0
0
Client Impact, Donor Relations, Strategic Planning

Youth Haven Kids’ Ministry: Delivering Hope To Kids’ Homes with New, Innovative Methods

by The Timothy Group
May 19, 2020

As we welcomed 2020, kissed our loved ones and wished them a Happy New Year, none of us imagined we would be where we are today. The world has changed, and we have all been impacted. Each one of our lives has been touched in one way or another by this virus and its effects.

For a ministry that utilizes camping programs as a primary ministry tool, the closing of schools and stay-at-home orders have posed a unique challenge. But this virus has not stopped us from reaching out to disadvantaged boys and girls with the love and hope of Jesus Christ! If anything, it has spurred us on to do more for them, and to find new and creative ways to be a part of their lives. Our methods have changed, but our mission remains the same.

Same Mission, New Method

Youth Haven’s mission is to provide life-changing, Christ-centered experiences for disadvantaged children. The kids we serve at Youth Haven were already facing difficult circumstances before this pandemic began. Now, many of them are stuck at home in situations where they are being treated unkindly or needs aren’t being met. At the same time, more and more children are facing financial hardships because their parents have lost jobs.

We had to ask ourselves two questions: How can we meet the needs of our kids in a way that respects the guidelines put in place by the authorities and protects our kids and staff? And how do we help our supporters understand how important they are to us during this time?

Haven For Kids Online

The first step was to ensure we continued to fulfill our mission in any way we could. The most obvious need was that, suddenly, kids were stuck at home looking for things to do. Unfortunately, the Internet can often be an unsafe place for kids. We recognized the need for kids to have a haven online, where they could find fun things to do without having to worry about harmful content or safety issues.

In response to the need for kids to have safe, fun things to do at home, we launched a new kids’ website at www.havenforkids.fun. It’s full of fun activities, videos, stories, answers to questions kids might have, challenges for them to participate in, and more. We’ve seen a great response so far, and it has allowed us to share the hope of Jesus with kids all over our nation who are going through difficult times.

Virtual Summer Camp

We’re also excited to begin our first ever virtual camp experience this summer, allowing us to reach kids with the message of God’s love in the own homes. The kids will be registered for a specific week of virtual camp, and we’ll mail or hand deliver a special supply kit full of activities, snacks, instructions, and a few other items just for fun. They’ll receive an access code to a password-protected web site, where they can watch videos and livestreams from Youth Haven and interact with our staff. They’ll be able to earn points by completing various activities, and we’ll mail special prizes at the end of each week

Kids’ Care Packs

We also understand many of the kids who attend Youth Haven are in situations right now where their basic needs aren’t being met. Our schools did a fabulous job of stepping in to provide meals for kids, but we knew that wouldn’t meet all of their needs, so we developed a program called Kids’ Care Packs. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we have delivered over 600 care packages to children in need during this difficult time, with snacks, personal hygiene items, activities, and small toys. We have received numerous e-mails from grateful parents with photos and videos of their kids opening the care packages.

Birthday Brigade & Bibles

But perhaps the most important need we’re meeting is the need for the children to feel loved, and to know they’re not alone. They need to be reminded that God loves them and is with them, no matter what they may be going through – and that they have friends here at Youth Haven who also love them. The web site, virtual camp, and care packages certainly help meet this need. In addition, we’re beginning a new Birthday Brigade to take cupcakes and gifts to kids on their birthdays. We’ve increased the number of mailed activities and Bible lessons we’re sending to the children. And we’ve mailed multiple copies of our custom Bibles to kids who visited our kids’ website and didn’t have Bibles of their own.

Donor Calls & Hearts’ Desires

Through all of this, we also knew how vital it was to continue building relationships with our supporters. We want them to realize this is a partnership, and we are working together to reach kids for Christ and meet their needs. We quickly began making phone calls to people who stand with us financially, simply asking how we could pray for them. What we found was that most of them turned the conversation around to asking how they could help us help the kids. That is their hearts’ desire, and we have been so grateful.

