Different audiences care about different things and need different messages. Improved segmentation of communication will improve engagement and response. This session will focus on the basics of segmentation, and strategies your organization can employ today to improve your communications.

No letter or email should begin, "Dear Friend of Our Organization". If we know someone well enough to ask them for a gift, we know them well enough to call them by name. We can also improve their sense of connection by specifically referencing their previous support, passion issues, or other critical factors. But how do you personalize 1,000 letters? In this session, aimed at those who have not done this before, we will teach participants how to do a mail merge, start to finish.

In this session we'll share the best practices for asking for a gift. Whether you've never asked, or just want a refresher, participants will leave this session with new and renewed confidence to invite others to generosity.

Annual Funds give life to the ongoing work of non-profit organizations. From a very basic framework to a comprehensive annual strategy, developing a robust and effective annual fund makes more mission possible. During this Roundtable session, we’ll talk about annual fundraising strategies that can work for fundraising departments of all sizes. Learn to track important data and develop strategies around donor retention, segmentation, and recurring gifts to boost support to your organization.

Donors who find a comfortable gift level can stay there for years. Growing the gifts from these donors is key to building a robust giving program. In this Roundtable session, we’ll outline who, how, and when to encourage these givers to grow their giving in greater annual fund support, major or special gifts, and even estate gifts.

Most congregational giving charts include a few people at the top. While this is quite normal, the reality is that a significant number of those giving families come from the older age brackets. Growing a strong base of younger givers will sustain ministry even as some major donors leave the congregation (via death, relocation, or other reason). In this Master Class, Rev. Pete Reuss will provide a practical framework of inviting new families to step into this leadership giving role. It includes cottage meetings, current major givers, and the pastoral staff.

In fundraising, one size never fits all. Coordinating your fundraising strategies for both direct mail and digital provide the best of both options – and it’s literally how people live in the world. By creating multiple touch points, you improve your stickiness with people who care – or might care – about your organization. Combining strategies also means you’ll raise more money. Isn’t that your goal? In this Roundtable session, learn why integrating these strategies is so impactful and how to do it effectively. You’ll even pick up some tips that you can use in your own fundraising appeals.

Using a gift intent card or form, especially for legacy gifts, can help provide clarity from the donor about their wishes. Because the donor will not be alive to speak about their wishes when the gift is realized, an intent form can help ensure you honor them. It can help the organization plan its budget, and it helps maintain institutional knowledge. Here is a sample you can download and adapt for your own organization.

Keeping your Board of Directors healthy and engaged begins with clear expectations. As a rule, board members want to do well and contribute to the mission of the organization. Offering a comprehensive orientation that sets clear expectations and then an annual follow up to allow for accountability can help move board members toward giving their very best. Use the attached document as is or adapt it for your purposes.

From Thank You to Help! What you say – and how you say it – matters. In this session we’ll talk about some of the pitfalls in fundraising writing, differences to consider across various mediums, and how to improve our writing and messaging for better donor engagement. Want to workshop your own written communication? Bring your letter, email, or donor invitation to talk through it together!

The letter below is an actual acknowledgment from a client that is story based. When you use a story in your appeal letter, you can match the acknowledgment letter to reflect that and reinforce that their gift transforms lives.

Congregations expect their people to give of their time and financial resources and readily share their frustration when people don’t step up. It quickly leads to a narrative of scarcity. There’s just not enough. Yet, at the heart, congregations are volunteer organizations. People willingly show up for worship. They choose to give financial gifts. They share their time. It’s amazing to see. What if we moved from a culture of shame and expectation to a culture of gratitude. It begins with thanking people. In this Master Class, Rev. Pete Reuss will move beyond quarterly reports and provide steps to make people feel appreciated for all they do. People who feel appreciated are more likely to take a further step in their journey of generosity.March Roundtable

Campaigns can be powerful opportunities in the life of your organization or ministry when organized well. They require time, energy, and thoughtful planning, but can propel your organization in several ways. In this session we’ll identify opportunities to leverage your campaign to build your brand and brand engagement.

Campaigns can be powerful opportunities in the life of your organization or ministry when organized well. They require time, energy, and thoughtful planning, but can propel your organization in several ways. In this session we’ll explore how your campaign is a powerful opportunity for sharing and enlivening the story of the organization or ministry. We’ll identify opportunities and approaches to telling and sharing your story through a campaign.

Campaigns can be powerful opportunities in the life of your organization or ministry when organized well. They require time, energy, and thoughtful planning, but can propel your organization in several ways. In this session we’ll explore how your campaign is a powerful opportunity for sharing and enlivening the story of the organization or ministry. We’ll identify opportunities and approaches to telling and sharing your story through a campaign.

As we continue to navigate the realities of the pandemic, 90%??? of our revenue now comes from the generosity of camp friends like you. You have been a generous supporter of the ministry in the past, and your gift of $200, $100 or even $500 during this time will serve to create that sense of safety and belonging that campers so desperately need right now after all the isolation. Thank you for your ongoing support.

Is your organization poised for a campaign? How can you use such an opportunity to advance your organization in multiple areas and accomplish various goals in the end? Campaigns can be powerful opportunities in the life of your organization or ministry when organized well. They require time, energy, and thoughtful planning, but can propel your organization in several ways. The first aspect we’ll explore is how your campaign should resource your vision and priorities/plan. This may sound obvious, but all too often organizations move into a campaign without clear vision and priorities or don’t really align their fundraising goals with their vision and priorities - a missed opportunity to enliven your vision and resource your strategic priorities.

Fundraising, as congregations currently do it, is labor intensive and does not bring joy. In fact, a major reason for staff burnout is that congregations don’t adequately fund its ministry with young people, and they have to rely on special fundraising with high investment and low return. There is a better way. Fundraising can align with our ministry goals and can return significant resources, strengthening our ministry.

The 10 commandments of church councils.

Few congregations have up-to-date written job descriptions for paid staff members let alone volunteer leadership board members. Without clear expectations, board members can easily fail to live up to expectations. Anxiety rises with uncertainty and the board does not function well.