Is Your Donor’s DAF a Pipeline or a Warehouse?
By Dr. Scott Rodin and Roland C. Warren Key Takeaways Christian ministries have a unique opportunity to help donors connect charitable resources with present-day Kingdom needs. Thoughtful DAF conversations can encourage donors to move from delayed giving to active generosity. DAFs can strengthen a family’s legacy when generosity is practiced together, not simply inherited. Imagine […]
When Donor-Advised Funds Become Spiritual Warehouses
The Parable of the Stored Loaves and Fish By Roland C. Warren and Scott Rodin Table of Contents A Different Kind of Miracle When Jesus fed the five thousand on that hillside near Bethsaida, the disciples witnessed something extraordinary. Matthew 14:19-20 tells us: “Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to […]
You Already Have Enough: How This Impacts Our Leadership (Part 2)
By Dr. Scott Rodin | Chief Strategy Officer & Senior Consultant Key Takeaways Scarcity thinking quietly shapes more leadership decisions than many of us realize and often leaves leaders anxious, defensive, and exhausted. Gratitude precedes abundance. Jesus gave thanks for what was already in His hands before the miracle of multiplication. Contentment is not complacency. […]
You Already Have Enough (Part 1)
By Dr. Scott Rodin | Chief Strategy Officer & Senior Consultant Key Takeaways I’ve been around enough ministry leaders to know that many are haunted by a gnawing sense of discontentment. It may not be obvious. It may even sound like the longings of someone wanting to serve God more. Have you ever caught yourself saying […]
Grateful Disappointment
By Scott Rodin | Senior Consultant & Chief Strategy Officer Key Takeaways Embrace unmet expectations with deep gratitude, trusting that God’s plans are often greater than your original goals. Avoid letting the grief of a missed target overshadow the present blessings and beauty God provides right where you are. The title of this blog […]
When Should You Start Strategic Planning?
By Scott Rodin | Senior Consultant & Chief Strategy Officer Key Takeaways Stop acting reactively and start acting proactively to align your team around a unified vision. Share a compelling strategic vision to build donor confidence and inspire long-term financial support. Avoid waiting for organizational transitions to calm down, as planning creates necessary stability during uncertain […]
When the Plan Is the Problem: How One College Turned a False Start Into a Fundraising Success
By Scott Rodin | Senior Consultant/Chief Strategy Officer Key Takeaways Treat strategic planning as the essential foundation for fundraising success, not just an administrative formality. Update outdated strategic plans to ensure fundraising goals align with current institutional needs. Ground your fundraising case statement in clear, current data so it naturally articulates the urgency of your […]
Why Strategic Planning Is No Longer Optional
Scott Rodin, Senior Consultant & Chief Strategy Officer Over the years, I’ve asked hundreds of nonprofit leaders and boards for their opinions on strategic planning. The response has been varied to say the least. Some roll their eyes and recount failed attempts in the past that led only to frustration. Others shrug it off as […]
We Are Never More Like God Than When We Give
By Dr. Scott Rodin, Chief Strategy Officer A pastor greeted his congregants at the door after the service. He had just preached on generosity. A disgruntled man met him with a growl, “Pastor, I can’t believe you spent a whole sermon just talking about giving.” “What else should I have preached on?” the pastor inquired. […]
Five Characteristics of a Great Strategic Plan
By Dr. Scott Rodin, Chief Strategy Officer & Senior Consultant If the words “strategic plan” conjure up for you images of an interminable document that bears little connection to your daily work life, you are not alone. According to Harvard Business Review, an estimated 60-90% of strategic plans are never fully launched. All strategic plans […]
God Has a Plan, Do You?
By Dr. Scott Rodin, Chief Strategy Officer & Senior Consultant “If you don’t know where you are going any road can take you there.” (Cheshire Cat, Alice in Wonderland) I admit, I am not a cat lover. But there is much wisdom in the Cheshire Cat’s response to Alice’s inquiry about which road she should […]
Five Ways to Ensure Your Fundraising is Blessing Your Giving Partners
A few years back I accompanied a nervous pregnancy center executive director and a kind but quiet board chair on the most important invitation visit they would have for their capital campaign.