35. Send Thank You’s
The definition of marketing is ‘the total sum of activities required to make a sale’ and in the non-profit sector that ‘sale’ could be soliciting a donation, securing sponsorship, recruiting a volunteer or signing up a new member. While a ‘Thank You’ obviously comes after the first ‘sale’ has been made, it is an important marketing step towards securing a second one. Why waste time, energy and money looking for new supporters, when you can grow you current relationships with some genuine acknowledgement?
Tuesday, 26 February 2013
Sunday, 24 February 2013
IN GOD’S TIME
Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18
Psalm 27
Philippians 3:17–4:1
Philippians 3:17–4:1
Luke 13:31-35
‘Wait for the Lord, be strong, and let your heart take courage’ (Ps 27:14). Kia kaha! Be strong and wait for the Lord. Oh if we could wait on God and God’s timing, but we struggle to wait. We have been trained well by the culture with its patience-defying imperatives: “Here it is! It is what you need! You need it now! Come and get it! Pay later!”
In pondering the biblical concept of surrender we see that we have to drop ideas of our needs and desires being instantly satiated. We have to learn to wait on God and what God has in mind. We are taught by Jesus to wait on the Lord: “Your will be done”. But Jesus laments over a Jerusalem that has been sent prophets and messengers and has refused to wait and listen to those God has sent. Under the same threat as those previous prophets, Jesus heads to Jerusalem anyway. He refuses to heed the kindly Pharisees who warn him of an angry Herod. No, he is not afraid of Herod; he is free because he has long since surrendered to God.
In this season of Lent we are invited to wait on the Lord. A careful reading of the Psalm reveals that there is no expectation of an easy ride – there is an army of enemies encamped against the writer! The surrender is not to these enemies and their agendas; the surrender has long since been to God. “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?” What do these enemies really have when everything has already been given to the God who is like a hen who gathers her brood under her wings?
Rev Martin Stewart
‘Wait for the Lord, be strong, and let your heart take courage’ (Ps 27:14). Kia kaha! Be strong and wait for the Lord. Oh if we could wait on God and God’s timing, but we struggle to wait. We have been trained well by the culture with its patience-defying imperatives: “Here it is! It is what you need! You need it now! Come and get it! Pay later!”
In pondering the biblical concept of surrender we see that we have to drop ideas of our needs and desires being instantly satiated. We have to learn to wait on God and what God has in mind. We are taught by Jesus to wait on the Lord: “Your will be done”. But Jesus laments over a Jerusalem that has been sent prophets and messengers and has refused to wait and listen to those God has sent. Under the same threat as those previous prophets, Jesus heads to Jerusalem anyway. He refuses to heed the kindly Pharisees who warn him of an angry Herod. No, he is not afraid of Herod; he is free because he has long since surrendered to God.
In this season of Lent we are invited to wait on the Lord. A careful reading of the Psalm reveals that there is no expectation of an easy ride – there is an army of enemies encamped against the writer! The surrender is not to these enemies and their agendas; the surrender has long since been to God. “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?” What do these enemies really have when everything has already been given to the God who is like a hen who gathers her brood under her wings?
Rev Martin Stewart
Tuesday, 19 February 2013
Toolbox Tuesday - Traditional Fundraising Events
34. Run Traditional Fundraising Events
Often I hear people complaining that there’s no point hosting a fundraising event because they make little money for a lot of effort. While in some cases that may be true, fundraising events are not just about the dollars. Running an event is a great way to get some publicity and engage face-to-face with potential supporters. It also shows the public you are prepared to ‘roll up your sleeves’ and are a looking for a hand-UP not a hand-OUT.
Often I hear people complaining that there’s no point hosting a fundraising event because they make little money for a lot of effort. While in some cases that may be true, fundraising events are not just about the dollars. Running an event is a great way to get some publicity and engage face-to-face with potential supporters. It also shows the public you are prepared to ‘roll up your sleeves’ and are a looking for a hand-UP not a hand-OUT.
Sunday, 17 February 2013
BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING
Deuteronomy 26:1-11
Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16
Romans 10:8b-13
Romans 10:8b-13
Luke 4:1-13
The conversation in Luke is a spiritual debate. The suggestions were legitimate suggestions! Earthly sustenance; making sure that God loves you; material satisfaction and using all this power to care for others.
But the instant fix is not going to be part of the toolkit of the newly baptised Jesus. Jesus is led by the Spirit into the wilderness. He is hungry, he has fasted for 40 days, and the rocks around him start to look like loaves of bread. And he is tempted - we can only be tempted by what we see as possible for us to have and good people are tempted by good things - to turn a stone into a loaf of bread.
Why not do it for himself and for others? What a gift to bless a hungry world! There were plenty of people on the breadline in Jesus’ world.
But was this his task? He turns and challenges the tempter, “one does not live by bread alone”. Jesus is hungry and lives among people who are in need, yet he says there is something even more essential than food for life.
Food is basic for our survival, but the temptation to only deal with the physical needs and ignore our deep spiritual needs is great.
When I was active in Women’s Refuge we provided a place of safety. Emergency food, shelter and clothing were the first needs. But those who came needed to deal with the constant fear which was not going to vanish overnight. This is a spiritual struggle and those who could not trust anymore had to learn to trust again to live. Often everyone in their lives had let them down.
So where could they find the bread which fed their emptiness?
And where have we found it and what have we shared?
Rev Margaret Anne Low
The conversation in Luke is a spiritual debate. The suggestions were legitimate suggestions! Earthly sustenance; making sure that God loves you; material satisfaction and using all this power to care for others.
