Christian School Development Without a Development Person

I have been challenged recently to develop a strategy and plan to help a school with a development plan even though they have no one person to assign to the job.

There are several workable alternatives to staffing. Before you tackle these, it is important to decide what are the critical objectives that need to be met. These can be:

• Lead an event or two


• Send out appeal letters


• Introduce the school to the local community


• Bring in grandparents and other volunteers

Once the critical objectives are decided, then the school can decide how and who is the best staffer. Look for people whose talents match the skills required for the job; a good match is very powerful. This can be done in a number of ways:

• Volunteer


• Part-time just assigned to development


• Added responsibility for an administrator or a teacher - this could be an interesting enrichment opportunity

Lastly, organize some help in the form of a task team. This is not a group of people who have lots of ideas and advice; it is the group of people who trust and agree with the plans that are already committed to and are willing to be the hands and feet.

If this is new, pick a few clearly-defined goals and do them well in this year. Then, others will want to join your well-oiled and tuned machine!

Anatomy of an Appeal Letter

Each of us receives solicitations for support from several or many non-profits. As we open these (as do our donors) what messages are contained?

Typically, we mention (in passing) how God has blessed the school and wonderful it is to have dedicated supporters (like you!).

Then, we launch into the "ask" where we explain the reasons for our need; you know, the one that sounds like we are almost desperate, but not quite. We don't want to start a panic or have the rumors fly that we are going to close. Sometimes we show specific items that need to be funded to make a connection between a favorite item and a donor's interest.

Lastly, we pull out the "big gun", scholarship aid for needy families. That always "works" if the other items don't connect. Scholarship, like poverty, can tug at heart strings - then, we hope, someone feels sorry for us and throws us a gift.

This is not biblical stewardship; it is manipulation in using guilt or shame to solicit a gift.

Our roles are to remind our donor friends of their blessings from God and to boldly make our case saying why our school is a great investment in Kingdom building. We can and should remind them that each of us are stewards of blessings and how we should give as directed by the Spirit.

2 Corinthians 9:7 "Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."

Look over your letters and see what messages are coming out loud and clear.

Donors who Disappoint

Psalm 5:1-4

Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my sighing. Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray. In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation. You are not a God who takes pleasure in evil; with you the wicked cannot dwell.

I don't like to wait, especially when I and the school need financial gifts to come in to meet a project need.

This is the end of the year. We sent out the year-end appeal and we have received a good response, but not a great response (at least in terms that I measure).

Several people have told me that they are going to contribute, but the gift has not come in. Should I write? Should I call with one of those "gentle reminders"?

And, I am a little frustrated, too. You see, there are people who can give, but don't. There are people who can give more than they do, but won't.

This frustation can create a tension between me and the donors;; one that is not healthy for long-term relationships.

Then, thankfully, the Lord (gently) reminds me of some very important truths:

1. I am not the fund raiser - He is. I am the "catcher" and "acknowledger" of the good gifts.
2. I did not always "get it" in terms of giving; this took many years of maturing. And, I still don't get it as I should. Growing in grace is a process.
3. He has always provided what we needed and when we needed it; why should I presume that we know the Lord's schedule, which is always perfect?
4. That I need to walk fully in the faith that I proclaim - that is to trust in Him and be gracious with everyone. He has been patient with me for these years; I need to be patient with my brothers and sisters as well.

So, on this steamy day near the end of the fiscal year, be still and know who is God.

Re-thinking the Appeal Letter

1 Th. 5:11

"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing."

Appeal letters are an important aspect of the school's regular communication. They serve to help the donors understand the condition of the school and to see how they can support the work.

Sometimes the letters are not letters at all, they are appeals within a newsletter or some other publication of the school.

Either way, it is an important communication that merits tremendous thought and prayer ans we conceive them and send them out.

Too many schools send out desperate request for funds, warning readers of the dire results if we don't make a contribution and soon. Indeed, there are times when the urgent appeal is necessary, but these cannot be the regular approach to our partners. It is like the boy who cried "wolf"; we'll be ignored after awhile.

As we write these one-way communications, there are some things we need to keep in mind:

1. We are Christian ministries who depend on prayer and provisions of the Lord for our existence
2. We serve at His pleasure for His purposes; we do not exist for our own good
3. We must talk about the consequences of our work, the Christian worldview and how that manifests itself in the lives of young people who will be used as "change agents" for Christ
4. Donor/friends should be invited in to participate with the school in its Kingdom work and to do so as they respond to God's call on their lives to be good stewards of their blessings
5. We must be transparent in our financial status so that trust can be established. It may mean that we need an eternal validation of financial integrity, like the ECFA mark
6. Lastly, keep in mind that neither the school, not the donor are the center of this communication; it is the Gospel and its transformational work in lives

As we plan and write these communications over the next several months, you may want to have them read by some friends who will give you honest feedback when you ask the question,

"Did this encourage you in you walk the King?"

Trash it by Joel Belz of WORLD magazine

Joel shares a simple strategy for saving money and for focusing resources for the benefit of both the donor and ministry being supported.

See what you think http://www.worldmag.com/articles/14827