Make it Transformational: A Blog for Champion Discipleship

Have you ever written a letter that started like this to one of your champions, “You haven’t given a gift in over a year and we are going to remove you from our database if we don’t hear from you soon?”

If you have what was your motivation for doing so?

Recently as I was talking with an organization as to why they would send a letter like this out, they said because it’s a part of their appeal letters file. Their goal was to try and appeal to those who used to give financially to give again and reconnect with their cause.

I suppose if you had to categorize these in this way you could, but I would then have to ask the question…who do these letters appeal to? And do they motivate the reader to give another gift just to stay included your database?

The answer is that they aren’t appealing and they aren’t motivational!

But, as our conversation continued we discovered something far greater than a few of these champions not having given a financial gift-they didn’t need to reconnect with this cause at all. You see they were connected, but connected in different ways that the organization's database didn’t track. They actually had hosted a table at a banquet; they handed out flyers at their church, and volunteered at other events as well.

The real issue is that this organization wasn’t tracking what was truly important. They were missing their champions' transformational activity within the cause and putting their total focus on transactional data which only leads to transactional relationships. And….transactional relationships ultimately lead to letters that aren’t appealing, don’t motivate, and show that the organization doesn’t really know who you are.

My challenge to you today is to make sure you understand who your champions are, what they are involved in (which would include their giving) so you can connect with them in ways that foster their growth and maturity in your mutual cause.

If you would like to know more about how to track trasformational data, I would recommend two excellent resources. One is the Transformational Giving blog written by Eric Foley, Mission Increase Vice President of Training. Eric has included video in his multi part series on databases which began on April 9th. I believe you will find this series both valuable and inspirational. The second resource is our “Transform Your Donor Database” Webinar slides and podcast that are found on our Mission Increase Foundation Homepage. This too is an excellent resource that contains an hour teaching on the subject with Eric Foley and Tracy Nordyke our National Senior Giving and Training Officer.

With the MIF Webinar, entitled “Transforming Your Donor Database: From Data File to Champion Scrapbook”, fast approaching on April 7th, I wanted to help clarify the real focus and subsequent benefit of this training.  It’s in the title, but if you’re not looking, you’re going to miss it.

Do you know what a Champion Scrapbook looks like?  Maybe lots of photos of your kids winning soccer and Little League playoffs.  With some description under each picture of what game it was, who they were playing, the date and the outcome of the game.  More likely, since you know we refer to our donors and volunteers as champions, and this is, afterall, a blog on Transformational Giving, you understand that a Champion Scrapbook must have something to do with those championing our causes and would include events and activities, even photos, that represent their involvement in the cause.

Because you keep all your champion information in a database on your computer, rather than in a scrapbook, you are likely to understand that we are referring to tracking champion activity in your database, along with the traditional giving records.

So, why would we be teaching you the importance of tracking champion activity in your database?

The goal of a database is not to maximize your revenue, but to effectively disciple the donors God has given you to steward.  Which is why we’re going to start looking for and capturing transformational data.  Transformational data is the record of any significant and lasting transformational event in the life of your champion that is related to your cause.  Transformational data leads to transformational relationships.

It is important to note that transactional data is actually a part of transformational data.  This information is going to be a necessary part of effectively discipling donors to reach the full stature of Christ with regard to your cause.  Giving is a key part of this spiritual maturity.

In order to learn more about transforming your database, be sure to listen in on April 7th.  Click here to register you and your entire team.  We look forward to having you join us.