Advanced Planning Advances Purpose In leadership, there’s a massive amount of wait and see. Whether in the middle of an annual drive or a huge capital campaign, I believe development success is a self-fulfilling prophecy. This is challenging for many…I go so far as to say most people. The more you grow the number of […]
Vision Events: Do You See What I See?
Small group vision events are designed to recruit possible donors. It’s important to remember quality [time] over quantity. It’s not about getting twenty people at every single event. Small numbered groups are always a win. Look at the events of three, four, or seven people as the chance to have a greater impact in […]
Positive Planned Giving | 4 Steps to Take Right Now!
There comes a time in all development programs when the paradigm must shift, both in how your ministry advances and how donors propel their giving. Planned giving focuses on the predicted historical wealth transfer for an upcoming decade. Although essential to any successful advancement program, planned giving is not always received and encouraged with […]
3 Reasons to Refresh | Personal 100 Day Reset
A woman on my team has two young boys. Grace is something that must be modeled. It must take on a tangible form. As you can imagine, there are a plethora of opportunities for brothers to give and receive grace from their mom and one another. Their family does this by using their reset button. […]
What Truly Matters | Yearly Numbers You Need to Know
Some things matter. Some things don’t. Ultimately, what you pay attention to – what you focus on – will direct your steps. Where are you headed? I think now is the perfect time, if you don’t already have a good idea, to find out. Don’t you? Think about giving up to this point this year. […]
4 Numbers You Need to Know EVERY Week
The Weekly Scorecard Breakdown How good are you with directions? I don’t mean active listening to complete a task … I mean getting from point A to point B. I’m lucky enough to travel for engagements all over the U.S., often finding myself in new territory with a tight schedule to keep. Thank goodness the […]
3 Ways to Prioritize Your Development Calendar | Why Your Best Calls for Rest
…But Jesus was sleeping. [Matthew 8:24] I am confronted and convicted when I note the number of times the Gospel highlights Jesus’ respect for rest and recuperation. Whether tossed about at sea or on dry land, Jesus is often resting in others’ time of need. He is immune to His disciples’ anxiety and villagers’ […]
Leadership Wellness Exam
Self-Checks Prevent Your Team from Checking Out As a leader, your health impacts your team’s health and the health of your ministry. I want to help you in taking an honest look at where you stand with the basics of self-leadership. I say honest because it’s not enough to know the right things to […]
Depth of Field Determines Degree of Growth
Keeping Your Vision in Focus Whenever someone asks me for advice on how to achieve better focus, my question to them is what is your focus on? Focus is a vision activity. Just like a camera adjusting from blur to blur until steadied, the big picture for your ministry sharpens only after the focal […]
Intentionality Precedes Progress
Tips for Effective Follow-Up People are constantly looking for ways to be more effective. I’ll give you two words to instantly increase productivity in your ministry: follow-up. Focused, intentional follow-up gives purpose and shows priority. The Getting Things Done method, penned by David Allen, is a great inspiration to me. Here are a couple tips […]
Does Your Ministry Speak Success?
Why and How to Craft Your Message Purpose precedes process. Plans will change. Strategies will change. Messages evolve. It is critically important to have done the hard work of crafting your message – who your ministry is, how you got there, and what you see the Lord doing in a common language, so that you […]
Email Exhaustion
Setting Limits on Distraction It exhausts you. It diffuses your influence. It drains your energy. It interrupts. It disrupts. I’m not talking about parenthood or the summer intern! I’m talking about email. Right here, right now, make a commitment to increase your productivity by decreasing your susceptibility to multitasking. Vow to minimize your use of…dare […]
Make Your Numbers Count!
The Data You Really Need to Raise More Money There is power in what happens when you look at the right numbers. I have never seen an out-of-the-box database able to give you the exact numbers you need to make decisions as a ministry. I have seen ministries transform their perspective and in turn […]
Leading People to Decisions
Are You in the Driver’s Seat? Meeting with people – check. Share your message – check. Challenge people to think and pray about their giving with focused follow-up – check. Now what?! For leaders and/or those who are in the development director role, delivery of information is only part of your responsibility. It’s the GPS. […]
Busy vs. Productive
Shepherding Your Time as a Leader Are you extremely productive at unimportant things? We are so capable of being so remarkably busy we can fail to consider the true importance and value of focused work on the right things. It is only through careful prayer and thought that we can hope to clearly see the […]
Hiring Well Is Better Than Hiring Often
The How-To’s of Hiring I have great admiration for those who hire well. A mentor of mine, Woody Faulk of Chik-fil-A, has great advice for building staff: “Don’t just hire whoever washes over the bow of the ship. Go out and find great people and slowly, carefully recruit them when you know that they […]
Strength in [Small] Numbers
Creating Momentum with Your Small Group Strategy When it comes to development, small groups give new meaning to the familiar saying “strength in numbers!” More growth in giving, less time-intensive work. Effectively working with small groups adds to your ministry’s capacity to grow giving, with a high return on investment for time and energy poured […]
Recognize to Re-Energize
Picture your goal. The goal that is looming. If you’re like most folks, the date – not the goal itself – springs to mind! Write this date down. Say, “hello,” to your pivot point! The pivot point, generally speaking, is the point in the giving year where givers have concluded their giving decisions for […]
Don’t Just Fill Your Time, Maximize It!
Development Assistant Essentials Whether your ministry is introducing a Development Assistant, or expanding your program staff, there must be a clear and focused list of priorities. Work will expand or contract to fill the time available. Today I want to share four ways to streamline development assistant tasks to best benefit your efforts. Instant gratification. […]
Follow-Up Shows Follow-Through
Those who see movement in their ministry have figured out follow-up. The work in development is done in the Kingdom of God. People who see results that grow over time, see the fruit of their efforts, and see new resources being unlocked through people’s giving are active in advanced follow-up. Follow-up is not harassing. […]