I have shared the story many times previously about how a number of years ago I talked with a college student friend who was attending a large well known university and was in their top fraternity. I asked him how much they spent on their Rush/Recruitment for the fall. I was blown away by the figure and that is when I started saying, "Spend wisely extravagantly the first two weeks of the fall."
So, HOW MUCH should you plan to spend? I realize this blog is read by College Ministers who vary from having lots of resources to those whom serving ice tea after your meeting once a month is a big deal. This would be aimed at those who have some resources and or might use this information to challenge their financial supporters in what they might do.
One point of comparison might be to ask the question, "What are the fraternities and sororities doing to connect with and enlist new freshmen?" In many ways they are doing the same thing as your ministry, they are trying to enlist a whole new class. I wrote an article a while back saying that I thought campus religious centers ought to be as nice as sorority and fraternity houses.
What are some examples of Welcome Week/Fall Outreach expenditures?
One ex-frat friend told me his fraternity on a campus of 10,000 students spent $5,000 to $7,000.
A sorority on a large, nationally known campus of 30,000 that is very Greek oriented reported spending between $40,000-$45,000. I am learning that sororities spend more than fraternities. The College Minister on that campus indicated that he spent $13,500.
A College Minister at a large church with a large college ministry told me that he spent $20,000 to $25,000 each fall (about half his annual budget). He indicated that $2500 to $5,000 of that was on tee shirts to give away. But, also remember, many things that a church can do and utilize do not necessarily come out of the college ministry budget.
A College Minister on a campus in the west indicated he spent $10,000 - $15,000 each fall that he raised from his supporters specifically for that purpose.
A College Minister on a campus of 30,000 indicated that he spent $8.000 in all of their August efforts.
So, what is the bottom line answer?
1. Different size and type campuses will call for a different investment. But, looking at what the Greeks spend on your campus is a good place to start your thinking and as a possible challenge to your financial supporters.
2. I do not believe that college ministries have thought BIG enough when it comes to what we do in our fall outreach.
3. If the first two weeks determine your ministry for the whole year, what percentage of your budget should go into it? Should Fall Outreach be an "Alumni Challenge"?
4. Money will not make a ministry. Throwing money at things is NOT the answer. Consider what the line is between a wise but extravagant expenditure and simply wasting money. Again, that answer will vary campus to campus and budget to budget.
5. NOW is the time to begin to consider what you might do next fall and how to plan and budget that way.
Am I saying your ministry should spend $40,000 on Welcome Week/Fall Outreach? ABSOLUTLEY NOT, but I am saying, Spend WISELY, EXTRAVAGANTLY the first two weeks of the fall.
What would be wise on your campus and for your particular ministry?
Arliss Dickerson's book, A 3 Part College Ministry Success Formula is available at amazon.com/dp/B0BZ6Q7HSV and Reaching MORE College Students is at amazon.com/dp/B0BMW8NPMN.
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