Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Commercial

During this Christmas season watch the commercials, (I know I hate commercials too). They appeal to the joy of the giver as much as to the person getting the gift. Obviously they are trying to be sure their product will make you feel as good about buying it as the receiver will feel about opening it. Which goes to prove you cannot escape God’s truth, after all God is the one who said it is better to give than receive.

As Christian agencies and churches many of you reading this are on the ‘asking side’ of the giving season. We all have our special Christmas appeals, and year-end giving strategies. Nothing wrong with all this.

But let’s ask ourselves the question, “Are our strategies working to transform the giver as much as they are designed to transform the recipient?” Do our strategies reflect God’s truth that it is better to give? Are the methods we use helping the donor grow in their relationship to Christ?

God’s Word teaches us to be like Christ. Christ gave. So we can work to build our strategies to reflect Christ-likeness by helping people give. The great thing about transformational giving…it goes beyond the ‘cheesy’ jewelry commercials and really helps the believer deepen their relationship with the GIVER. Let’s work to focus on the donor’s journey as much as Madison Ave focuses on the buyer.

Friday, November 18, 2011

A Positive Shift

In the latest book from Steve DeNeff along with David Drury, SoulShift, there is a chapter on shifting from being a “Consumer” to being a “Steward”. Good stuff in this chapter relating to the end result of what this blog calls Transformational Giving. So whether you call it ‘shifting from being a consumer to steward’ or ‘moving into a life of TG’, it is the same principles.

Parts of this chapter hit on key principles of TG. Allow me to quote some of Steve’s insights.




“Consumer to steward is a shift in ownership from acquiring things for ourselves
to offering what we have to God and others.”



In the parable of the talents, “Stewards see the master as generous. However, to consumers, the master is stingy.”



“The steward’s most coveted thing is never the master’s possessions but the master’s happiness.” I love this quote!!!



“Consumers always want to be on the receiving end of the blessing.
But stewards want to bless others.”


Think about these quotes from two different perspectives.

One, is how can you as a fund raiser communicate these truths to the listener? TG needs to be taught to the Body to overcome several misconceptions about the role of giving in the Church. The steward's giving is part of the spiritual journey and is a joy in serving God. This needs taught!

Two, think how these quotes above should change the way you ask the champion to give. They help us see we are dealing with heart issues not bank account issues. Therefore, the discipleship factor in TG is critical. So not only do we need to teach TG but we reflect these truths in our asking.

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Lead a Tribe

In 2008 Seth Godin wrote a book called Tribes. Great little book with the importance of leadership and relationship building. (Like it or not if you are a fund-raiser you are a leader. So lead properly!)

The book is wealth of insight on how to do what we call Champion Migration within the principles of TG. It deals with leading people forward in a cause. Godin helps us see a tribe is much different than a group. We all say we want big groups to support our cause, the bigger the groups the more support we have.

Be careful in wishing for a big group. Groups are fickle. Here today gone tomorrow. Just look at the last week of Christ’s life. They went from Hosanna to crucify in a flash.

Here are some differences Godin uses to compare a tribe versus a group:

• Tribes have purpose, groups do not
• Tribes are change agents, groups stay in the status quo
• Tribes are empowered, groups are lectured to

Give me the tribe.

You see the tribe rallies around the cause. They share passion with each other and know the direction they are headed. This helps them not be easily swayed from hosanna to crucify. Jesus focused on his ‘tribe’. The disciples. After the resurrection he gathered them and empowered them. Those leaders went and transformed the world.

Be the leader of a tribe, not a leader of a group. Your relationship with donors has far greater impact when you focus on the giver not the gift. Godin says, “Great leaders focus on the tribe, they are able to reflect light on to the team. They use the attention they get to reinforce the purpose of the team.” Pg 50.

Where does your light shine when you are fund-raising? On you or the donor/champion?