Change it up for the New Year

Jan 30, 2023

You’ll be successful if you faithfully do the best you can with what you have

On a scale of 1 – 10 where 1 is “Terrible” and 10 is “100% Successful” where would you rate your ministry’s fundraising efforts in 2022?

This is actually a good question to talk about with your leadership team.  Because, unless you gave yourself a 9 or 10, then you need to plan to do something different in 2023.  And not only plan to do something different, but actually do something (or many things) different.

Here are 6 tips to get you started…

  1. Don’t Fear

Lots of people speak doom and gloom but don’t forget your big advantage “But God…”

God doesn’t succumb to anyone’s rules – He makes His own. So pray, seek God and then don’t be afraid to…

  1. Try Something Different

If what you did last year wasn’t a “10” then obviously you need to change things up. Look at what was working and work on improving it. But if your score was under 5 then your fundraising plan needs a radical upgrade, and that might involve doing things that make you feel uncomfortable.

  1. Up Skill

Guess what? You don’t have all the answers. There is a lot of stuff you don’t know, so it is important that you ‘keep your axe sharp” (remember that from last year?) Subscribe to some emails and sign up for some video training.  A little bit of good input each week is important to every leader.

  1. Look After and Celebrate with Your Team

Your team is full of wonderful people who share your vision for Christian broadcasting in your country. So make sure you plan ways you can make them feel special.  Celebrating success with them is always good, and it can just be a cake or cookies at staff meeting. Celebrating birthdays and wedding anniversaries is a feature of all Vision’s staff meetings.

  1. Do Your R&D

“Research and Development” is important, but I prefer the “Rob and Duplicate” definition.  Find someone who is achieving what you want to achieve and (adapt and) copy what they are doing. With the one caveat of “under God’s guidance”.

  1. Plan the Work, Work the Plan

None of this will work if you don’t put your plans into action.  So make a calendar (paper or digital) and then make sure you follow your plan.

So there are my 6 thoughts for this week to help set your ministry on the path to success in 2023.

Below are some recommended websites/blogs on fundraising to help you with 2, 3 and 5.

Record Your Donor Details

Here is a simple Excel spreadsheet for recording your donor details.

Download

Read a little more on CRM systems.

CRM Software

There are literally hundreds of  options for a CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system for your ministry. There are some free options but usually they are limited to a short time or a small number of records.

One truly Free option worth exploring is TNTConnect

 As CRM software is a rapidly changing field you are probably best to do your own search.

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I recently read an email talking about the need for fundraisers to have a ‘flair for drama’ in their story telling. It is true: “I was struggling and now God has blessed me” is not an exciting and impactful story. You need to apply good writing (or interviewing)...

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Before you get to enjoy your harvest of fruit and vegetables you first prepare the soil, then you plant seeds. But that’s not all, you have to make sure you tend and water often, otherwise the young plants will wither and die. If you want to harvest fruit and...

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As a leader you're always under pressure. Meeting the budget Keeping your ministry going forward Looking after your team Meeting Board and legal requirements Growing your ministry And then there is you own Spiritual and family life. The Good News is: God is with you!...

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In an earlier post I said that when it comes to fundraising… You gotta Ask! And that it is a 3-step process. Ask Thank Report I then said that Asking shouldn’t make you feel uncomfortable because… You are only inviting people to do something you already do yourself....

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Want to successfully raise funds for your ministry?  Then look after your people! 'Funds come from friends" is a phrase we picked up a long time ago from Bob Gass (author of The Word for Today) and there is a lot of truth to this. Friendship is built over time, and...

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