SCOLBE the Ministry Consultant

Transcription

1 Service Corps Of Lutheran Business Executives SCOLBE the Ministry Consultant Empowering Ministries to Grow through Effective Administration Solutions Our Areas of Expertise: Financial Matters Strategic Planning Resource Development Risk Management Communications and Public Relations Volunteer Recruitment and Retention Governance Information Technology

2 Understanding the Challenges Often, the growth of mission outreach for many congregations and ministries is slowed because professional and servant leadership must spend too much time on administrative issues. As a result, too little time is spent moving the mission of the ministry forward. Engaging SCOLBE to help streamline administration gives your staff and servant leaders the time and talent to grow your ministry. Where there is no guidance the people fall, but in abundance of counselors there is victory. Proverbs 11:14 NASB 2

3 Service Corps Of Lutheran Business Executives Who We Are The Service Corps of Lutheran Business Executives, known as SCOLBE, is a faith-based organization dedicated to networking local Christian business leaders with congregations and ministries. Our advisors contribute business and professional experience, skills and talents to provide your organization with counseling, consulting, planning and on-site program participation. In 2007, a group of Christian business executives saw an opportunity to help individuals match our business expertise with your administrative needs. In conversations and feedback from people in our church community, we recognized a need for the collective information we ve gleaned from years of practice.we decided to share our experience, to share our knowledge, to share our faith. From there, SCOLBE, the Service Corps of Lutheran Business Executives, was created. Services that address a growing need SCOLBE is here to offer administrative insight, expertise and perspective to your ministry. We provide a broad, deep array of consulting services at an affordable price, from financial matters to governance, from information technology to communications, and from risk management to strategic planning. Together, our leadership team and advisors are helping organizations with their business and administrative needs. SCOLBE advisors are here to listen and to address the administrative needs of your ministry. Advisors may be called on to provide consultation on a short-term project, or to be a mentor to those looking for long-term business guidance. SCOLBE services are designed to help your ministry fulfill its vision, mission and purpose without duplicating other services that may be acquired from volunteers, paid staff and/or direct from the District or Synod. Together, we can help your ministry address challenges and build a proactive strategy to strengthen your organization. 3

4 Service Corps Of Lutheran Business Executives Areas of Expertise SCOLBE services are designed to help your ministry fulfill its vision, mission and purpose. Our advisors want to see your ministry grow: they will provide honest recommendations for action they believe will be of value. Together, we can help your ministry address challenges and build a proactive strategy to strengthen your organization. Financial Matters Training on how to understand financial statements Help in developing informative comparative financial and operating reports Help in negotiating loans or identifying available financing resources SCOLBE advisors have the experience and expertise to help your ministry better communicate financial information to its board of directors and congregation.we can assist you in analyzing financial data to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations as well as ensure that your administrative functions are supporting the mission of your ministry. Strategic Planning Guidance in developing a business, capital and/or operating plan A facilitator for your next planning retreat A thoughtful, focused planning process Seeing the big picture sometimes takes another perspective.we ll help set a course for your ministry s mission and vision by considering your organization s unique leadership and culture.your advisor will determine goals for the short and long term and recommend an action plan. Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed. Proverbs 15:22 NIV "There's rapid, sometimes tumultuous, change happening in our world that impacts our Church. SCOLBE offers congregations and ministries a way to gain a broader perspective on the planning and operations issues they're facing and develop practical ways to address them from people who share their faith tradition." Beth Llewellyn Member, SCOLBE Advisory Council Vice President, Mission Integration, Alegent Health 4

