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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

Fundraising, Fundraising Verse of the Week, Major Donors

Praying For Divine Donor Appointments

by Ron Haas
April 26, 2020

“Then he prayed, ‘Lord, God of my master Abraham, make me successful today, and show kindness to my master Abraham. 13 See, I am standing beside this spring, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water. 14 May it be that when I say to a young woman, ‘Please let down your jar that I may have a drink,’ and she says, ‘Drink, and I’ll water your camels too’—let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master’” (Genesis 24:12-14).

How do you sort through thousands of donors on your mailing list to find the few who could help you significantly? An asset screening tool like Wealth Engine compares your database with public sources of information to identify hidden donors on your list who have capacity to give. It’s a helpful tool, yet some major donors can effectively conceal their wealth from public view. Encouraging your board members to network with contacts is also an effective way to identify new prospects, but some board members are not well-connected.

Abraham’s servant faced a challenging assignment to find a bride for Isaac. His instructions were clear—don’t look among the Canaanites, but only among Abraham’s relatives. So, he traveled to Abraham’s native land and stopped at the well outside of Nahor. Many daughters of the townspeople were coming to draw water, but how could he identify the right one? He prayed three requests: (1) for success, not for his own glory, but to serve Abraham well, (2) for God to schedule a divine appointment , and that (3) this young woman would go above and beyond to fulfill his request.

The servant did his part by showing up at the right place at the right time but knew he would only be successful with God’s intervention. As you review your donor list, pause and ask God for success, a sign, and a generous response. Then go to the well, ask, and listen for opportunities.

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

Capital Campaigns, Client Impact, Development, Donor Relations, Fundraising, Major Donors, Strategic Planning

Hope Academy Discovers 4 Key Relationship Principles During Virtual Visits ~ Guest Post By Jim Stigman

by The Timothy Group
April 14, 2020

“Face-to-Face Virtual Visits: An Opportunity to Love Donors”

Hope Academy is a unique school. This year, 550 children are receiving a remarkable, God-centered education. Most are from low-income families in Minneapolis, a state that leads the nation in the size of the achievement gap between white and non-white students. We are 90% privately funded, but all families have some financial “skin-in-the-game.”

Our development model is also somewhat unique. In a typical non-profit, .7% of the donors may give 70% or more of the donations*. At Hope, we cultivate relationships with financial “partners” who each sponsor one or more students at $3,000 or more per year, and whose generous support make up over 85% of our total annual contributions. We currently have nearly 400 partners, over 95% recommitting year-over-year, and many who have been with us five or more years.

While the support of our faithful partners is certainly a strength, the current national lockdown provides a challenge for our advancement team, primarily as we seek to love our partners. Face-to-face visits are an obvious no-no. And like the rest of the world, our partners are being impacted in some big ways. Our number one priority is to connect with them, listen well, and pray with them. It is critical that we maintain this contact. Enter virtual visits!

In late February, we started pivoting to virtual visits (Microsoft TEAMS or Zoom, whichever works best for them) and the response has been very well received. During these visits, four key principles guide our development team:

Ministry vs. Manipulation: The calls aren’t designed to “get” something from our partners, but as a way to “give” them something.

Steady vs. Staggering: Hope Academy continues to provide our students and families with frontline support and a remarkable education, albeit remotely.

Hope vs. Harried: We are trying to plan for the coming school year, but we are not ringing our hands. We have hope that He will provide.

Christ vs. Crisis: What an opportunity to point to Jesus!

As we listen, God reveals an opportunity to minister through prayer:

“Please pray for our unsaved children.”

“My husband is dying.”

“I am a surgeon and quarantined from my family after work.”

“There is a 50/50 chance my business won’t survive this.”

“Our daughter’s wedding is cancelled.”

“We can’t visit my 93-year old mother in the nursing home.”

And the list goes on. We purpose to focus on them, often for the entire call. When appropriate, we give a Hope Academy update. We stress that the need for a remarkable, God-centered education for low-income, urban children is greater now than ever; by God’s grace, Hope is positioned for such a time as this; and we are all in this together moving by faith. We close by asking them to keep in touch, to keep us updated on prayer requests, and to let us know about their support when they are able. Many let us know on the spot that they are committed to Hope for the coming year.

As we increase our requests for remote video calls, some prefer a good old-fashioned phone, or to wait until this all blows over to meet for coffee. We pivot accordingly. But most take us up on the virtual visit offer. For now, a new normal. And a wonderful opportunity to support and encourage those who support and encourage us!

A final thought: I have enjoyed a strong working relationship with The Timothy Group over the years. The team was a great help as we launched and completed a $9 million capital campaign. I’m grateful for their wisdom, strategic guidance, personal attention, faith ignition, and good humor. ?

Jim Stigman, VP for Ministry Advancement, Hope Academy, Minneapolis MN

*www.fundraisingreportcard.com/benchmarks

Donor Relations, Fundraising, Fundraising Verse of the Week, Major Donors

The Indescribable Gift

by Ron Haas
April 11, 2020

“Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” (2 Cor. 9:15)

We take great care when selecting the perfect gift for that special person, but nothing compares with our Heavenly Father’s gift of his only Son to be “an atoning sacrifice for our sin” (1 John 4:10). Without God’s generosity to us, we would be eternally lost and without hope. Paul responded to God’s generous gift with this doxology of praise!

How should you respond to the generosity of your donors? Consider the previous verses.

Thankfulness. “This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God” (vs. 12). Share with your donors how their gift has made an eternal difference and how your whole team is thanking God because of their generosity.

