Lift Your Head Before the Fall Rush Hits
Three buckets, four months, one plan: how small ministry teams can make the most of fall fundraising season.
If you have your head down trying to get work done, you know the rhythm. You’re in court with someone who came to your ministry, or you’re leading outreach in your neighborhood. Then you rush back for a phone meeting and glance at the budget on your desk, or a bill or two that’s come due.
The crushing pressure of ministry has a way of finding its home between your shoulder blades.
Taking time this week to bring your head up to the horizon is a must if you want to take advantage of the best fundraising window of the year: early September through the last weeks of December.
Small Shops Move Fast, Or Not At All
If you’re a small shop, or a one-person shop, your plan needs to come together quickly so you can adjust your efforts and make the most of the fall fundraising season.
Finding four hours a week to execute can make the difference if you have a plan for the fall. If you wait too long, you’ll make quick decisions and hope your efforts pay off, instead of knowing they will.
You can catch your breath.
Your mind swims when you think about the fall, the fundraising, the bills, and the pressure all at once — a plan is what settles it.
I’d split your activities into three buckets: Paper. People. Public.
Send Paper: Reminders and Thank-You’s
September — Send a letter to people who don’t currently give to you but know about your ministry, or people you want to know about it. Your goal is 100 names. Ask board members or staff to each share the letter with five people. Include local businesses and churches.
October — Send a letter to current donors thanking them for their partnership, with stories of current impact. Ask them to give again.
November and December — Send thank-you notes to connected donors.
Call People to Give
September — Reserve four hours a week to call past donors and remind them of the good work. Call current donors to share the latest impact. Your goal is 40 calls in four hours.
October — Reserve four hours a week to contact the businesses and churches you sent letters to. Find ways to connect.
November and December — Reserve four hours a week to thank donors who are giving, and reconnect with people who gave last year but haven’t given this year.
Prioritize as you go: major donors first, then the rest of your donor list.
Inform the Public
Do something every week — three times a week, if you can:
Collect stories and stats to share on social media
Create a radio ad for local radio
Get interviewed on local talk radio
Use video on social media
Story, stats, and outcomes are what make people care. Lead with those every time you’re in front of the public.
Do More Better
When January comes, you’ll thank yourself for looking up now and planning the fall. You don’t need to be perfect in execution. You need to do something more.
A friend of mine put it well: his goal is to do more better.
"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest, if we do not give up." — Galatians 6:9
At Bold Leading, we help ministry leaders and executives of Christian nonprofits use their program experience to build thriving philanthropy engines that fund ministries and minister to funders. Book a discovery call and let’s talk about your fall plan.