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	<title>Comments on: Fundraising Help</title>
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	<link>http://toddblog.net/2008/05/13/fundraising-help/</link>
	<description>It's pretty fun if you say it fast</description>
	<pubDate>Thu, 20 Nov 2008 10:41:44 +0000</pubDate>
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		<title>By: Sam</title>
		<link>http://toddblog.net/2008/05/13/fundraising-help/#comment-631</link>
		<dc:creator>Sam</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 15 May 2008 13:12:53 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://toddblog.net/?p=268#comment-631</guid>
		<description>I think it sounds pretty good so far. I agree with Jonathan's suggestions. I thought the same thing when I read the line about the "structures." My only suggestion is to have Jonathan write it. He seems to have a good handle on it.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I think it sounds pretty good so far. I agree with Jonathan&#8217;s suggestions. I thought the same thing when I read the line about the &#8220;structures.&#8221; My only suggestion is to have Jonathan write it. He seems to have a good handle on it.</p>
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		<title>By: Brad</title>
		<link>http://toddblog.net/2008/05/13/fundraising-help/#comment-630</link>
		<dc:creator>Brad</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 15 May 2008 02:02:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://toddblog.net/?p=268#comment-630</guid>
		<description>Todd, I've done a lot of fundraising in church contexts over the years and read a couple of books on the topic. I just want to completely agree with Jonathan. His comments are very insightful on the subject.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Todd, I&#8217;ve done a lot of fundraising in church contexts over the years and read a couple of books on the topic. I just want to completely agree with Jonathan. His comments are very insightful on the subject.</p>
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		<title>By: Jonathan Reinhardt</title>
		<link>http://toddblog.net/2008/05/13/fundraising-help/#comment-629</link>
		<dc:creator>Jonathan Reinhardt</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 13 May 2008 20:14:32 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://toddblog.net/?p=268#comment-629</guid>
		<description>The verse is hopeful-sounding and is fine.

I think the line that's going to give you problems is "instead of building a structure that will do more than glorify us..." Most all the churches you'll be asking for money will be operating out of some sort of structure, and the phrase does not seem to include them in the vision. Find a way of expressing your vision that gives them a way in and seems less exclusive than "us new 'uns" and (implied) "them" who "glorify themselves".

The other thing you'll need to do is find a way to outline (expected) results. Results is what gets people interested in investing, not dreams. Be as hands-on as possible with that. The method and up-beat attitude matter less than the dividends. Every faith-project ever started thought it was God-inspired and would succeed. Not that many do.

Finally, if you're working with missions committees or similar groups, make clear to them that your approach is an innovation of methods with which they are familiar (and thus comfortable). You're asking them, in essence, to cut funding for people and programs whom they know well and feel emotionally attached to in order to give money to you. They want to be able to explain that to those whose sentimental attachments are important to them because they will nag them at home about it. (A corollary being that the churches you should target are those who currently support people/programs they are dissatisfied with. That's the market with loose money. Start scouting. Be ruthless about it.)

You may also want to research church demographics to see which churches have affluent members from the business world. If you can pitch your project to individuals like that in the language of business models, structural innovation, investment and profit, that would be a good and dependable source of revenue. Business leaders (and not the pseudo-leaders in mid-level management, either) are used to dealing in innovative ideas and taking a risk on them, if the results seem plausible and desirable to them.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The verse is hopeful-sounding and is fine.</p>
<p>I think the line that&#8217;s going to give you problems is &#8220;instead of building a structure that will do more than glorify us&#8230;&#8221; Most all the churches you&#8217;ll be asking for money will be operating out of some sort of structure, and the phrase does not seem to include them in the vision. Find a way of expressing your vision that gives them a way in and seems less exclusive than &#8220;us new &#8216;uns&#8221; and (implied) &#8220;them&#8221; who &#8220;glorify themselves&#8221;.</p>
<p>The other thing you&#8217;ll need to do is find a way to outline (expected) results. Results is what gets people interested in investing, not dreams. Be as hands-on as possible with that. The method and up-beat attitude matter less than the dividends. Every faith-project ever started thought it was God-inspired and would succeed. Not that many do.</p>
<p>Finally, if you&#8217;re working with missions committees or similar groups, make clear to them that your approach is an innovation of methods with which they are familiar (and thus comfortable). You&#8217;re asking them, in essence, to cut funding for people and programs whom they know well and feel emotionally attached to in order to give money to you. They want to be able to explain that to those whose sentimental attachments are important to them because they will nag them at home about it. (A corollary being that the churches you should target are those who currently support people/programs they are dissatisfied with. That&#8217;s the market with loose money. Start scouting. Be ruthless about it.)</p>
<p>You may also want to research church demographics to see which churches have affluent members from the business world. If you can pitch your project to individuals like that in the language of business models, structural innovation, investment and profit, that would be a good and dependable source of revenue. Business leaders (and not the pseudo-leaders in mid-level management, either) are used to dealing in innovative ideas and taking a risk on them, if the results seem plausible and desirable to them.</p>
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