’s wrong” is that most church leaders do not actively seek non-cash gifts. This is unfortunate [...]

Our strategic partnership with NEXT Consulting Services aligns CGS with seasoned professionals who share our values and are highly experienced in the para-church ministries that we do not directly serve. With over 100 years of cumulative non-profit and business leadership experience to draw from, NEXT Consulting Services has the heart and expertise to assist ministries with a variety of [...]

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If you were to visit the famed Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota with a serious health issue, you would immediately notice a significant aspect of their service model. All of your medical specialists would gather around the table with you to discuss your diagnosis and create the treatment plan. Using such a clinical approach has obvious benefits – the [...]

Here at CGS we are often asked about the factors needed to ensure a successful capital campaign. Many could be mentioned, but in our experience few are more important than the quality of the campaign leadership team. In other words, you must recruit the “A – team”! You may be wondering “How do I identify and recruit the most qualified [...]