ChurchMoney

Money is always a touchy subject in Catholic churches: Pastors don’t want to ask for it and parishioners don’t want to hear about it. But it takes money to run a thriving parish.

In ChurchMoney, Michael White and Tom Corcoran—award-winning authors of the Rebuilt Parish series—share stories of success and failure. They tell us what they learned to meet the real financial challenges of their mission. They offer the practical wisdom and inspiration you need to tackle the thorny matter of raising money in your Catholic parish.

White and Corcoran know from twenty years leading Church of the Nativity in Timonium, Maryland, that it’s no fun working in a parish struggling to pay the bills. Without money, you can’t hire staff to provide the programs you want to offer. You constantly have to beg parishioners to give. You grow frustrated and angry when they fail to respond.

Does this sound familiar?

In ChurchMoney, you will learn the basic skills you need to discover that true success in raising funds comes from the incredibly freeing approach that connects giving to discipleship.

White and Corcoran share lessons learned, facts discovered, habits formed, and great ideas they’ve implemented from some of the most successful and vibrant churches in the United States. ChurchMoney offers a field-tested and proven plan for raising money in parishes. It’s readily adaptable, firmly rooted in the reality of leading a Catholic parish, based on the Bible, and finessed with the best advice of communication professionals.

You will read stories of embarrassing failure and exhilarating success in tripling a budget and running three extraordinarily successful capital campaigns over a ten-year period including their most recent campaign leading to the construction of $16 million sanctuary built debt free. They have increased staff fourfold and significantly raised salaries and increased staff benefits while expanding mission outreach both locally and internationally.

Rev. Michael White is a priest of the Archdiocese of Baltimore and pastor of Church of the Nativity in Timonium, Maryland. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Loyola University Maryland and his graduate degrees in sacred theology and ecclesiology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. During White’s tenure as pastor at Church of the Nativity, the church has almost tripled in weekend attendance. More importantly, commitment to the mission of the Church has grown, evidenced by the significant increase of giving and service in ministry, and much evidence of genuine spiritual renewal. White is the coauthor of Rebuilt—which narrates the story of Nativity’s rebirth—Tools for Rebuilding, Rebuilding Your Message, and The Rebuilt Field Guide. Tom Corcoran has served Church of the Nativity in Timonium, Maryland, in a variety of roles that give him a unique perspective on parish ministry and leadership. First hired as a youth minister, Corcoran has also served as coordinator of children’s ministry and director of small groups. He is lay associate to the pastor and is responsible for weekend message development, strategic planning, and staff development. Corcoran is the coauthor of Rebuilt—which narrates the story of Nativity’s rebirth—Tools for Rebuilding, Rebuilding Your Message, and The Rebuilt Field Guide.

“I love this book! Fr. Michael White and Tom Corcoran offer a powerful reminder that it is not what God wants from us but what God wants for us by connecting money to building our relationship with God, to our parish community, and to those we seek to bring into a personal and ongoing encounter with Christ.”
Bill Baird
Former CFO for the Archdiocese of Baltimore

“The genius of ChurchMoney is in the authenticity and generosity of Fr. Michael White and Tom Corcoran in sharing their real experiences and learning.They provide a trustworthy compass to help pastors and parish teams focus on what is most important in the funding of our parishes.”
Fr. Thom Mahoney
Pastor of New Roads Catholic Community
Belmont, Massachusetts

“This book is such a blessing. As a pastor seeking to change culture, sow mission, and build vision, I found ChurchMoney a tremendous help bringing together various elements of parish finances: culture, education of the community, cultivation of donors, hints for fundraising, along with the authors’ personal insights. Scriptural references, spiritual and pragmatic guidelines, and practical steps guided me to a new level of comfort and confidence in understanding and approaching money as a tool to help us in the making of disciples.”
Msgr. Robert J. Jaskot
Pastor of the Pastorate of Saint Francis–Saint Mary–Holy Family
Middletown, Maryland

"Michael White and Tom Corcoran invite us to rethink Catholic giving by sharing crucial lessons from personal experience of moving their parish’s fundraising approach from one of obligatory tithing to true, inspired stewardship. They demonstrate the impact of utilizing best practices in increasing the offertory, extraordinary gifts, and planned gifts. What an insightful book for both pastors and lay leaders to use in growing a thriving parish which transforms lives and builds the body of Christ."
Josephine Everly
Chief Development Officer
Leadership Roundtable on Church Management