Praise. “Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else” (vs. 13). Share how their faithful gift has encouraged others to praise God. Tell an impact story that would not have happened without their gift. Thank them for sharing with you and the other ministries they support.

Prayer. “And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you” (vs. 14). The greatest way to thank your donors is to pray for them. Ask for their prayer requests, spend time praying for them, and follow up to hear how God has answered.

On this Resurrection Sunday, praise God for his generous, sacrificial gift of salvation. This week, thank your donors for their generous, sacrificial gifts to your ministry.

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

Zoom Panel Forum Recording “The Current State Of Donor Affairs”

by The Timothy Group
April 8, 2020

View the live recording of this crucial discussion led by top development experts with over 200 participants across the US! Panelists include (1) Jules Glanzer, Tabor College, Hillsboro, KS, (2) Jim Stigman, Hope Academy, Minneapolis, MN, (3) Dan Brokke, Bethany Global Ministries, Minneapolis, MN, (4) Chris Glover, Wesleyan Christian Academy, High Point, NC, and (5) The Timothy Group moderators, Pat McLaughlin, Ron Haas, and Kent Vanderwood.

view recording

Download the PowerPoint presentations and image featured during the live recording:

2020.4.8-The-Timothy-Group-Navigating-COVID-19 Download
2020.4.8-Hope-Academy-Timothy-Group-Panel-Discussion Download
Jesus-Upper-Zoom Download

Development, Donor Relations, Major Donors

Form Your Own Invisible Force Prayer Team

by The Timothy Group
April 6, 2020

Famed Washington Post columnist, Art Buchwald  wrote, “Whether it’s the best of times or the worst of times…..it the only times we’ve got”. An invisible foe has literally shut down your community, your region, our nation and parts of the world.  We all agree these are difficult times!. FUD has impacted our world, fear of the unknown, uncertainty about the future, and doubt as to a cure. COVID-19 impacted our world and it has impacted our ministries as well. So how do we fight this Invisible Foe?

INVISIBLE FORCE

E.M. Bounds wrote “Men and women are needed whose prayers will give to the world the utmost power of God. True prayers are born of present trials and present needs”.

God is bigger than the virus, He is bigger than immediate trials and present needs. He has got this, but we need to commit ourselves to pray. To pray without ceasing. That is the invisible force that will defeat the fear, anxiety, and worry connected with this pandemic. A Salvation Army quote that I love is “We combat natural disasters with acts of God”. Our combat strategy is that we can all initiate today, right now is prayer. 

MINISTRY NEEDS

Yes, pray and stay busy doing what you can do under the existing guidelines.  All forms of communication are open to you and your ministry team and to your donors.  Oh yeah, our ministry partners our donors; those saints that help us with our ministry needs, They help us impact our world with the Gospel. How do we keep them informed, up to date and praying with us?  By the way, how do we keep them engaged and  giving? 

DATE YOUR DONORS

Yes, set a date, a specific time to call them and if possible, pray with them. You can use your cell, text, email, Zoom, Go To Meeting, Google Duo. There are a plethora of ways to contact them. They are probably at home and not on a cruise or touring Italy at the moment. Value-based communication. What if you began with your top 10-next 20 or 30 or 50 or even 100? Everyone in your organization from CEO to MGO, and even some board members could call and say thank you. Perhaps share a ministry update. Ask for prayer requests and pray with them over the phone. Then there is the ultimate of a dating relationship – a personal, hand-written note! Perhaps this “dating your donors” concept will be something you continue to  implement way past this pandemic. “Do you love me or do you not……you told me once but I forgot!) Some love and time via some quality electronic communication will keep you up to date with your key ministry partners. If appropriate, share a specific financial need, invite them to pray, and to give. 

SEASON OF RECOVERY

Yes, this pandemic will end and our world and our lives will begin a season of recovery. People will go back to work, the economy may sputter, but it will recover and our ministries will get back to work impacting peoples lives with the power of the Resurrected Jesus. When will this take place? No one knows, but it will happen. If you invested time with your key donors in some unique way with your donors during this down time, your Season of Recovery will be fast and fruitful. Plan your work and work your plan. Outline now as to how you want your organization to be ready to move when the time comes to move. Cast a vision for some new or renewed program that you want to see implemented in your first 30-60-90 days of recovery.

THE OTHER INVISIBLE FOE

In addition to FUD, there is another invisible foe: anxiety and a few of its synonyms (worry, nervousness, apprehension and concern). Let’s be honest for a moment. We have all been anxious during this crisis. Here are two applicable verses (OT and NT) and two prayers to Jehovah.

Isiah 40:31 – “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint” (NIV).

Philippians 4:6-7 – “Do not be anxious about anything but in everything with prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your requests to God.  And the peace of God that transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus”. (NIV)

God has got this, He has your back!  Just words until you begin to review hundreds of scripture that speak of renewal, casting cares on Him, comfort and strength.  He really does have all of this.  He never sleeps nor slumbers, God is bigger than COVID-19. 

Pray to Jehovah-Raphe, the God who heals. And Pray to Jehovah-Jireh, the God who provides. Combat these invisible forces with THE GREATEST INVISIBLE FORCE IN THE UNIVERSE, the God who loves us and who sent His son to die for us. 

Have an awesome Holy week. In light, remember wash your hands and say your prayers because Germs and Jesus are everywhere!

A small part of the Invisible Force Prayer Team,

Patrick McLaughlin

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