Personal Notes & Prayers

In addition to the phone calls, we have continued to send hand-signed thank-you letters with every gift receipt, a practice that is standard for us. We established a prayer team, inviting people to sign up to receive a weekly e-mail that includes first names of children they can be praying for. And we’ve relied heavily on our direct mail program to communicate with our supporters. We have also utilized social media, but given the fact that we also have parents and agency workers who follow our social media sites, we do have to be mindful of what we post there. Direct mail allows us to personalize our message to the group of people we’re trying to reach.

We’re so grateful for everyone who has continued to give and pray for the children during this time when so many are struggling. All of our programs are – and have always been – provided to disadvantaged children free of charge. God has been faithful, and as we continue to adapt and meet the needs of His children, He continues to provide partners who stand with us.

Guest post article submitted by Amy Carlson, Director of Communications and Marketing, Youth Haven. Amy’s husband, Lars Carlson, serves as President & CEO for Youth Haven.

As a pastor’s daughter, Amy has always been familiar with full-time ministry. When she met Lars Carlson in high school, God was already preparing their hearts for the calling He would place on their lives. They married in 1995, and Amy earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Western Michigan University in 1997. That same year, Lars and Amy felt God calling them into full-time service at Youth Haven.

Donor Relations, Fundraising Verse of the Week, Major Donors

Recruiting Donor Evangelists

by Ron Haas
May 17, 2020

“Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. 41 The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ (that is, the Christ). 42 And he brought him to Jesus” (John 1:40-42).

A board member profoundly said, “Every one of our board members should constantly be in conversations with people to find out where God is hiding money!” Some organizations schedule time in each board meeting encouraging members to identify, cultivate and solicit their friends and family. Andrew would have been a great board member! He believed John’s message and made a life changing decision to follow Jesus. Andrew became an evangelist. His first response was to find his brother Peter and tell him about Christ.

Your board members must become your greatest evangelists for your ministry telling everyone they meet about how your ministry is accomplishing incredible things for Christ. Encourage your board members to engage in these four action steps.

Believe.

You can only share your mission with enthusiasm, if you are fully convinced that your ministry is meeting critical needs. Light up your board’s passion by sharing stories of changed lives.

Find.

The first networking question is, “Who do you know?” We jump to a list of famous, wealthy people that we probably don’t know (Bill Gates). Instead, we should look closer to home. Consider prospects in your church, community, and even family who would align with your mission.

Tell.

Finding the Messiah motivated Andrew. Your ministry meets many human needs, but the most compelling message you can share is how your ministry leads people to Jesus.

Bring.

Andrew did more than share the good news with Peter, he physically brought him to Jesus. Encourage your board members to bring their prospective donors for a tour, a special event, or lunch with your executive director. Inspire your prospective donors as they experience your mission.

Andrew didn’t know it, but he brought the person whom God would use to bring many into the Kingdom. Won’t you begin recruiting donor evangelists? Perhaps God will use the person you bring to bring many to your ministry and many more into the Kingdom.

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.

Donor Relations, Downloadable E-Guides, Major Donors

Assess Your Donor Giving Capacity

by The Timothy Group
May 13, 2020

Is it okay to ask for specific gift amounts? How can you tell if a donor is on board? What does the Bible say about asking for gifts? This top guide shares how to assess your donor giving capacity. BONUS: Several donor case scenarios are provided.

Download Guide Now

Guide authored by Ron Haas.

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.

Donor Relations, Major Donors, Strategic Planning

State Of Donor Affairs Survey Results

by The Timothy Group
May 13, 2020

Survey results are in! Check out our 1-page pictorial report on the current State Of Donor Affairs. Please also make sure to view the individual comments, words of encouragement, and “go-to” verses by our survey respondents located below the report. A big thank you to the respondents who took the time to share their thoughts!

Download & View Report

Survey Comments:

“A special thank you to your group for being an excellent resource and encouragement during this time.”

“Giving has not declined over our monthly average. Received a significant gift unsolicited.”

