B008 Stewardship in Communities of Color
Most fundraising practices in the church have been created by qualitative and quantitative work with, by, and for white dominant North American culture, putting communities of color at an immediate disadvantage. Currently, no fundraising statistics, very little qualitative data, and inadequate information about diverse fundraising practices in communities of color exits. In addition, there are a disproportionately high number of white fundraising professionals compared to people of color and there is no existing network for religious fundraising professionals of color. The goal of the “Research on Giving in Faith Communities of Color” project is to collect information and provide it back to communities of color in order to develop more effective stewardship and fundraising practices. The project will also gather religious fundraising professionals of color in a network to support one another in stewardship and fundraising practices. The Collective Foundation is a nonprofit, ecumenical, research group made up of five individuals, the majority of whom are people of color, specifically organized to undertake this research project. The Collective includes: Aimée Laramore (religious fundraising consultant), Rev. Larissa Kwong-Abazia (seminary administrator and pastor), Erin Weber- Johnson (religious fundraising consultant), Rev. Dr.Derrick McQueen (pastor, academic) and Rev. Mieke Vandersall (religious consultant and church planter). In addition, Dr. Amy Thayer (Director of Research for The Millennial Impact Research studies) has been hired to provide analysis. This resolution calls on The Episcopal Church at all levels to support the “Research on Giving in Faith Communities of Color” project.
Explanation
Most fundraising practices in the church have been created by qualitative and quantitative work with, by, and for white dominant North American culture, putting communities of color at an immediate disadvantage. Currently, no fundraising statistics, very little qualitative data, and inadequate information about diverse fundraising practices in communities of color exits. In addition, there are a disproportionately high number of white fundraising professionals compared to people of color and there is no existing network for religious fundraising professionals of color. The goal of the “Research on Giving in Faith Communities of Color” project is to collect information and provide it back to communities of color in order to develop more effective stewardship and fundraising practices. The project will also gather religious fundraising professionals of color in a network to support one another in stewardship and fundraising practices. The Collective Foundation is a nonprofit, ecumenical, research group made up of five individuals, the majority of whom are people of color, specifically organized to undertake this research project. The Collective includes: Aimée Laramore (religious fundraising consultant), Rev. Larissa Kwong-Abazia (seminary administrator and pastor), Erin Weber- Johnson (religious fundraising consultant), Rev. Dr.Derrick McQueen (pastor, academic) and Rev. Mieke Vandersall (religious consultant and church planter). In addition, Dr. Amy Thayer (Director of Research for The Millennial Impact Research studies) has been hired to provide analysis. This resolution calls on The Episcopal Church at all levels to support the “Research on Giving in Faith Communities of Color” project.