But the instant fix is not going to be part of the toolkit of the newly baptised Jesus. Jesus is led by the Spirit into the wilderness. He is hungry, he has fasted for 40 days, and the rocks around him start to look like loaves of bread. And he is tempted - we can only be tempted by what we see as possible for us to have and good people are tempted by good things - to turn a stone into a loaf of bread.
Why not do it for himself and for others? What a gift to bless a hungry world! There were plenty of people on the breadline in Jesus’ world.
But was this his task? He turns and challenges the tempter, “one does not live by bread alone”. Jesus is hungry and lives among people who are in need, yet he says there is something even more essential than food for life.
Food is basic for our survival, but the temptation to only deal with the physical needs and ignore our deep spiritual needs is great.
When I was active in Women’s Refuge we provided a place of safety. Emergency food, shelter and clothing were the first needs. But those who came needed to deal with the constant fear which was not going to vanish overnight. This is a spiritual struggle and those who could not trust anymore had to learn to trust again to live. Often everyone in their lives had let them down.
So where could they find the bread which fed their emptiness?
And where have we found it and what have we shared?
Rev Margaret Anne Low
Tuesday, 12 February 2013
Toolbox Tuesday - Talk with Your Team
33. Talk with Your Team
When it comes to marketing your organisation, it is important that your whole team provides a consistent message. Make sure everyone can accurately describe your mission statement and the services you provide.
Provide clear guidelines about who can speak with the media, and what can and can not be discussed. Create a frequently asked questions sheet, so that everyone can answer the basics about your organisation in the same way. This is the simplest and most important thing you can do.
When it comes to marketing your organisation, it is important that your whole team provides a consistent message. Make sure everyone can accurately describe your mission statement and the services you provide.
Provide clear guidelines about who can speak with the media, and what can and can not be discussed. Create a frequently asked questions sheet, so that everyone can answer the basics about your organisation in the same way. This is the simplest and most important thing you can do.
Tuesday, 5 February 2013
Toolbox Tuesday - Info Stand at Community Events
32. Have an Information Stand at Community Events
If you can’t hold your own Open Day, at the very least have an information stand at someone else’s event. If possible provide some demonstrations throughout the day, with plenty of good signage so people know who you are and what you do. Make sure you have a sign-up sheet for people interested in receiving your newsletter or getting more information.
If you can’t hold your own Open Day, at the very least have an information stand at someone else’s event. If possible provide some demonstrations throughout the day, with plenty of good signage so people know who you are and what you do. Make sure you have a sign-up sheet for people interested in receiving your newsletter or getting more information.
Tuesday, 29 January 2013
Toolbox Tuesday - Host an Open Day
31. Host an Open Day
It’s one thing to tell people what your organisation does, bit it’s a completely different thing to actually show them. Hosting an Open Day allows potential clients or members to get a taste of what you can offer, and it gives potential supporters or sponsors a chance to see you in action.
For an Open Day to be truly successful you will need plenty of well-informed volunteers on hand to answer questions and lots of information brochures for people to take away. Make sure you include a range of demonstrations related to your organisation, and some hands-on activities so people can truly get involved.
It’s one thing to tell people what your organisation does, bit it’s a completely different thing to actually show them. Hosting an Open Day allows potential clients or members to get a taste of what you can offer, and it gives potential supporters or sponsors a chance to see you in action.
For an Open Day to be truly successful you will need plenty of well-informed volunteers on hand to answer questions and lots of information brochures for people to take away. Make sure you include a range of demonstrations related to your organisation, and some hands-on activities so people can truly get involved.
Tuesday, 22 January 2013
Toolbox Tuesday - Develop an Effective Brochure
30. Develop an Effective Brochure
The problem with brochures is that people feel compelled to use every last one in the pile, even if they are out-ofdate or tatty looking. Regardless of how much you paid to get them printed, they are worthless if the information does not truly reflect your organisation. Read through the promotional brochures you have on hand, and if they are out-of-date, toss them and develop a new one.
The problem with brochures is that people feel compelled to use every last one in the pile, even if they are out-ofdate or tatty looking. Regardless of how much you paid to get them printed, they are worthless if the information does not truly reflect your organisation. Read through the promotional brochures you have on hand, and if they are out-of-date, toss them and develop a new one.
Tuesday, 15 January 2013
Toolbox Tuesday - Send Personal Updates
29. Send Personal Updates
Within your organisation you will have people who support you in various ways and to various degrees. Generally speaking, the more personal your relationship with a supporter, the more generous they will be with their support.
Make a habit of going through your supporters list and identifying people you could build a stronger relationship with. Start by sending them personal updates, instead of (or as well as) the mass marketed newsletter. Make them feel like they are one of the chosen few, and they will return the favour.
Within your organisation you will have people who support you in various ways and to various degrees. Generally speaking, the more personal your relationship with a supporter, the more generous they will be with their support.
Make a habit of going through your supporters list and identifying people you could build a stronger relationship with. Start by sending them personal updates, instead of (or as well as) the mass marketed newsletter. Make them feel like they are one of the chosen few, and they will return the favour.
Tuesday, 8 January 2013
Toolbox Tuesday - Join a Non-Profit Networking Group
28. Join a Non-Profit Networking Group
If a business networking group is where you meet potential sponsors, a non-profit networking group is where you meet supporters. Getting to know other people in your sector allows you to share ideas and resources, as well as spread the word about specific projects or programmes you are running.
Try not to see other non-profit groups as your competition – they are in fact your allies – and by working together you can increase the profile and level of support for everyone involved.
If a business networking group is where you meet potential sponsors, a non-profit networking group is where you meet supporters. Getting to know other people in your sector allows you to share ideas and resources, as well as spread the word about specific projects or programmes you are running.
Try not to see other non-profit groups as your competition – they are in fact your allies – and by working together you can increase the profile and level of support for everyone involved.
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