(Joshua 1:9) 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

“We are praying more as Administrator…Daily. We meet at 9 AM M-F and we really pray. Not a bad plan.”

(2 Corinthians 12:10b) “When I am weak, then I am strong.”

“Pray for seniors, many of which are rightly isolated and some that are lonely. Thanks for what you are doing!”

“Thankful that no cases of COVID-19 in any of our shelter guests or staff in the last 5 weeks. This is one of the things that I have been able to share with our donors in phone calls, emails and handwritten notes and it so resonates with them. Many say that has been my prayer. The first time donors I have spoken with say they gave because we are there for the homeless at this time and plan to continue – which is a praise, too. With some donors working from home, I have connected with them and they are open to talking and sharing their feelings and fears. Many times, a scripture comes to my heart of what they shared & have given it to them. And then, praying with them before ending our call. For me, Psalm 91 had been my ‘refuge and my fortress’ scripture for comfort, strength and peace for 30 years and especially my 9-1-1 scripture at this COVID-19 time,”

“I am reminded of the song “Only King Forever” during this time-one of the lines is, Kingdoms once strong now shaken, we trust the name of Jesus.”

“He continues to Provide!”

(Ephesians 3:20) 20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

“Value loss of appreciated assets is our major concern.”

(James 5:16b) “The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.”

Donor Relations, Fundraising, Major Donors

What Do Football & Fundraising Have In Common?

by The Timothy Group
May 12, 2020

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]

Jay Riemersma is a family man, a passionate follower of Jesus, a past congressional candidate, a gifted stewardship director, and he’s Dutch. Oh, by the way, he played tight end in the NFL for nine seasons. For the past eleven years Jay has served as Senior Director of Advancement for Family Research Council in Washington, DC. He has a unique perspective on what football and fundraising have in common.

Like all of us, Jay has been practicing the Michigan stay at home order, but he has used this time to stay very active with mega/major donors. Jay notes, “These are unprecedented and uncertain times. I don’t know what the future holds, but I know who holds the future.” He and his team launched a donor touch program called, “Check Ins;” making pastoral calls with their key ministry partners via phone, text, e-mail and Zoom. They even hosted some Zoom conference calls in a live radio format vibe with key FRC leaders sharing information and donors asking questions and getting immediate answers.

Jay played seven years for the Buffalo Bills playing the New England Patriots twice a year. There was not much love loss between teams, but a whole lot of respect for Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick, perhaps the best coach in NFL history. Belichick is an offensive and defensive mastermind designing new plays for every game.

Jay shares, “We tossed the scouting reports because whatever we prepared for during the week had nothing to do with the actual game because his plays were often unprecedented and uncertain.” Sound familiar? Often at the end of the first quarter they would have to seriously adjust their game plan and go back to the basics: running good routes, opening holes for running backs, executing good blocking schemes, and of course, finishing good tackles. It’s the basics; back to the fundamentals of the game.

As you ride out this COVID slow down and prepare to re-open your ministry, go back to the basics.

(1) Play to your strengths. What were you doing well before the pandemic and what will you be able to do when this Season of Recovery begins? Jay commented, “Great coaches and great leaders know the strengths of their team and utilize their experience and expertise.

(2) Be prepared with personalized donor messages for your key ministry partners. Share real ministry needs, critical stewardship opportunities, and a team perspective, ‘We are all in this together and we need each and every one of you.’

(3) Pray for your ministry partners and invite them to pray for you.

(4) Visit your key donors in person. Sit at their kitchen table or out by the pool. Be flexible with travel. Tell them you love them, you need them. Go back to the fundamentals of communication, personal input, marketing, messaging, and ministry. It’s almost as basic as blocking and tackling.”

Good advice from an experienced stewardship officer who has raised millions in gift income. So, what do football and fundraising have in common? You need a game plan, good communication, clear goals and expectations, and a true love for people, your ministry partners – it’s a team effort! This too shall pass; we don’t know what ministry will look like in the new normal. Be ready and don’t fumble!

