A giving-driven organization exists to see specific things accomplished in the lives of the people it serves. The only way to see real change accomplished in the lives of people is through a movement of God among people who will work and give. Look in scripture. A fundamental change in people’s lives occurs, first and […]
Skipping Stones | Turning Plans into Action–Part II
Smooth, flat rocks thrown at the right angle with a quick wrist flick will hop across the water’s surface rather than quickly sink to the bottom. It doesn’t take a bodybuilder to accomplish this physics-bending feat; it just takes a patient and practiced handler with good form. Momentum, once harnessed, is no easy thing to […]
Momentum Missteps and Mishaps
The human brain likes to group. It generalizes. It categorizes. It organizes. The first time you saw an Archie comic at the grocery store checkout line, I doubt the decorative cardstock indicating the cost also defined the comic book for you. My guess is the more you encountered books with recurring characters comprised of drawings […]
Stepping Stones | Turning Plans into Action–Part I
When done right, your development message is clear. A development message is structured to answer the questions donors always have but don’t always ask: Why is this important? What’s the mission? What values drive all this? What’s the history? How did you get here? What is the plan? What are the strategic plan steps? What […]
Renew or Redo in the New Year
The start of a new year is when people are driven and willing to sit down and look at what’s working and what needs to be reworked. A clean slate is more than just exciting – it’s a prime opportunity to clarify who your organization is and what it stands for, allowing for disciplined planning. […]
Ask In All Seasons
As leaders, we must proactively reach out in specific ways to people willing to give at different times of the year. Many nonprofit organizations use a fiscal year that starts in August or September and finishes the following summer. Some do operate on a budget year, otherwise called a calendar year. This distinction is important […]
Head On
Imagine a minivan parked on the side of the road. Now imagine shifting the van into neutral. Please give it enough oomph to make it 500 feet to a gas pump right up the road if needed. What if this same van was on a slight incline? Feel confident? You may need a friend to […]
Now Is the Time for Massive Action
If you are serving in a Christian school or ministry, we firmly believe that NOW is the time to take massive action to grow significant giving that moves you forward. YOUR potential donors likely feel a sense of opportunity and even urgency in finding and giving to deserving impactful organizations. Will they choose your ministry […]
Planning With Purpose in the New Year
For some of us, the dawn of a new year represents a clean slate, a fresh start, and another opportunity to pursue the resolutions we set aside last year. For those of us in development and leadership, a new calendar year also signifies that it’s time to determine a strategy for the year ahead. Oftentimes, […]
Are They Picking Up What You’re Putting Down?
Think about the members of your team. Picture them in your office or workspace. What do you see? Who’s listening to music? Who can’t work unless their space is tidied? Does anyone have a variety of colors and textures in their area? What about seating selections? Does everyone use a classic chair or do some […]
Giving | How to Talk the Talk
Leaders in development are aware there are deficits – costs that must be covered and debts that must be paid. This is not, however, what donors are interested in hearing. What’s an organization to do? What Do We Focus On? It’s important not to think or talk in percentages – even internally – about development. […]
Growing Church Partnerships
God created us to live in a community with others. Writing to the Romans, Paul makes our mutual dependency a focal point of his letter. “I long to see you so that I may impart some spiritual gift to make you strong— that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s […]
Evil is Eliminated
Let’s face it – we are living in a crazy time. Let’s just look at the past several years…a global pandemic, war torn countries, ever increasing interest rates, and soaring gas prices (just to name a few things) have likely impacted you personally, and quite possibly your ministry. I want to speak to the doubt, […]
Mission or Movement?
What came first? The mission statement or the movement? Like the age-old chicken or the egg, there isn’t a definitive starting point that always hits the mark. If you’re in development, you may find organizations and ministries for which you could ask – and never answer – this very question. Sometimes, organizations hit the ground […]
What’s the Plan?
Resting in peace, not dead. Between jobs, not unemployed. Thrifty, not cheap. Unique, not odd. Golden years, not old age. Euphemisms are proof of just how much the English language loves to spin. It’s time for a spin in development. It’s time to present the possibility of Planned Giving. Organizations faced with the stress of […]
Virtual Vision
Have you ever purchased a lawnmower and then decided you’d rather use it as a shower curtain? Probably not. Form follows function – in more ways than one. You’ve heard us advocate for hiring better rather than hiring often. What does that mean when you hire an individual for an office position and they’re now […]
Don’t Build Your Foundation on Foundations
Today I’d like to share my advice on how to determine if such a path is right for you or not and what to keep in mind.
Reflect to Connect
Recording personal reflections is a discipline I have worked to develop over the years. I believe knowing where I’ve come from helps inform where and how I move forward.
Lead Well by Reinventing Yourself
In your budgeting spreadsheet, how much have you accounted for the amount of influence you have on those around you? Today is the day to reinvent and reimagine your impact!
Smooth Sailing Requires a Charted Course
Momentum has to start somewhere! Encourage your board to be the catalyst to bring about change and growth in your organization and its impact with these 2 challenges.
