Fundraising or Strategic Planning?
“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and He will establish your plans.” Proverbs 16:3
Ministry leaders of charities, schools, or churches often ask us: 'Do we need to concentrate on Fundraising or Strategic Planning as a solution to our present challenges?' I think it is a worthy question. Here are three considerations to keep in mind in terms of how your leadership answers the question, especially at a time when you feel like finances are a pressing issue.
1. Is your organization experiencing financial angst? It's almost true to say that every ministry or charity has a desire for greater funding. If the need/desire is a general one, you are likly better off doing a Strategic Plan with a fundraising element inside of the Strat Plan as opposed to a focused initiative to only raise funds. The reason for that is because a Strategic Plan will generate overall health and growth across your organization. As the saying goes, "a rising tide lifts all boats", including finances.
2. Is there a specific reason your organization wants to raise funds? Is the financial need you are experiencing a result of a desire for a specific item (ie. building, piece of equipment, or a project)? If so, then you probably want to find a fundraiser and develop a campaign that can generate enthusiasm around that specific need.
3. Are the challenges you are experiencing more than just financial? The board and the ED should be able to somewhat accurately name the weaknesses and threats that the ministry is experiencing. Ask yourself the question, "Will money solve these problems?" If the list includes things like weak morale, an underperforming board, a negative work culture, misaligned staff, a lack of a future focus or things of that nature, a Strategic plan can serve you better than a simple raising of funds.
4. Do you have the budget room to do both? A look at your budget will tell you if you have room to concentrate on both, or just one. If just one, it often seems wise for most Christian organizations (given their relatively smaller sizes) to kick off a Strategic Plan that builds into itself 'Fundraising' as one of the pre-existing key pillars that will be given focus. In this way, you can achieve both strategies within one process.
These questions and their answers are related to one another. A balance of these considerations should lead you to choose the right path. If you are a board member or senior leader, don’t hesitate to contact Shepherd Consulting to have a conversation and sort through this challenge. Many organizations have and are on their way to a healthy future.
SHEPHERD'S SPOTLIGHT: Link Charity
We are so delighted to be serving an organization that multiplies the efforts of many charities, including Christian Charities across Canada: Link Charity! Their purpose is to "simplify administration and provide adequate tools to link donors and charities in planned giving initiatives." By doing this very thing, they have become the No.1 provider of Charitable Gift Annuities. As a measure of their success, they state on their website that "in fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Link Charity provided $16.9 million to over 1124 charities in Canada." Spoken another way, they find a way to have your charity's money, make money.
As a board and organization, they have chosen to work alongside Shepherd in the desire to be increasingly more effective in governance and leadership. We are happy to serve such an effective organization and could not commend them enough – especially during these times, which so many non-profits are challenged with, financially speaking.
If you are a Christian leader in a charity setting – like those for whom Link can be so beneficial, don't hesitate to reach out to them, or us, for support.
Rev. Dr. Darren Roorda (Founder and Principal Consultant) has served in Nonprofit Leadership for over 23 years. He is proud to work with a wonderful group of associates. His roles as Executive Director, International Liaison, Project Manager, Pastor, and even Official Lobbyist have helped hone his education in Leadership, Governance, and Theology.
D. Min., Pro Dir, Partner of The Alliance for Board Effectiveness. Professional Member of the Canadian Centre for Christian Charities
Look for our regular e-newsletters in your inbox so that you can lead well by learning about key issues in the world of Christian NFP Organizations.
