November 2009 Entries
Michelle A. Adams
Attorney in Georgia
Does your organization need “clergy malpractice” insurance? Insurance companies have been offering this since the late 1970’s when clergy malpractice claims first were filed. But courts have yet to recognize claims for “clergy malpractice.”[1] Thus why do insurance carriers offer such coverage?
The term “malpractice” means an instance of incompetence or negligence on the part of a professional responsible for damages.[2] This has been applied successfully in the medical, legal, and advisement fields, but has never been successfully applied to a church. The most common scenario prompting clergy malpractice claims occurs when the clergyperson serves as a...
posted @ Monday, November 30, 2009 8:11 AM |
The economy is forcing many nonprofits to rethink how they find new donors. It takes different styles of communication to demonstrate the need to donors. Because of the current situation, everyone knows there is need, so nonprofits must determine how to present their need.
1) Put numbers to the need—By giving an accurate picture of the true need, donors have a better feel for the urgency and how your plan will change these numbers. Look up the compelling statistics on the areas you work with, and utilize these to strengthen how you reach out to donors.
For example, the Ozarks Food...
posted @ Monday, November 23, 2009 8:23 AM |
Organizations often are so caught up in their worries of “getting their message out there” that they begin ignoring some of the fundamental rules for successful fundraising. Take some time to review today:
--- Keep your message simple and concise—The clearer and shorter your message, the more likely people will be interested in what you have to say. People will not be motivated to join your cause and support you if they cannot understand the basics of what you are doing and what you hope to accomplish.
Imagine a scenario where you only have a short amount of time to share...
posted @ Monday, November 16, 2009 8:24 AM |
With foundations cutting back on the amount of grants they award, it will be even more important for ministries to write excellent proposals. They must carefully consider what will make their proposal stand out.
The Chronicle of Philanthropy recently hosted a live discussion where Jane Geever, a fund-raising consultant and author, Bernard Turner, an assistant professor at Belmont University, and Neal Hegarty, a program officer at the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, all answered questions from various organizations.
Are your questions similar to these?:
--“What are good sources of funding for small budget organizations?”
--“What is the most important messages to convey to a...
posted @ Monday, November 09, 2009 1:33 PM |
With the growth of technology, donors have set expectations about ministries’ websites. Web experiences that meet or exceed donors’ expectations are important for ministries to stay competitive in this marketplace. Good websites have the power to gain a donor’s loyalty.
Some ideas to consider as you develop your website:
n Include a sign-up box for your newsletter. Direct email marketing is becoming an increasingly powerful tool; therefore, having a strong database of email contacts is important. Your website is one of the easiest ways to capture new names- potential donors.
n Promote your online fundraising. Even a simple “Click here to donate” box...
posted @ Wednesday, November 04, 2009 8:13 AM |