Wagner on the state of philanthropy in Adventist institutions

[Key Guy]

From the Adventist News Network

http://news.adventist.org/2009/06/church-chat-wagner-o.html

Quote:

Fundraiser Lilya Wagner dreads "those calls." A pastor phones to say his congregation just built a church and now he wants to know how to pay for it. Another caller wants to know how to reduce debt at a school on the brink of closing. In fact, too many calls, she says, show a lack of understanding about how and why to raise money.

"I don't think this is good use of God's resources or the intellect He's given us," says Wagner, director of the Seventh-day Adventist Church's Philanthropic Services for Institutions.

First of all, she says, a significant number of Seventh-day Adventist institutions don't understand what "philanthropy" is.

The word was nearly unheard of a few years ago. Today, it's commonplace, appearing regularly in the Wall Street Journal and People magazine. To boot, a new show premiered last night on NBC titled The Philanthropist.

In 1973, PSI launched with the aim of promoting the profession of fundraising and making healthcare institutions more financially stable. Initially, its founder, Milton Murray, had a tough time convincing church leaders that the department was necessary.

PSI has since expanded to offer assistance to any church organization in North America. Yesterday, PSI launched a revamped Web site to offer resources and training opportunities for fundraising.

Wagner, originally from Estonia, is the author of several books on fundraising. She still works 25 percent of her time as a faculty member for the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University, largely considered the nation's premier program for philanthropy. She holds a master's degree in journalism from the University of Nebraska, a master's of music from Andrews University and a doctorate in education.

At the helm of PSI for a year now, Wagner recently granted an interview at her office at the church's North American headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland. She discussed common misunderstandings about philanthropy and why pastors and church administrators need to understand why it should be a key part of a nonprofit organizational structure.

(interview follows online, photo online)