Article co-authored by Jay Reimersma and Pat McLaughlin.

 

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Capital Campaigns, Development, Donor Relations, Fundraising, Major Donors, Stewardship, Strategic Planning, Zoom Panel Forum

Zoom Panel Forum Recording “Visualizing A Season Of Recovery”

by The Timothy Group
May 6, 2020
View Live Recording

View the live recording of this crucial discussion “Visualizing A Season Of Recovery” led by top development experts with 120 participants across the US! Panelists include:

Ali Crotts, Executive Director of Advancement, Carmel Christian School, Matthews, NC

Jay Riemersma, Senior Director of Development, Family Research Council, Washington, D.C.

Norman D. Hall, Ed.D., President, Simpson University, Redding, CA

Lars Carlson,President & CEO, Youth Haven, Inc., Rives Junction, MI

Amy Carlson, Director of Marketing & Communications,  Youth Haven, Inc., Rives Junction, MI

Donor Relations, Major Donors, Strategic Planning

Unspoken Donor Concerns Going Into A Season of Recovery

by The Timothy Group
April 29, 2020

THE GOOD OLD DAYS

Remember the good old days, when you could go online with Delta Airlines and book a flight to a mega/major donor’s home or vacation home and make a personal visit? Then they would greet you at the door with a handshake, a hug, or even a peck on the cheek. It was a real, live “love fest” with a few hours or days of developing a deeper connection with a close friend, advisor, and key investor. You could emphasize your mission, your vision, and your core values. You could carry along a personalized proposal, share your need, and make a personal request. Those were the days. 

Our world is being reshaped by the searing experience of the coronavirus. People are fundamentally rethinking the way they work, shop, travel, gather, and give to their favorite charities. There is a light at the end of the tunnel, and we will be able to return to the “good old days,” we’re just not sure exactly when. Hope is on the horizon. 

A CRACK IN THE DOOR

Nearly 30 states have either re-opened their economy or set dates to slowly allow people to return to their businesses and their work-a-day world. There appears to be life BC (before COVID-19) and AC (after COVID19). The door is not yet fully open, but the process is at least beginning. We have been encouraging you to call, text, email, or meet virtually with your donors in the meantime because in the very near future there will be a “season of recovery.” Life will slowly begin to look a bit more normal and I hope as you return to your office and reboot your ministry, your donors reflect and appreciate your efforts to contact them during the “bench time” (my baseball background sneaks in often).  

SEASON OF RECOVERY

In the past, donors gave to your ministry because of their clear understanding of your mission, your vision, and your core values. With their gift income dollars and your strategy, energy, competence, and integrity, you have made a good team. It’s time to call them again and let them know of your planned revival. Ask them to level with you about their real and felt needs. Help draw out any unspoken concerns they may have. What does their individual fear, uncertainty, or doubt about the immediate future look like? Inquire about their family, extended family, anyone who is sick, or even someone who they know who has passed. Practice one of my favorite acrostics, W.A.I.T. or Why Am I Talking? Listen deeply to your ministry partner, hear what they are saying, and even offer to pray with them. Share a virtual hug and prepare for the upcoming ministry moment.  

Be sure to inform them of any updates to your ministry plans, and any changes with staff they may know and love. Perhaps a student, resident, or client they have helped you fund in the past. Graciously, appropriately, tactfully, courteously, and politely share a specific need. Make a soft ask and invite them to help you with some start-up costs for that specific need. They still love and appreciate your ministry and because you kept the relationship active, they remember that. Invite them to make an eternal investment in your ministry going forward. Remember that generosity is not about finances or fear, but rather our trust in Jehovah-Jireh, for He is Our Provider. Let the Season of Recovery begin! 

