You probably know what the greatest threat is to nonprofit marketing. It’s not a sluggish economy or too many good causes out promoting themselves.

No, it’s actually an internal threat – the tendency of growing stale – both on the part of the ministry development staff and the marketing agency. Even with the greatest causes, when you live them 24/7, day after day, year after year, you can get predictable.

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Move #2 in a series of “9 Best Moves” to achieve development goals and maximize fundraising success.

Locker room space usually isn’t pretty, but it works.  While sturdy and utilitarian, it also provides a safe place to both celebrate your wins and lick your wounds in defeat as you dissect what went wrong.

As your agency and marketing team partner, that’s exactly where we want to be – in the heat of the battle.  We know the key to victory is based on the uniqueness and power of your God-directed vision.  And communicating that unique vision effectively is what good marketers do.  But in order to excel at our role, we need to be with you in the “locker room” both for the pre-game “huddle” and the post-game debrief.

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You juggle all the roles and programs that produce life-long, maturing followers of Christ.

While assuming all the spiritual roles, including shepherd, servant leader, prophet and on occasion even warrior, the successful development and fundraising professional also recognizes the essential role of pastor.  And a big part of that role is managing an “institution” that produces lifelong, maturing followers of Christ.  All the programs and staffing, the funding and relationships, the crisis management and brand building, all of it depends on the management skills of a pastor.

You are building a “community of faith” with a clear identity (brand) and mission for your donors, constituents and staff.  Making things work well is the hallmark of a successful pastorate.

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You lead people to God and into more Christ-like lifestyles.

Shepherds love people into the kingdom and care for their needs.  You’re ever vigilant, quietly evaluating current circumstances with an eye on the final destination.  For donors, constituents and even staff, you’re helping them ask the significant questions:  Where should I be during this season of life?  What should I be about?  Sheep can’t do that successfully without the dedicated service of a shepherd.

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You follow Jesus’ example, working to meet the basic physical and spiritual needs of those who can’t help themselves in our world today.

This may be the toughest role . . . following Jesus’ example and doing it Jesus’ way raises the bar exponentially.  The power to lead by serving.  All His miracles were for others.  His service ranged from wine steward at a wedding reception to raising a child from the dead.  Nothing too big or too small.

Pay attention to what’s happening at all levels of your organization.  Actually do ministry in order to really know the needs and challenges your ministry and staff are facing.  Don’t just visit ministry sites.  Get your hands dirty.  Do what you’re asking others to do.  “Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant …” (Matthew 20: 26-28 NLT)

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You save Christians from following after false gods and energize ministries and constituents with fresh eyes into what God is doing.

In your prophetic role you are bold and outspoken.  Often you stand alone against popular opinion.  But you stand and speak because you know one thing . . . you’ve been called by God.

Because of that, take your cues from God’s prophets and Jesus Himself. Bathe everything you do in prayer. Lead by example. Be direct and personal.  Involve people in what God is doing.  Jesus allowed his circle of friends to partner with Him in very tangible ways.  We need to follow our Leader and the biblical role of prophet.

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What would your vision of excellence look like if it had no restrictions . . . no barriers . . . no holds barred?

Imagine starting every day with excellence as your top-of-mind, driving motivator.  Purposefully allowing excellence to power every act, every decision, even every word.  You get the picture . . . and we all want that.  But how do you put it all into practice?  If we did, I’m sure you agree that it could transform our outlook as we open the page on each new day.

Some people confuse excellence with a state of perfection.  It’s not.  Believe me, I know.  Rather, excellence is a personal vision, a guiding principle to live by, a passion to learn and improve throughout our lives.

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You fight a spiritual battle and enlist others to join the ranks.

Let’s face it.  Fundraising can be a battle.  And often we feel like we’re leading the charge with too few troops and inadequate weaponry.  On our worst days, we just feel like a beggar.

But the biblical role of fundraising demands we recognize a higher calling. The apostle Paul equips us for battle in Ephesians 6:10-18 with his well-loved description of a godly warrior.  There are many commands in this passage.  But the overall message is clear:  depend on God, use the equipment He supplies and keep close and constant communication with your Commander in Chief.

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Development and fundraising is a calling God gives to people with big hearts and daring vision.  It’s a spiritual calling bestowed upon and required of the leaders of many Christian nonprofit organizations.  That includes presidents, development staff professionals and even agency personnel like our staff here at Masterworks.  Understanding the biblical foundation for our calling is mission critical.

Beginning today and for my next five posts, we’ll be digging deeper into this area with a special 5-part series on the roles we play as biblical fundraisers.  Each role demonstrates an essential aspect of our mission as representatives of what God is doing in the world today.  I invite you to purposefully accept the five different roles as part of your calling in life.  Most of us are not strong in all these roles.  But immerse yourself in the wonder of God using weak people like you and me to demonstrate His strength.  And remember to celebrate His amazing plan along the way.  “God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful.”
(1 Corinthians 1:27 NLT).

Online giving shows steady increase

While giving to the nation’s largest charities plunged by 11% last year, at least a segment of online giving seems to be turning the corner in 2010.  A recent Blackbaud Index of Online Giving report shows a 20.4% increase in overall online revenue for the three-month period ending August, 2010 (compared to the same period a year ago).  

Representing over 1,650 organizations with $407 million in online giving, this study is significant since the recent Chronicle of Philanthropy article that revealed the 11% plunge in giving last year also reported that “Nonprofit organizations say they don’t expect to have done much better by the time 2010 ends.”  The Blackbaud study actually showed a 1.4% increase in overall giving for that same period in which online giving increased 20.4%.  

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