Donor Advancement Tools

April 2025

Hello Team!

Don’t you just love FCA’s Core Values?  I find them to be very provisional for the rhythm of my life, let alone as an FCA Staffer.  Yes, words to live by---Integrity, Serving, Teamwork and Excellence.

Our Core Values fit in wonderfully in the Donor Advancement Lane. I encourage all of us to be mindful of them whether for a banquet, a year-end mailing, a golf scramble, one-on-one funding meetings or speaking to the Rotary Club in hopes of planting seeds for the future.

Integrity is key as we connect with potential supporters.  Being up front with real numbers, real needs and real sincerity is part of the message.  As we express the vision and mission of FCA, including as it applies to a specific FCA area, do so with character.  That is a place to share actual money needs---how much is needed for salaries---how much for a camp is needed---how much is needed for a ‘dream big’ event.  I find that people look for integrity as they support FCA. They know their gift will make an eternal impact.  We have the privilege of being honest with the scope of our budget needs.

Serving is a great connecting point with potential and current supporters.  Find something that’s important to them and find a way to serve. It might be helping in the concession stand at a middle school basketball game.  They may serve a non-profit that needs helping hands for an event (just like us). Their family may be going through a happy or even challenging time.  Just showing up can bring blessings.

Teamwork is a natural for FCA---“to and through sports.”  Folks love to be part of something that leads to a positive result, especially as a team with fellowship in the midst of it all.  Let’s all have teams---from our board members to the ladies group at church to high school kids who get credit for community service as we fund our ministry. Its special to celebrate people who are serving as a team.

Excellence is an element and an end result as we apply FCA’s Core Values to fundraising. How great is it to hear that positive feedback and, of course, see excellent revenue results come to our areas as we commit to integrity, serving, teamwork and excellence!

Let’s pray to our Lord as we apply the Core Values to the cadence our lives.  Some really smart, Christ-centered brothers-and-sisters-in-Christ developed these for our benefit. What a gift and blessing!

November 2024

Hello Team! Our Donor Advancement message takes us to the unlikely and under-appreciated---the effectiveness and power of Foundation Grants and the handwritten card.  One can immediately fulfill a financial need; the other allows us to make our way into the lives of potential donors and bring a sweet connection with current donors.