When it comes to year-end appeals, the important thing is focusing on those who have not yet given this year.
Development Committees | Setting the Standard
In development, we get out what we’re willing to put in. How are you utilizing your board members and committees? There’s untapped potential – let’s tap into it in 3 ways today!
Wartime Priorities
You are the general of your ministry organization. It’s time to enter the war room and not reemerge until you draw up war plans. What does this mean? Two steps, endless possibilities!
Noteworthy Meetings | Tools of the Trade
When you ask a question, there is power in the answer. Are you listening? Are you harnessing it? One notebook has the potential to guide you to do just that!
Bored with your Board?
I often hear complaints from development and advancement directors and teams working with faith-based nonprofit organizations, schools, and missions. “Our board doesn’t get involved.” “Our board doesn’t contribute.” You’re bored… with your board. At times, this can be completely confounding. The Christian mindset is to build one another up, to defend the widows and the […]
To Delegate is to Disciple | Leading Well Through Mentorships
Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote, “Our chief want in life is somebody who will make us do what we can.” As leaders, we carry the amazing responsibility of raising others up to stand on level ground, and even to push them above and beyond. In so many areas of our faith, we are encouraged to think […]
Discipline Can Be Deceiving
From the outside, as I hiked with several leaders after a long and productive day, it likely looked like I was a diligent, structured, disciplined person. I say this because several people commented on just that. However, that was merely a reaction to evidence available at the moment. I love discipline. I admire it. I […]
Redefining Success | Navigating COVID-19
Many of you have reached out with the same basic, but ever so complicated, question: What do we do now? Although many things remain to be sorted out, we have three important steps for you and your organizations to take today for a stronger tomorrow. Update Timelines At this point we have no way of […]
3 Steps Emergent Leaders Need to Take
With the end of the year approaching, you are in a unique position for your ministry. I’d even go so far as to say the strongest position you could possibly be in come December. If anyone has giving decisions remaining to make before now and the end of the year, they are likely to find […]
Strength Training | 3 Steps to Stronger Ideas
Strength stands on the shoulders of those who came before us. Years ago, I learned a formula that has changed my life. As a driven individual I can be guilty at times of being so focused I settle for nothing short of perfection. There was a time when I would rather have taken no action […]
3 Ways to Show Vision Through Hospitality
Calling all Marthas! Jesus gave credit where credit was due for Mary’s focus on the importance of time spent with our Savior. I’ve considered, however, from time to time, the number of people who give the Marthas of the world a bad name. There’s something to be said for the gift of hospitality. We all […]
Personal Planning in the New Year
The New Year has arrived and many of us are rested, wide-eyed and bushy tailed running on the energy that springs the promise of a fresh start! Are you ready to harness it? Let’s dive into this year headfirst by setting our ministries up for year-long success with some simple but applicable exercises. Work […]
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. […]
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 […]
Grow Giving This Year by Taking a Step Back
Reinforcing the Basics | Building Your Skillset If you are like me, you are thinking a lot about your goals for this year. Now is the perfect time to refocus on essentials while expanding on potential. Let’s talk about advancement planning and what it can do for your ministry! True advancement planning occurs when you’re […]
Planning Versus Doing
Are you stuck in the planning phase of the work you do through your ministry? In this video, Zach Clark, Founder of Development and Leadership Coaching, shares some questions you need to ask in order to help you take action, and get the right information in front of people who could make a big […]
10 Personal Planning Questions for the New Year
Planning for the year ahead is not just for ‘Type A’ people. Planning is really part of how we do what we do as leaders. It is part of a lifestyle of leadership, and great planning starts with great questions. When it comes to planning, we encourage people to create a file, […]
4 Ways to Stop Being Overwhelmed and Get Things Done
The reality today for anyone in a leadership role is that more is being expected for less. I want to give you 4 principles to help you not just get things done, but get the RIGHT things done. 1. Measure your capacity to meet with people rather than all of the projects you are working […]
How to Create a Ministry Fundraising Plan for Record Giving in 2016
The reports keep coming in from leaders who experienced record giving last year. These are ordinary people who are called to lead in an extraordinary way. What did they do differently than others? Did they have a more compelling need? Did they just try harder? Maybe God just likes them better? No. They had a […]
Why You Don’t Have Enough Donors
If you feel you are lacking prospects, connections, donors, volunteers, candidates for positions then you have a time-use problem, not an actual lack of people.
