Vision, Mission and Your team

Feb 21, 2023

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

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 church’s vision, goals and directions and are partly or strongly committed to them.

Read the article on this here

How does that compare to your team?

Does everyone know the Vision and Mission of your ministry? Are they all strongly committed to it?

Because in ministry, 68% isn’t going to be good enough!

To be a winning rowing team you need everyone, 100% of your team, pulling in the same direction perfectly in sync with everyone else on the team. And they need to listen and follow the rhythm set by the Cox, drummer or whoever is setting the beat for the rowing.

If one person starts rowing to their own beat the race is over and there is a good chance of capsize.

This analogy serves to show why it is so important that you, as leader, are constantly inspiring your team with the Vision and Mission of why your ministry exists.

It is when we all pull together that our canoe goes the fastest and the straightest – that’s a winning team!

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…

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...

Thank you – two small words with huge impact.

In a recent email Tom Ahern referred to Thanking Donors as the “Secret Sauce” for your fundraising efforts. He went on to talk about the importance...

Adding Drama to your Stories

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...

Gardening

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...

« Older Entries

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...

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...

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...

To Get Better at What You Do…

Invest your time wisely. When it comes to the way we eat, we don’t sit down on the first day of the month and eat the entire month’s food in one sitting. No, we have a little bite often – usually 3 meals a day with an extra coffee or two and perhaps a snack thrown...

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,...

“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.

Do the best you can with what you have

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!...

Are you ready for the new year?

There is only one person who can make (or break) this year for you – that’s YOU! What is your fundraising strategy? If you are happy with the amount of donations your ministry is receiving then, great - keep doing what you’re doing. But if not, then perhaps something...

Sharpening Your Axe

Become better at your job by taking time out of ‘doing’ your ministry work to upskill yourself

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...

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....

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...

Thank you – two small words with huge impact.

In a recent email Tom Ahern referred to Thanking Donors as the “Secret Sauce” for your fundraising efforts. He went on to talk about the importance of thanking sincerely and thanking fast. In fact there is evidence that if you personally thank a first time donor...

Adding Drama to your Stories

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)...

Gardening

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...

How are your fundraising plans coming along for this year?

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...

Make Friends

Do the best you can with what you have

Why People Don’t Support Your Organisation

by Jeff Brooks - Future Fundraising Now This might seem obvious, but so much fundraising just misses the point: people donate to nonprofits to help people. They don’t donate to support nonprofits. Fundraising that misses that point is not effective. That’s the point...

Its actually an Offer!

“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.

What your donor wants

So you've planned and made your appeal to your donors. Some of them have responded and your appeal target has been met. Great, job done! Time to celebrate! Well actually, no. Probably the most important part is still waiting for you. What am I talking about? It's...

To Get Better at What You Do…

Finding New Board Members

Recently the Non Profit Times published the following helpful advice on their website regarding where to look for new Board members. You can read it for yourself at www.thenonprofittimes.com The Plan To Replace Board Members “The first step is to consider to whom...

Changes in Africa – Brenda Uwubuntu

Watch this great video from Brenda Uwubuntu that was recently shown at the CMAA Conference 2022 - Truth Goodness Beauty. Brenda shares about the change that she is seeing in Africa's Media ministries and supporters as well as some amazing things that God is doing in...

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...

Do the best you can with what you have

Why Record Donor 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 their second or third or 27th donation from them? That is why there is so much emphasis put on what fundraisers call ‘Donor Retention’. So the...