How you invest your next 100 days will determine if you will achieve your financial goals for the entire year. Quickly assess your current situation and determine how you will prioritize your time to connect with your key donors. George Patton said “A good plan, violently executed now, is better than a perfect plan next week.” Your fundraising clock is ticking. Tune in to hear Pat’s action plan for results!
Dale Carnegie’s book, How to Win Friends and Influence People is one of the best-selling books of all time. Let’s apply his tried and true principles to fundraising.
Scripture encourages us to, “Rejoice with those who rejoice” Watch this testimony of how God provided abundantly for The Rescue Mission of Fort Wayne!
“Stepping through the Planning Timetable”
In a previous issue of “What’s New in Donor Relations,” we provided a complete Fall and Year-End Solicitation Guideline. This document gives some step by step recommendations and reminders for planning and executing fund raising activities as you close out 2020. For most non-profits, 50-60% of their gift income is received during the final four months of the calendar year. No doubt, with the challenges and limitations we all faced during the second and third quarters of this most unusual year, solicitations for contributions through the remainder of this year will be more critical than ever.
For September, consider these action steps:
• Fall appeal out via mail, email, and social and digital media platforms on or before Sept. 15th!
• Prepare follow up appeal via email to be sent out on or before Oct. 15th.
• Begin personal contact with major/mega donors to schedule personal visits (if possible) during final quarter of the year by the CEO, COO, and CDO as well as other key staff, board members and volunteers.
• Prepare sample script for personal contacts by phone or virtual call with the goal of making appointments for personal visits or Zoom calls – NOT for solicitation of gifts.
• Identify hosts (board members a priority) for Fall and Year-End Ministry Briefing events and confirm date, time, and location. (Note: In-person small groups are preferred, if possible. However, arranging these events via “Zoom Call” can be an alternative this year as meeting restrictions continue to be a challenge.)
• Prepare invitations for mailing to those friends and faithful donors of the ministry near the event location. Provide additional copies of the invite to your designated host for a personal invite to their network of friends and associates.
With this article, we begin a monthly series of Fall and Year-End Solicitation planning reminders that will continue through the end of this year. Please also visit our website for other resources that can assist you in specific planning for general appeals and major/mega donor gift proposals. Do not hesitate to contact us if we can assist you. We would consider it a privilege to partner with you on these most urgent year-end fundraising activities!
Author: Dan DiDonato, Consulant
Joseph of Arimathea plays an important role in the crucifixion account. What we know about him is literally B.C. and A.D. Before the cross, we observe that he was a rich man who had commissioned a garden tomb for himself; he was a prominent member of the Council and a good and upright man (see Luke 23:50). After the cross, we learn that Joseph was a secret disciple of Jesus who had not consented to the Council’s decision. Instead, he took decisive action to boldly ask Pilate for Jesus’ body which he and Nicodemus prepared and placed in his tomb. Joseph was a hidden disciple who rose to the occasion to serve Jesus.
How can you discover hidden major donors?
Even the casual observer recognized that Joseph was a rich, influential man who had prepared a very nice final resting place for himself. Donor research gathers hard and soft data. Hard data comes from observation. What does your prospect do for a living? What external indications of wealth can you see? A wealth asset screening can provide some insights. Soft data is more difficult to ascertain. What motivates your prospect to give? Would your mission resonate with their heart? This insider information is most likely gleaned from your prospect’s family and friends. No doubt his friend Nicodemus had many conversations with Joseph about Jesus, perhaps he even shared his John 3 encounter. Joseph’s heart may have been a secret to others, but not to Nicodemus.
God prepared Joseph for this moment to serve. Unlike the apostles, he had the financial ability to contribute something no one else could. He was a leading member of the Council known by Pilate, so he had access to make his request. He had even pre-arranged for his burial and could offer his personal tomb as a gift to Jesus. Major donors fund projects that few others can; significant projects that will make an eternal difference for the Kingdom. Are you presenting opportunities focused on earthly things or heavenly things?
