Senior Consultant - Design Group Intl. * Co-Founder - The (POP) Fundraising Lab * My Digital Contact Card (Office EST) * My LinkTree  

***14 April 2023 Free Virtual Workshop Registration CLOSING TODAY***

Faithful Friends, 

What might planning the Path of Faithful Friendship look like as you traverse the Four Seasons of Stewardship?

It might be helpful to utilize some ancient rhythms that farmers have employed for eons. 

In the winter the farmer is planning; in the spring the farmer is planting; in the summer the farmer is growing his or her crops; and in the fall the farmer is harvesting.

Let’s draw some parallels, shall we?

• Planning (Inviting and Confirming Season #1)
• Planting (Sharing the Story Season)
• Growing (Inviting and Confirming Season #2)
• Harvesting (Thanking and Celebrating Season)

It is important for us to note a few things that we know about seasons:

Not Every Season Has the Same Characteristics as the Previous Year

• Some springs are more wet than others, some winters are more dry, etc.
• As fundraisers, our needs and resources vary from season-to-season and year-to-year.

Not Every Season is the Same Length as the Previous Year

• As fundraisers, we may find ourselves in a shorter season of thanking with less resources for giving gifts to supporters.
• You might need to have a longer inviting and confirming season as you fundraise for a new initiative or project.

Seasons Tend to Overlap 

• When does spring turn into summer in the northern hemisphere? When school is out? June 21? The first day over 80 degrees Fahrenheit? YES!
• As fundraisers, we know that we tell the story, invite, and thank in some form in all seasons. There is seasonal overlap in fundraising as well.

As you engage the Planner Section, use the FUNDRAISING HUMANITY INDEX below to find a potential starting place.

• You will still have your organization's fiscal year and communications calendar to contend with as you engage this planner - so act accordingly.
• You know that your team and your needs are a moving target - so act accordingly. 
• Be flexible and ready to lengthen or shorten a season.

Each Seasonal Section in the Planner Will Allow Time and Space For:

• Reading and Reflection

• This will help you think and become a person who is growing in their knowledge and practice of fundraising.

• Seasonal SMART Goals

• This will help you take the things you are learning to think differently about and make them tangible.

• Seasonal Planning

• Reference your Annual and Seasonal Goals.
• Plan for Action.

• Seasonal Action Steps (Part 1)

• Ideas and Goals look great on paper - but where do I put my foot for the next step?
• This section will help you with accountability and practicing Faithful Friendship. 

• A Bit More Reading and Reflection

• This slows us down and gives us a chance to cultivate deeper curiosity within ourselves.

• Seasonal Action Steps (Part 2)

• This section will continue to help you move people along the continuum from Donor to Partner, from Partner to Supporter, and from Supporter to Faithful Friend.

• Some More Reading and Reflection

• This slows us down and gives us a chance to cultivate continued conversation within our communities.

• Seasonal Action Steps (Part 3)

• More guidance on where to put your feet on the path to Faithful Friendship.

• The Goldilocks Check-In

• This section will help you become more self aware as a fundraiser as you learn to better steward your heart, protect boundaries, invite teammates onto the path alongside you, and to take inventory of your humanity. 
• Think of it as a check-in with yourself.

• Seasonal Review & Celebration

• A process that is never reviewed is a process that dies quickly - so take stock.
• And we miss awesome opportunities to pause and celebrate. Let’s get better at that. Buy a nice bottle of bubbles from boswine.com! 

FUNDRAISING HUMANITY INDEX

Have a quick check in about what season you find yourself in, and then start there.

• I know my donors well, am a bit scared of fundraising and would rather be in the sharing the story season all year. 
  • It is time for you to spend relational capital and invite people to give.
  • Consider starting in Inviting and Confirming Season #1.

• We have a history of successful year-end giving, but have cash flow problems in the shoulder-seasons of giving.
  • It is time for you to invite people to give smaller gifts on a monthly basis
  • Consider starting in Inviting and Confirming Season #1
  • Consider starting in Inviting and Confirming Season #1.
• Our organization has enough money for the meantime, but I’m still driven by my anxiety to hit a certain fundraising goal, and, I feel depleted.
  • Consider starting in the Thanking and Celebrating Season.

• Fundraising has gone really well, and I enjoy it!
  
  • Consider starting in the Thanking and Celebrating Season.

• I’m exhausted and lonely as a fundraiser.
  • Consider starting in the Sharing the Story Season.
    

• Fundraising has gone really well, but not many people know about our wonderful mission and our vision to grow.
  • Consider starting in the Sharing the Story Season

• I may have to start looking for another job when my organization runs out of money in 8 weeks.
  
  
  • Consider starting in Inviting and Confirming Season #2

• I would like to expand our mission into another geographic area, or hire more teammates.
  • Consider starting in Inviting and Confirming Season #2.

Dream big, go the right speed, with the right people, and by earning the right to be heard with those you invite into your mission. Godspeed.

Lead with Love,

Kevin A. Eastway

PS - This planner (I wrote it for you!) has space for you to reflect upon your fundraising journey, places to plan, to set goals, and re-imagine what fundraising might look like for you in the future. So when you get it in the mail, spill coffee or tequila on it, rip out pages, take it everywhere you go, enjoy it!