Your message is either about saving lives or changing lives.
Your message is why people give. It clarifies your vision, not for what the organization will become, but what people will become through the work that you do.
So what do you do with the message? How do you use it to energize givers?
You take it one step at a time.
Even if you’ve never clarified a message before, your steps always build on the success of the previous step. You’re never operating at zero unless you’re starting a new step. Each step shows givers where you’re currently operating – what’s been accomplished, how God’s moving, and allows them to forecast where you’re going. How are you believing God will move in and for your ministry in the future?
In order to climb step by step, there are some numbers you need to know every week: the Core Four.
1. Long Term Giving Goal
Where do you hope to be within three to five years? This is the next step in your development message.
It’s giving driven. It can move as fast as people give.
2. Progress to Date
Once you establish your long-term goal, it’s essential to regularly monitor the pulse of achieving said amount.
Know where you are in relation to where you’re wanting to be.
3. Giving Year Goal
How close are you to your long-term giving goal? In an average year, we ask leaders to consider where they want to be on December 31. However, in this new normal, we’re encouraging people to ask where they want to be, come the end of June.
Why?
Knowing where you want to be helps guide the decisions about what to emphasize with donors. Should you FaceTime or Zoom one on one to ask them to give or meet in a small group setting online to make introductions and network? Knowing where you stand helps you make informed decisions.
4. Near-Term Milestones
Along the way to meeting your long-term goal, there are opportunities to entice and inspire donors by calling out their ability to make a substantial impact by helping meet a near-term goal en route to the grand finale.
Perhaps you’ve set a goal of one-million dollars. Consider marking off or celebrating through communication shout-outs each time a new hundred-thousand is achieved.
The closer you get to a milestone, the more impact a gift has.
You may not know what their capabilities are as givers, but anyone can see the impact of a near-term goal since the impact is almost immediate. It has the power to help your ministry currently and down the road should they be inspired to give again.
Where you want to stand tomorrow determines the steps you take today. I encourage you to communicate with your team and align your message today!
If you don’t know where to start with this, check out our Strategy Statement Tool!