Step 1: Establish an Organ Fundraising Committee

Churches commonly establish organ selection committees which also serve as organ fundraising committees. However, since the organ selection committee works months and sometimes years in advance of any fundraising, and since the two processes of selecting a new instrument and raising funds to meet its costs involve differing scopes of knowledge and skill we recommend the formation of two separate committees the organ selection committee and the organ fundraising committee.

Of singular importance to the success of the organ fundraising committee is the enlistment of the chairperson. Choose well. The chairperson, while knowledgeable understands the need, the new organ about the organ, should have a greater understanding about how to motivate some individuals to serve on a committee and others to lend financial and personal will become a reality. support to a worthwhile project. The chairperson should make a leadership gift, likely being the first to make a gift. Both time and energy are required for a successful campaign, and the chairperson should have staying power.

Members of the organ fundraising committee should be influential and involved church members, who early on make their own gifts to the organ fund. Usually, the organ fundraising committee includes representatives from various church constituencies: older members, middle-aged members, those married with children, young marrieds, singles, youth, musicians, those with local business connections, and those with college or university connections. It is important that the organ fundraising committee includes some members of the organ selection committee. The director of music, organist, or choirmaster may be considered, but having the organist and choir director visibly active in fundraising is not always good. In one church the congregation incorrectly surmised that the organist wanted a new organ for her own self interest, and that the congregation was being asked to pay for it. Even the hint of this could be a problem.

Participation on the committee requires a strong, personal commitment, but there are many wonderful rewards for the service. It is not at all unusual at an organ dedication service to find the committee gathering to talk about the fun they had while working on the campaign. Often they are sorry the project is over, they want to keep going. While many campaigns-even sizable ones-have been successful without the aid of a professional fundraiser, the organ fundraising committee will need to decide whether or not to hire a professional fundraiser. Finns are available in all local areas, and you may contact them through either of these two professional fundraising organizations:

Association of Fundraising Professionals
http://www.afpnet.org/
4300 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 300
Arlington, Virginia 22203
Tel: 703.684.0410

American Association of FundRaising Counsel
http://www.givinginstitute.org/
4700 W. Lake Avenue
Glenview, Illinois 60025
Tel: 800.462.2372