MORE STEPS IMPORTANT TO YOUR COMMITMENT CAMPAIGN
I’m continuing the blog series I started last week based on
the “Ten Commandments for Commitment Campaigns”
found on the United Methodist Stewardship Foundation of Michigan website.
Last week, we talked about three recommendations, which included
not waiting until Labor Day to start; be clear about what the outcome of the
campaign should be; and the third is recruiting people to assist with the
campaign.
The fourth recommendation is to make the campaign
about commitment rather than budgets. Too often, and I’ve been guilty of this, is
starting on the budget work first, before even really considering the campaign
itself. The budget comes after the campaign, when people have provided their
commitments. The budget isn’t the goal. The goal is the commitment.
The fifth recommendation is to be personal as much as
possible. When you’ve received a request for a donation, how much
further do you read than “Dear Friend” or something of that nature? Probably
not far. If the asker couldn’t even take the time to personalize the letter, why
should I personalize my gift—by making one? Mass mailings aren’t always
terribly effective. Talking to people personally, or even writing a personal
note on a form letter goes a long way.
The sixth recommendation is to focus on the campaign
only. When you are planning the
campaign, pick your dates early and get them on the calendar. There are always
conflicts on the church calendar, but there shouldn’t be any other fundraisers
at the same time. Move the concert or the fundraiser or the bazaar, or change
the dates of your campaign. If you’re asking your folks to focus on the needs
of giving and why it is important; don’t pull their focus elsewhere.
So there are three more steps that will help you focus on
the campaign, and to have the focus of others be the campaign. Keep these steps
in mind as your campaign work continues!
No comments:
Post a Comment