5 Nebraska Lutheran Outdoor Ministries Dave Coker Executive Director, Nebraska Lutheran Outdoor Ministries SCOLBE Success Story: Nebraska Lutheran Outdoor Ministries Nebraska Lutheran Outdoor Ministries (NLOM) serves thousands of children every summer at its residential camps, Carol Joy Holling in Ashland and Sullivan Hills in the Sandhills. NLOM also hosts up to 15,000 guests a year through retreats and conferences. The organization has been providing positive experiences for campers and others in the community since However, to ensure it would be able to stay on that path, NLOM leadership identified a need to strengthen its understanding of its financials and the meaning of the numbers. Dave Coker, Executive Director, turned to a team of SCOLBE advisors for assistance. After discussing current procedures as well as what might be improved, SCOLBE advisors made recommendations for NLOM.They included forming a finance and audit committee, recruiting a volunteer chief financial officer, and reformatting and restating financial and operating reports. Shortly after receiving the recommendation from SCOLBE, Coker began implementation of the plan. Our board is delighted that we re moving ahead in a planned, methodical way, Coker said. In all, I couldn t be happier with the support we ve I thought we could be smarter and do received from things more effectively if we had some SCOLBE.They financial indicators that would work for us, were quick to said Dave Coker, NLOM executive director. understand who we are and see our needs.the experience I ve had with them has been 100 percent positive. 5

6 Service Corps Of Lutheran Business Executives Areas of Expertise Resource Development Help in preparing a grant request for a prospective major donor Assistance in developing and implementing a planned giving program establishing an endowment, and/or creating a foundation Help in recruiting the right development officer for your ministry Help in preparing policies and procedures to manage major unrestricted gifts received by your ministry Our experienced advisors can help an organization find the appropriate focus on stewardship.the SCOLBE team has the tools and perspective to design a planned giving program, as well as help your ministry communicate its needs to the members of your congregation and community at large. Risk Management Help assessing the adequacy of your insurance coverage program Help preparing and implementing a personnel policy and procedures manual An evaluation process of internal controls to help prevent fraud and/or misappropriation of money received by your ministry SCOLBE can evaluate the strength and security of your current practices and build a strong risk management program. Our advisors can assist with evaluating policies, procedures and practices and recommend ways to mitigate risk. Listen to advice and accept instructions, and in the end you will be wise. Proverbs 19:20 NIV One of the major issues facing not-for-profit organizations today is how to strengthen internal operations and infrastructure. SCOLBE advisors have years of experience in strategic planning, financial matters and communication all necessities in today s world. By lending their acumen and expertise, they are empowering ministries with the counsel and recommendations they need to make positive changes. Ruth Henrichs Member, SCOLBE Advisory Council President & CEO, Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska 6

7 Concordia Lutheran Schools of Omaha Rev. Jim Rasmussen CEO, Concordia Lutheran Schools of Omaha SCOLBE Success Story: Concordia Lutheran Schools of Omaha Concordia Lutheran Schools of Omaha is owned and supported by an association of 16 congregations with the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. More than 400 K-12 grade students are part of the ministry s mission. The Lutheran school system relies on gifts for nearly a quarter of its revenue. Success in attracting and retaining donors is critical to the mission of the school, said Rev. Jim Rasmussen, CEO. As the staff considered ways to increase the effectiveness of the gift development program, they focused on key questions such as: How could they raise more money? Should they hire a major gifts/gift planning officer? What was the potential of the current staff? What tools and training opportunities would move them to the next level? A team of SCOLBE development professionals began by gathering background information about the school s donor base and its gift development program. Advisors determined that the current development staff could achieve the necessary results.they recommended hiring an events and volunteer coordinator to oversee fundraising events, freeing up the development staff to focus on building relationships with donors. The SCOLBE team also recommended a training and a mentoring program to help SCOLBE s expertise is helping us go forward in a way that is focused and less expensive than some of the options we had considered. It has truly been a blessing to have the SCOLBE team s business expertise at work in our ministry. I highly recommend their services! Rev. Jim Rasmussen staff develop professionally. Currently Rev. Rasmussen and his school are eagerly carrying out the advisors recommendations. 7

8 Service Corps Of Lutheran Business Executives Areas of Expertise Communications and Public Relations Help in preparing effective publications and other communications Help in creating or improving your Web site Help in assessing the effectiveness of your outside signage Your image is represented in every communication you have with your members and community. SCOLBE can help you hone that image in a manner befitting a faith-based organization.we ll help you develop effective strategies for reaching out to members and the public to build more effective connections, using low-cost and no-cost ways to communicate. Volunteer Recruitment and Retention Help in structuring a volunteer recruitment and retention program Assistance with writing job descriptions for your volunteers Help in developing an effective volunteer recognition program Your volunteers are one of your strongest resources and most important voices for spreading Christ s message. A SCOLBE advisor can identify ways to build and grow your volunteer base so your ministry can multiply its efforts more effectively. Make plans by seeking advice; if you wage war, obtain guidance. Proverbs 20:18 NIV "From the beginning, I have truly supported the concept of SCOLBE.These services aren t only for ministries that are in crisis or facing major hurdles. They are for those who simply could benefit from some additional expertise and experience. Every congregation can take a look at themselves and see where they can get some blessing from SCOLBE." Rev. Luke R. Schnake Member, SCOLBE Advisory Council Director of Ministries, Christ Lutheran Church of Lincoln (Neb.) 8