Article Submitted By Pat McLaughlin of The Timothy Group 4.30.20

Capital Campaigns, Development, Donor Relations, Fundraising, Major Donors, Stewardship, Strategic Planning, Zoom Panel Forum

Zoom Panel Forum Recording “Conversations With Donors”

by The Timothy Group
April 22, 2020

View the live recording of this crucial discussion led by top development experts with 120 participants across the US! Panelists include:

Dr. Royce Frazier, President, Barclay College, Haviland, Kansas

Shannon Johnson, VP For Institutional Advancement and External Relations, Warner Pacific University, Portland, Oregon

Rev. Donovan Coley, President/CEO, The Rescue Mission, Fort Wayne, Indiana

Jody Fausnight, Director of Advancement, Hinkletown Mennonite School, Ephrata, Pennsylvania

view recording

Donor Relations, Strategic Planning

Are You Digitally Ready For Donor Bounce Back?

by The Timothy Group
April 21, 2020

What kind of strategic marketing strategies should you be working on now to maximize the current climate and help you to be digitally ready for donor bounce back? The below 7 digital marketing tools can help you respond to the need to move closer to the digital environment where donors and volunteers tend to spend most of their time.

Website Storytelling Is More Important Than Ever

Does your “brand story” show the best version of you? Does your brand story engage your users? Is your website helping you to persuade volunteers and donors? This is a great time to get the foundation of your digital marketing right.

Optimizing Your Site to Receive Organic Search Traffic (SEO)

Organic Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the dominant source of trackable web traffic, with 53% of traffic coming via this channel compared to paid’s 27% (smartinsights.com). This makes SEO the most powerful content marketing strategy when it comes to grabbing your audience’s attention and acquiring customers. Regardless of what they’re looking for, it’s content that provides it. And the more of it you publish, the higher your chance for greater search visibility and page ranking. SEO is more important than ever to prepare your brand for its bounce back.

Omnichannel Content Strategy

There are several different channels and formats of content for your audience to enjoy, and that’s why you need to be thinking about widening your net and publishing content across multiple channels. Seize this opportunity to review and refine your omnichannel content strategy and align it to engage your donors.

Mobile Clarity

To connect with more of your audience, it’s imperative to optimize everything for mobile use. At the moment, only 13% of websites are able to retain the same position for a particular search across all devices. So, you may be ranking well on desktop but not even appear on the first page of results on mobile. In fact, 30% of pages that show on the first page of desktop search results do not appear in the top 10 results on mobile (smartinsights.com). That means that any content you create for mobile channels, including a mobile version of your website, must look good on a smaller screen.

Visual & Voice Search

Text search may take a back seat to new types of searches. The first digital search trend gaining ground involves visual search. With this type of search, someone can take a picture and then use that picture to find more information. This offers an opportunity for nonprofits to incorporate and optimize more visual content. For instance, you could incorporate storytelling through visuals and let the pictures do the talking for you.

The other type of search that is set to grow in popularity is artificial intelligence voice search through smartphone tools like Siri as well as through virtual assistants from Amazon, including Echo, and Google’s Home device, which are appearing in more homes and businesses. With this search preference, you may have to change your search engine optimization (SEO) tactics and optimization strategies. People tend to use different words when they speak versus typing out a query. For example, voice queries tend to be longer and use more natural language.

Private Messaging

As more nonprofits focus on personalization, another trend is direct engagement with individual donors, volunteers, and prospects. Private messaging apps like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger open direct individual dialogue to share information about results from that donor’s contributions, ask questions, exchange ideas, and build trust in this digital world. As a result of the direct and always-open channel, donors and volunteers may feel more involved and connected to your nonprofit. These audience members know they can reach you directly and get specific responses.

Be On The Lookout

These are just a few of the digital marketing responses we’ve seen and are personally preparing for. However, there may be other digital tools that are more applicable to your nonprofit segment. due to the current climate, more trends are destined to appear throughout the year. Be on the lookout of shifting trends as well as remaining flexible and digitally ready for donor bounce back.

For more great digital cartoons and advice, please visit: https://marketoonist.com/

1 2 … 9 10 11 12 13

Recent Posts

Recent Comments

No comments to show.
support@exponentthemes.com
123-456-7890
Cart Overview