A Lesson in Raising Money in a Bad Economy

It's a Recession. It's a compression. It's a depression. Whatever it is, it's bad and particularly so to non profits. Right? Recently, however, I experienced something that cannot be explained easily if you're listening to the news and getting your worldview from the media.

Tuesday morning I attended the "We Build People" kickoff breakfast for the YMCA of Middle TN. I hosted a table of 8 and invited some of my Y buddies whom I see most every morning in spin class, Yoga class, swimming pool, running group or workout floor (Ok, I get around). During the breakfast, we heard first-person accounts from cancer survivors finding support group in the ABC (After Breast Cancer) program , from a woman whose entire family livelihood had been wiped out by a debilitating disease finding a welcoming place at the Y through the Open Doors program that makes the Y network free for her whole family. We also heard from a once-troubled teen who found a second chance through the YCAP program and is now a leader and role model.


At the end of the breakfast we all made our pledges and waited for the total amount to be announced. Last year, the breakfast brought an average gift of $ 511 per person. Since the sky is falling and the world is about to end, we all expected the giving to be down this year. To our surprise the per capita giving this year was $628. The breakfast raise $88,000 with 140 people in attendance. And there was no one single large gift that would have skewed the total.

So what happened? Here's a few observations:

1. The vision grew. The organizers of the event did not ask for less money this year. They asked for more. Their vision didn't shrink in bad times; it grew. Your ask should mirror the perceived giving potential, but it should be aligned with your opportunities to impact and the importance of your mission.

2. The fund raising team made a compelling presentation of how their funds were going to be used and the impact their cause had in our community. Don't assume that people know what you're doing, even those who have given in the past. Renewal is not automatic; you must show what you do still matters today.

3. They didn't cut corners. The event was well organized with first-class catering, video and print support. Times are tough but people still need to be compelled to give by a powerful vision. Clear and professional communication is a must. The Y team got most of the event donated, but they made sure everything was done well. "Donated" should never mean cheap or second rate. If what you do matters, then it should be presented in the best way possible. So don't cut corners.


What's your experience with funding your ministry or vision lately?

Mobile Projector Unveiled

I remember hauling a 15 lb projector around the country that took most of the space on my carry on bag. Recently, Microvision unveiled a mobile projector. Yes, this thing is the size of a cell phone.

All I can say is wow. Now I need to figure out a way to justify the cost. After all, I'm in the communication business and this is a communication tool, right?




Would buy one of these?

How Compelling Are You?

Great communication always involves passion for the subject. Oceanographer Sylvia Earle presented at this year's TED conference. Her 18-minute presentation is one of the best I've ever experienced. She used video along along with her written speech in a seamless and effortless talk that had me mesmerized, even as I watched it through video. Her smile was contagious, her warnings were sobering and yet she offered hope along with her challenge.

This is her presentation. If you're like me, you'll want to see the whole thing. It's remarkable.

center

How are you using media in your presentations?

The Problem With Legacy Organizations

The essence of communication is to understand your product, your audience and to present your product in a way your audience can understand it. Simple, right? Well, not in my experience with legacy Christian organizations. First, let me define legacy organizations: movements, groups and churches that are in their second or third generations of existence.


Some critics have accused these legacy organizations of becoming irrelevant thus finding themselves in trouble trying to recruit new followers, fund their programs and budgets and survive, much less thrive, in current economic challenges. But that’s not what I see happening in the American Christian landscape. While some might be out of touch, most of these ministries are led by godly men and women who are passionate about evangelism and discipleship and are trying very hard to advance the cause of the Gospel.

So, what gives? Most legacy Christian organizations in America suffer, not from a lack of vision and mission, but most of them suffer from a communication crisis. Often they know what their missions are and, for the most part, they know whom they are trying to reach. Their failure, however, lies in communicating with their target audience in way it can receive the information. After decades of existence the tendency in these organizations is to communicate their story, purpose, and mission in the language and images of their founders. Seldom I see a legacy organization change the way they present themselves in a format that reflects new societal values and attitudes while remaining true to their calling.

After decades of existence the tendency is to communicate their story, purpose, and mission in the language and images of their founders.