Mark emphasizes that Joseph went boldly to Pilate to ask for Jesus’ body (Mark 15:43). Joseph knew that his stand for Jesus would cost him his personal reputation, his status on the Council, and possibly even his friends and family, but he was willing to take the risk because the reward was so great. A generous Christian businessman made an insightful comment, “Some ministries have the attitude, ‘Send us your checks and we’ll do the rest.’ It’s easy to give money, It requires a much greater commitment to invest your time and talent.” Don’t just ask for money. Invite your donors to participate in your ministry.
You will discover hidden major donors when you give them a reason to boldly stand with you.
Have a Spirit-led fundraising week,
Ron
Ron Haas has served the Lord as a pastor, the vice president of advancement of a Bible college, a Christian foundation director, a board member and a fundraising consultant. He’s authored two books: Ask for a Fish – Bold Faith-Based Fundraising and Simply Share – Bold, Grace-Based Giving. He regularly presents fundraising workshops at ministry conferences and has written fundraising articles for At the Center magazine and Christian Leadership Alliance’s Outcomes magazine.
Every development director starts with the high hopes and visions of raising millions of dollars to support the ministry. But when the job gets busy, do you get online and on the phone? Or do you focus on paper and budgets? View and find out.
Animator: Madison Bluhm of The Timothy Group
What does the visionary nonprofit board look like? Learn the 5 key components along with 7 healthy board habits.
I have never once caused it to rain in my nearly 40 years of stewardship practice here at TTG. I know who sends the rain and it is not me. However I do know what to do with the rain once God sends it. I have been in the irrigation business all these years. I also admit to an occasional attempt at “cloud seeding.” Yes, I’m trying to help God out a bit! This reveals the need to pause and ask myself the following question.
BHAQ (Big Harry Audacious Question):
DOES GOD REALLY NEED US TO ACCOMPLISH HIS TASKS HERE ON EARTH?
Are you contemplating or in the midst of making dramatic changes within your organization? This short exercise and survey will help you and your organization realize the breadth & depth of the undertaking.
“Pivot” has become the new word for ministry strategy. You’ve done the hard work of strategic planning and are ready to implement this incredible new vision. Then… BAM… disaster strikes and completely rocks your world. How do you adjust to a changing environment fast enough to weather the storm?
In 1995, organizational management guru, Charles Handy theorized that organizations should start reinventing themselves before they reach their peak. Most organizations only think about trying something new when they’ve hit the bottom and run out of ideas. According to Handy, the best time to start something new is while you are still successful — when things are going well, you have the energy, resources, and creativity to come up with new ideas. Some ministries are nimble and can flex in response to change; others can’t or won’t adjust, and struggle to survive.
Handy’s Sigmoid Curve, or S-shaped curve shows that new initiatives have a first phase of experimentation and learning which is followed by a time of growth and development. Unfortunately, every new idea peaks, plateaus, and then curves downward. To keep on growing, the successful organization must keep developing new initiatives. The key is starting a new curve at Point A before you need to change. Most ministries do not change until Point B which is often too late. When your ministry is declining, it’s hard to think bold, new thoughts when your only focus is staying in business.
As Israel entered the Promised Land, the Lord instructed Joshua to follow, “because you have never been this way before” (Josh. 3:4). One of the most dangerous moments for an organization is when they begin to lean on their own understanding (Prov. 3:5). Successful strategic planning is less about what you and your board think you should do and more about listening for what God wants you to do. “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it’” (Isa. 30:21).
Is God calling your ministry to leave what you do well and try something new to respond to the needs of today’s generation? If so, start your strategic thinking now while things are going well. Don’t wait until your ministry starts to decline and forces you to make changes you may not want to make.
Stay ahead of the curve. If God is asking you to reinvent your ministry, he will give you the wisdom to navigate the change.
Handy, C. (1995). The Empty Raincoat: Making Sense of the Future. Australia: Random House.
Ron Haas has served the Lord as a pastor, the vice president of advancement of a Bible college, a Christian foundation director, a board member and a fundraising consultant. He’s authored two books: Ask for a Fish – Bold Faith-Based Fundraising and Simply Share – Bold, Grace-Based Giving. He regularly presents fundraising workshops at ministry conferences and has written fundraising articles for At the Center magazine and Christian Leadership Alliance’s Outcomes magazine.
