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The Word for Today Distribution and Messaging

Dec 11, 2024

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

Ian and Grant had the opportunity to encourage some of the volunteers from our UCB Fiji team that will be distributing The Word for Today 2025 edition. They provided some very practical advice in preparing to give these out to the people locally. Hope you get encouraged by what Ian and Grant share on here.

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.

More Fundriasing Tips here…

Monthly Support

I was excited to see that Tomu has begun building Fiji’s Monthly Support strategy. Because building a robust monthly support program is crucial for...

read more

R&D

If your ministry is flourishing and growing and you are happy with the results of your fundraising activity, great!   Why not share with us what you...

read more

Monthly Support

I was excited to see that Tomu has begun building Fiji’s Monthly Support strategy. Because building a robust monthly support program is crucial for any charity aiming to achieve long-term sustainability and impact. Here are 7 reasons why you should invest your time...
Read More

Moses Was Asked…

Do what you can with what you’ve got! This is probably the best piece of fundraising advice I’ve heard in a very long time. Do what you can with what you’ve got! Those of us at last week’s UCB Family Meeting heard Ian talk about the early years of Vision/UCB...
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You gotta Ask!

Ok, that’s out in the open. 😊 If you want to get donations for your ministry, you have to ask. I’ll come back to this in just a mo, but first it is important to remember that the Ask is only Step 1 in a 3-step process. Step 1 – Ask Step 2 – Thank Step 3 – Report You...
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Oops

Don't let fear of making a mistake stop you doing excellent fundraising. Because guess what, mistakes happen! – Actually everyone makes mistakes and while we should try to avoid them don’t cripple yourself by spending all your energy trying to avoid them. Mistakes are...
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“I’m a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work the more I have of it”

“I’m a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work the more I have of it” do the best you can with what you have and see how your ministry grows.

Read More

Get out of the Way!

As much as possible you want to connect your supporters action directly to the changed life. Eg "Your gift today of $60 will feed 10 children" not "Donate $60 to our ministry and we will be able to feed 10 children" or "You donation today gives someone, who cannot...
Read More

Demonstrate Generosity

Did you know that one way your radio ministry can raise funds, is by being generous! Now that doesn’t make sense… or does it? Let me explain how you can demonstrate generosity like this… Vision Christian Radio runs two on air fundraisers for its own ministry each...
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Getting to know your Donors

Why record details? Did you know that it costs more, and you have to work a lot harder, to get a first donation from someone than it is to get the second or third or… donation? That is why there is so much emphasis put on what fundraisers call ‘Donor Retention’. So...
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Fundraising Leaders

And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written:  “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.”  Now he who...
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Make Friends

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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Visionathon: We’re Here to Help!

  Visionathon is Vision’s biannual fundraiser that celebrates the power of faith, hope, and love. It’s a time when we all come together to support our mission of spreading the Gospel throughout Australia and beyond, and helping people look to God daily.  During...
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Sometimes it’s actually Not That Hard!

At times we can all be guilty of not doing something because we 'think' it is going to be too difficult. But often times we just need to give it our best shot. Or, to quote sports apparel giant Nike, ... We need to overcome the Paralysis of Analysis When I travel I...
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Monthly Support

I was excited to see that Tomu has begun building Fiji’s Monthly Support strategy. Because building a robust monthly support program is crucial for any charity aiming to achieve long-term sustainability and impact. Here are 7 reasons why you should invest your time...
Read More

R&D

If your ministry is flourishing and growing and you are happy with the results of your fundraising activity, great!   Why not share with us what you are doing so others can learn. If however, your ministry needs more donations to facilitate growth, then read on... The...
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Story Telling as Part of Your Radio Appeal

By Ian Worby CEO UCB Asia Pacific Part of my role in helping Vision Christian Media when they have their two radio appeals each year called Visionathon is that I am The Story Teller. I tell faith-building and inspiring stories from the past of how God and others...
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Getting Donations 101

Fundraising guru Jeff Brooks says "Donors don't give to support organisations or programs: they give to make something happen" Trouble is, as fundraisers we tend to think in terms of programs and organisations. Often we are facing a financial challenge so can be very...
Read More

Everyone Loves a Success Story

So share! Share the stories you hear about people being positively impacted by your ministry. Share about any 'wins' you've had. Give God all the Glory Thank your donors/partners for being the ones who made it happen, because of their prayers and faithful...
Read More

Get out of the Way!

As much as possible you want to connect your supporters action directly to the changed life. Eg "Your gift today of $60 will feed 10 children" not "Donate $60 to our ministry and we will be able to feed 10 children" or "You donation today gives someone, who cannot...
Read More

Its actually an Offer!

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....
Read More

You gotta Ask!

Ok, that’s out in the open. 😊 If you want to get donations for your ministry, you have to ask. I’ll come back to this in just a mo, but first it is important to remember that the Ask is only Step 1 in a 3-step process. Step 1 – Ask Step 2 – Thank Step 3 – Report You...
Read More

Don’t be Boring

The first lesson on not being boring is that you need to look at what you're saying from the point of view of the reader or listener. Because you've invested your time and your effort in the project saying "We've just put on a new station in Nameavillage" will excite...
Read More

Make Friends

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...
Read More

Change it up for the New Year

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...
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The 80/20 Rule

The 80/20 rule says that you can do 80% of the work in 20% of the time. The same is true when it comes to fundraising and your donors. Fundraising isn't an exact science but... 80% of your donors will contribute 20% of your income Another 15% of your donors will...
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How are your fundraising plans coming along for this year? 

The other day I read the following on www.futurefundraisingnow.com and thought it worth sharing as it applies to our letters, emails, on air appeals, and face to face communication. 4 Game-Changing hints for Powerful Fundraising Remember to talk to your donors, NOT at...
Read More

Getting Donations 101

Fundraising guru Jeff Brooks says "Donors don't give to support organisations or programs: they give to make something happen" Trouble is, as fundraisers we tend to think in terms of programs and organisations. Often we are facing a financial challenge so can be very...
Read More

Fundraising is not all up to you

Time and time again a reading in The Word for Today provides us a really good reminder of how fundraising for our ministry is actually in God's hands. We can often worry that it is all up to us to get people to donate and if they don’t we take it as a bit of a...
Read More

“I’m a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work the more I have of it”

“I’m a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work the more I have of it” do the best you can with what you have and see how your ministry grows.

Read More

Surveys and Opinions

Surveys and asking people for their opinion can be a helpful tool but they can also be very misleading.  Especially when it comes to fundraising. First off, understand that your donors really want to give you truthful and helpful answers to your questions. After all,...
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Vision, Mission and Your team

The 2021 Australian National Church Life Survey asked church attenders whether their church had a clear vision, goals or direction for its ministry and mission, and if they were committed to that vision. 68% of church attenders said they are aware of their local...
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