While I’m not advocating changing your heart to appeal to culture, I am a big fan of contextualizing your message so it’s heard and understood by society. Every successful missionary has learned this lesson: you must speak a language your culture understands and can response to. Don’t wasted time arguing how people should think and behave. Whether you and I like it or not our culture is changing and some of those changes are difficult to understand--for example, how children who are born in Christian homes, attend Christian schools and when asked about if there’s such a thing as absolute truth, profess their belief in situation ethics: “my parents’ truth is not necessarily my truth.” I don’t like it, but I can’t ignore this trend if my job is to communicate with them. I need to craft my message with that reality in mind.

How do you know if you’re communicating your message properly? Go outside your bubble and tap into people who will tell you the truth. Find those whom you are trying to reach who are not insiders and ask them their honest opinion of how you’re doing. Ask them “how would you describe our organization to someone who never heard of us?” Or, “what do you think we’re all about?” You’ll be surprise by the answers if you’re brave enough to ask the right people.

Are you a part of an organization that needs to rethink its message? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

What Volunteers Can Do that Preachers Can't

It’s easy for me to see what needs to be fixed in the churches I visit. I hate to admit it, but I’m a critic. I’d like to think that I’m a nice one, but I’m a critic nonetheless. After all, people don’t pay me to pat them on the back and tell them good job. Church leaders want to know what’s not working well and what can be done to be more effective for the kingdom.


However, my favorite part of any secret shopper visit is to celebrate what’s done well. And nothing makes my heart happier than when I run into volunteers who love God and serve their church with a smile and open arms. This past weekend I was able to reconnect with two of the best volunteers I’ve ever encountered in all my secret shopper visits.

Linda and her husband Harrod have been greeting at First Baptist Church Jacksonville for decades. They greeted me during my first visit to the church. They took the time to walk me around, answered all my questions, ask me to sit with them once they realized that I was alone and even offered to take me to lunch after the service. I couldn’t help but just love them. It’s been three years since our first encounter and they are still serving with smiles, open arms and hearts welcoming newcomers and making them feel like long-time family friends.

Every time I visit a new church, I secretly hope to find someone as hospitable as the McNeils. Honestly, I don’t remember one point of the sermon from my first visit, but I remember how good I felt about being there because of how well I was treated by Linda and Harrod.

Looking back in your life. Did you have anyone who either made you feel like home, or the opposite during your first visit to a church?

Top 10 Worst Church Lines: Notes from a Church Secret Shopper

I have attended hundreds of church services as a church secret shopper. I've had thousands of conversations with volunteers, staff and visitors. Here's my list of the top 10 worst things people said to me:

10. "Excuse me, but you're sitting in my seat" It seems cliche but it happens more often than you think.

9. "ya' not from around here, are ya?" Older man said to me after I asked directions to the restroom. I didn't respond, but I was thinking: "What gave it away? having all my teeth?"



8. "Follow the blue line. It's kinda of complicated. Good luck." Said the two men sitting inside the information kiosk before turning to each other and finishing their conversation. They pointed to a board on the wall with multiple color lines leading to different locations on campus.

7. "Nazarenes are a lot like the Baptists, but holier," middle aged man at a Nazarene church when I asked him the difference between a Nazarene and a Baptist church.

6. "You're the prettiest thang I ever seen!" I'm not telling you who said it.

5. "We Lutherans are a homely bunch." A greeter at a Lutheran church as I asked more information about her church. She was right.

4. "I don't know anything. I can't really help you. This is my first day at the information table and the person who was going to train me didn't show up."

3. "I've got dresses that are older than you!" I don't really remember how I got into this one, but does it really matter?

2. "It must be a special day, I see a lot of strangers here today." Misguided Music minister during a Sunday morning greeting time. (note that I didn't say Worship Leader). No warm and fuzzies for this stranger.

1.

"Hey, Mister, come back here! You're not Catholic, are you? Give me the wafer back!"

A Catholic Priest on the rightful suspicion I was impersonating a catholic worshiper during communion. Doeh.

I'm sure you have a favorite line you got at church. Please DO share!