As we near our 15th anniversary, I reflect on an outstanding year. We embraced a new company, team, and customers into ChurchDesk. ChurchDesk is evolving into a comprehensive portfolio, and 2024 was no different. Our mission to assist the church remains as relevant as ever, and you're invited to revisit a remarkable year with us.
Introducing KaPlan: Welcoming a new team and over 500 parishes to our community
First things first! KaPlan Software, a Bonn-based company focused on serving Catholic parishes, joined ChurchDesk last year. Founded 15 years ago, KaPlan Software shares our deep understanding of church needs and a commitment to enhancing their tools. Originally launched on a CD-ROM, KaPlan's journey mirrors our own, and I'm excited that we're now ready to build on their legacy, continuing to serve their customers with unwavering dedication. This summer Kaplan Software joined forces with ChurchDesk and we welcomed a new team and more than 500 parishes. It's been great so far and we're still getting to know each other. Together we will build the future solutions to help churches benefit from innovative tools to enhance their administration and strengthen their communication with their parishioners.
The ChurchDesk Summit is emerging as a leading event for church leadership and technology
Since the very beginning of ChurchDesk I've wanted to establish an event where we could invite thought leaders and key customers to share knowledge and learn from best practise. We launched our ChurchDesk Summit in 2023 and it's now become a highlight of the year. Last year we gathered 40 church leaders in Fulda, Germany the impressive monastery at the Diocese of Fulda.
Highlights this year included insights from diocesan leaders in how to support the future organization of the parish and the need for personal and digital member communication. The event left us energized and full of ideas for the year ahead: We are already planning the next Summit in Cologne for spring 2025.
Beyond the ChurchDeskSummit we hosted more than 30 events in Denmark and Germany, bringing together people from more than 3.500 churches.
Building a company starts with great people. And for us a windy sailing trip ⛵️
Wow, 2024 was a whirlwind of hard work and challenging projects. It really showed us how important it is to have fun and bond as a team. With our team now over 50 strong, I'm all about keeping our workplace a place of trust and good vibes. We also love a bit of adventure, so this summer, we all went on a super fun sailing trip in Croatia. It was an unforgettable time (though we wouldn't mind a little less wind next time).
Recently, we revived an old tradition by gathering everyone at our Copenhagen office for a festive Danish "Christmas Lunch," complete with numerous Danish Christmas customs and a few unique ChurchDesk ones, like the notorious team quiz. These moments have been a highlight of the year, reminding us of the importance of taking a break, having fun, and celebrating our successes together.
ChurchDesk is transforming into a comprehensive suite of products to meet the diverse needs of the church
Over the past few years, we have launched a variety of products in response to churches seeking solutions for a wide range of needs, from managing professional administration to boosting fundraising and member engagement. Our customers includes both individual parishes and large organisations formed through parish mergers or entire dioceses.
Summarising a year in a few bullet points is challenging, but here are some key product highlights from 2024:
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Introducing the Donation Box: We unveiled our first hardware product, the Donation Box, designed to simplify the process for churches to receive donations and payments through card or smartphone. Its impact is already evident: many parishes receive their typical monthly donation total in just a few days 🎉
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Time Registration: To comply with new EU legislation, we launched a time registration feature, making it easy for our customers to remain compliant.
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Safeguarding: We have significantly enhanced our safeguarding tool, allowing churches to centralise and streamline their safeguarding documentation, ensuring they meet their responsibilities efficiently.
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Anniversaries: We aim to assist churches in connecting with their members. Anniversaries and birthdays present excellent opportunities for this. ChurchDesk now automatically notifies you of these events, allowing users to effortlessly track upcoming anniversaries, send customised emails, and oversee engagement directly from the platform.
Thanks to everyone supporting our mission as we approach our 15th anniversary
We began our journey nearly 15 years ago. In fact we'll be celebrating our birthday this year! It's incredible to think about the countless individuals who have supported us with their trust, feedback, and involvement. While I've aged a bit, our mission and dedication remain timeless. I am grateful to everyone who entrusts us with their business and feedback, attends our events, and aids us in our mission to support church development. As we look forward to another year, I am eager to continue our efforts. We have several major initiatives on our roadmap that we will soon unveil. Stay tuned 😎
