Your golf tournament is different, your banquet is canceled, and your campaigner kids are wearing masks! How do you adapt as the fall approaches? I can’t help answer all your questions, but here’s some direction on one objective: FUNDING!
As the typical Banquet Season approaches, you likely need to answer these questions:
How do we communicate the impact of our ministry?
Can we Raise funds and balance our budget?
Will we be able to grow our ministry and develop a missional community?
This season, your community gathering may be smaller or virtual or an online event of some kind. These are all great methods. If you are concerned about funding and the consistency of your cash flow this year you may want to try a GIVING CAMPAIGN. The essential difference provided by a giving campaign is the narrow focus of its intention. Meaning, the online giving campaign has a laser like focus on identifying financial partners and acquiring financial gifts. Giving campaigns grow ministry and develop community, but those are complimentary to your funding goal.
A few On-line giving campaign TIPS-
Tip 1: Keep it simple. Your donors are literally burning calories as they respond to your communication; every click, every minute of video, each line of text takes energy to process. Additionally, you’re going to ask them to make a decision and follow through with an action. All of this burns actual calories… which is simply a fun way to think of this question, as you plan: are you honoring your donor?
Tip 2: Be very specific. What are you asking for? When are you asking for it? How does the donor respond? If and when you veer away from these details, you begin to lose the likelihood of a donation. You have permission to ask for money! Don’t apologize.
Tip 3: Don’t be afraid! We are quite aware that 2020 has been a wild ride for all, and has been a setback for many. However, it’s not necessarily your responsibility to know whether or not your donor is willing or able to give. YOu know your context the best. Feel free to modify your message and request as needed. There are many ways to give.
Tip 4: Be consistent. In an age of information overload, realize that your request for funding may need to be more than a one time petition. Most campaigns have a time-period ranging from a few days to a season. Be careful of ‘donor fatigue’ but also take advantage of the opportunity to highlight several different angles of the ministry from day to day.
Tip 5: Be creative. Within the YL community a ‘giving campaign’ is relatively new. Take advantage of the chance to utilize different social media platforms and methods of delivering key elements of a fundraiser. Humor, a financial match,the pitch, testimonies and articulating the need all can be conveyed in new and creative ways.
Got your mind racing? Feel free to contact me (contact info below) or take 4 minutes and 33 seconds to watch this short video to hear about some of the things we are seeing around the mission. A Giving campaign can work in any context (From Small towns to International) and can address a pressing need while setting the table for a deeper conversation about the Young Life mission and how your community can participate.
Written by: Blake Raney (blakeraney@gmail.com)