Dear Friends,

 I have a favor to ask. Hosting the Ministry of Development Institute has been a new experience for me. I believe God has directed me in this new venture and it is needed, but hosting conferences is a new field for my team and me.

 

So I am asking a favor. If you plan on attending the Institute January 20-22, 2009 but have not registered, would you send me an email to assist me in planning a head count?

This will not hold you to register in any way. It will give me an idea of those who are waiting for the new year, or a new budget to register. Just email me at JohnRFrank@TheFrankGroup.us and let me know how many are planning on attending. You need not give names if you do not want to. Thank you for considering this.

For those of you looking for a good reason to register now, here it is.

• First, the registration fee will be $399 from now until Thanksgiving. We hope to fill up some of our open seats with this discount.
• Second, to enable groups, teams, a group of pastors, and even consultants with their clients, we are offering this: for every five (5) paid registrations, you get one free! So bring your team, or your clients and use the training to build your stewardship strategy together.

So if either of these two offers interests you, just register on the website. Any problems with registration just call 425-488-1362 or email KarlaBurgin@TheFrankGroup.us and she will assist you.

NOW, onto some other matters.

  Year End Giving

Why is year-end giving so important? Why do most major donors give at years-end? What kind of strategy should we use at year-end?

 

Let's take a look at this critical time of year and the strategies that are most effective.  First, your year-end giving strategy must be the CULMINATION of your annual major donor strategy. If you are just now starting to contact major donors you are very late, and possibly too late. The major donors I speak with appreciate the relationship contact throughout the year, but use the end of the year for giving the gift, or possibly some extra giving.

 

But many year-end giving strategies are effective. - Why?

I learned the answer to this when I started my consulting business in 1993. I earned the honor of making quarterly tax payments! So I set an annual goal of what I want to give, and save money all year long. At the end of the year I give these gifts to my choices. The key is CASH FLOW. I need to watch my cash flow just like every other business in America. Many businesses and business owners can give more at year-end because of their cash flow strategy.

 

A major misconception is that most people give at year-end for tax purposes. While the deadline does impact the timing, most research shows that taxes are not the top reason people give.  Most have a relationship with their nonprofit or ministry and see the year-end as the correct timing to make the gift they have been planning on.  Or they have set aside extra to be able to make urgent need gifts to some charities.

But the major reason people give is still the same - to be a part of something bigger than themselves.   Remember, year-end is also close to year-start!  People give to the future, not the past. Many year-end donors are giving to you to allow you to do your vital work in the year ahead. Very few give because of what you did "last year".

 

Many successful year-end strategies walk that fine line of presenting information of success from the past year, yet pointing the donor to the vision for the future and what might be accomplished through their faithful support. In other words - vision still motivates people to give. So give them a "picture" of what you see in your ministry in 2009.

May your year-end strategies be blessed and filled with great relationships!  Remember, the blessing in giving goes to the giver - so give them all the blessings they can handle!

John