As we go out and "sell" our schools to the investing public, we should be careful to remember that we are asking donors to join us on this amazing journey to something larger than we could ever do alone.
For example, the Mission of Tall Oaks Classical School (http://www.talloaksclassicalschool.org/) is:
The mission of Tall Oaks Classical School is to assist parents in preparing their children to excel in every duty and calling God has for them throughout their lives by providing a Classical and Christ-centered curriculum designed to equip our graduates with the tools to acquire, process, express, and defend knowledge from a Biblical worldview.
Notice these key words and phrases: assist parents, excel in every duty and calling, defend knowledge, Biblical worldview. These are large ideas that conjure up the idea of transforming society by unleashing a new generation of change agents. Change agents who carry out and extend the Great Commission that our Lord Jesus has given us.
We need to communicate our mission often and broadly. Our parents and other stake holders can be amplifiers of the vision which, when chewed upon, yields some stimulating flavor, just like the sugar cane I chewed on as a boy.
The stewardship officer serves up the mission to people who are looking to connect their passions for the next generation with a school that is clear about what God has called it to be and to do.
Take some time this summer thinking through how you can make the mission the school's rallying cry.
Yes, it's so important to remember to invite donors and sponsors to join in the pursuit of a mission -- more specifically, a ministry. Often we're tempted to think we need to prove that the donation can provide some inherent value to the giver (marketing, exposure, PR boost, building of business relationships), but ultimately our goal is to further our cause and build support for the ministry in which we're involved -- and most people are (ultimately, even if we doubt it) more motivated by something of genuine value (service ministry) that something temporally self-serving. (Note -- This doesn't mean that we shouldn't provide and highlight the benefits that DO exist for the donor or sponsor, when possible. It just means that our fundraising efforts should not be built primarily around such a focus.) I'm finding this to be true in my own efforts to raise support; I just need to convince myself of it.
ReplyDelete