9 Christ Lutheran Church, Lincoln Ed Bean Director of Biblical Finance, Christ Lutheran Church, Lincoln SCOLBE Success Story: Christ Lutheran Church, Lincoln Financial gifts to a church are crucial to its survival and growth and it s no different for Christ Lutheran Church in Lincoln, NE. When Church leaders were looking for a more effective way to promote and encourage gifts through its Foundation, they turned to SCOLBE for assistance. The process started with a strategy-planning meeting with the Foundation Board, Director of Biblical Finance, Ed Bean, and a SCOLBE advisor. We divided those at the meeting into two groups and our advisor asked everyone to respond to a prepared questionnaire, Bean said. Besides providing answers to basic questions, such as how our financials look and how the money is invested to provide income, our advisor had us think about what we wanted to do and what we could do. The SCOLBE advisor s approach made all the difference, Bean said. The meeting bore several ideas, which the advisor gathered into a written plan a month-by-month road map He told the group that he wanted this to be our plan. He provided the proper direction for everyone to gain ownership in the strategy. Ed Bean the Foundation can follow for the next two years. Action items include holding educational seminars targeting different age groups in the Congregation and publishing success stories in the Foundation magazine about people and programs that have benefited from financial gifts. 9

10 Service Corps Of Lutheran Business Executives Areas of Expertise Governance Training for lay leaders on setting agendas for conducting productive meetings Help developing an orientation manual for new board members or lay ministry leaders Help in recruiting board members with diversified talents SCOLBE advisors will analyze your current governance model, policy, and procedure to determine how they might be streamlined, yet remain effective. Together, we ll help keep your ministry moving forward, enabling your lay leaders to spend less time in meetings, and more time in your mission. Information Technology (IT) Assistance in establishing or maintaining electronics databases for membership, giving roster, financial data, scheduling meetings, and/or new members and prospects information Help maintaining permanent archives and other historical data Help with setting up reliable systems for backing up important files Technology is a critical part of today s ministry operation and programs. We will help your organization identify ways to use IT to communicate, organize information and maintain data. SCOLBE experts can provide guidance and resources for developing a Web presence and offering training for staff. The way of the fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice. Proverbs 12:15 NIV 10

11 Concordia University Foundation Peter Kenow President, Concordia University Foundation SCOLBE Success Story: Concordia Foundation, Seward, NE As the prime strategic and financial partner of Concordia University in Seward, NE., the Concordia Foundation relies on strong support from its Board of Directors.This close-knit group of volunteers comes from many backgrounds to advance the mission of the University with resource development and fundraising. Recently, there arose a need to establish a better-defined orientation process for new members of the board. Foundation president Peter Kenow and the Board Development Committee turned to SCOLBE for guidance. We wanted to create a program that not only would address the role and expectations of a new board member, Kenow said, but also build a set of qualifying parameters we could share with other individuals being considered for this position. After examining the existing orientation process and meeting for a series of collective brainstorming sessions, SCOLBE advisors helped shape the resulting information into preelection and post-election meetings. The pre-election material spells out in detail the expectations and duties of the prospective Now, Kenow said, we have a robust orientation experience that allows the person to board member and provides a be effective on day one and puts them at ease history of in fitting in and knowing their new role. In Concordia turn, it makes us a more cohesive group. University.The post-election program engages the new board member with a PowerPoint presentation, video, tour of campus and a discussion of how the University and Foundation work in partnership. Kenow credits those results to the SCOLBE advisors quest to make the solution exactly right. 11

12 To learn more about SCOLBE and its mission, please contact us: Omaha, Nebraska SCOLBE022010