Hello! 

Fundraising can be a daunting journey, but you’re not alone. You have an ally in navigating the challenges. Through a thoughtful approach, together we can transform your nonprofit’s trajectory. Our approach is anchored in personalized storytelling, seamlessly executed campaigns, and a mindful strategy, designed to elevate your organization.

Let’s dive into how we can go on this journey together.

Personalized Storytelling:

In the hustle of fundraising, your nonprofit’s narrative deserves to be more than a mere report of events and outcomes—it should be a compelling saga that resonates deeply with your tribe. Thoughtful storytelling ensures that your mission’s distinctive facets are not just acknowledged but celebrated. From an individual’s personality, needs, and successes to articulating the tangible impact of every contribution to the community, we’re dedicated to transforming your constituents’ story into a memorable connection that inspires.

Multi-Channel Campaigns:

Fundraising shouldn’t be a solo performance. Through campaign strategy we are ready to stand by your side, leveraging your people and assets to orchestrate multi-channel campaigns that ensure your message reverberates across diverse platforms. From traditional mail to social media engagement, email, and events, we tailor campaigns to suit the preferences of your audience. Mindfulness is our promise, guaranteeing your voice is heard clearly and with heart-felt intention, creating a buzz that sticks in the hearts and minds of your donors.

Expertise:

In the ever-evolving landscape of fundraising, experience is your ally, and we’re here to make it work for you. Our thoughtful mindset integrates analytics, segmentation, and a personable email and social media presence. Picture a world where fundraising becomes a rewarding and engaging experience for you and your supporters. We are on a mission to turn the fundraising landscape into a symphony of campaign processes ensuring a dynamic, enjoyable journey for you and your donors.

Fundraising is hard, but remember, you’re not alone. Let’s do this journey together—aligning heartfelt personalized storytelling, the dynamism of multi-channel campaigns, and a mindful strategy. We’re your partners in creating narratives that resonate, engage, and raise funds that allow you to thrive. Together, let’s sculpt a strategy that fits the uniqueness of your mission and serves your community!

With Gratitude,

Patrick

Connect with me!

The journey of running a nonprofit organization is filled with challenges and fundraising can sometimes feel overwhelming, leaving you wondering where to turn for support. Fear not, here is a fundraising framework just for you!

1. Know Your Audience: Build Meaningful Connections

In the world of engaged fundraising, understanding your audience is key. Take the time to connect with your supporters on a personal level. This insight can help you to craft a compelling stories that resonates with them. Share stories of impact, showcasing the real-life change your nonprofit is making. Send a timely “Thank You” note and include a bit of encouragement. Make your supporters feel like integral members of your community, and they’ll be more likely to engage and contribute.

2. Use Multi-Channel Campaigns: Meet Your Donors Where They Are

Multi-channel fundraising campaigns help you to build a following, engage constituents, and raise money! Don’t limit yourself to a single platform – a diversified and integrated approach is the key. Engage with your audience across various channels, including social media, email, and even traditional methods like direct mail. By meeting your people where they are, you increase the chances of catching their attention and building a relationship that goes beyond a follow, a like, or a one-time donation.

3. Segment Your Donor Base: Personalization Matters

Segmentation will supercharge your campaigns and amplify your engagement. The process will also help you understand who your followers, constituents, and donors are. Personalization is not just a buzzword; it’s a strategy that can significantly boost engagement. Identify key segments within your database and tailor your messaging to address their specific interests and motivations. A personalized approach makes people feel valued and understood, fostering a deeper connection with your cause.

4. Streamline Technology: Simplify Your Processes

Technology is your ally in the quest for fundraising success. Leverage fundraising platforms, CRM systems, and other tools that can streamline your processes. Automation can help reduce administrative burdens, allowing you to focus more on building relationships with donors. Embracing technology doesn’t just make your life easier; it also creates a more seamless and enjoyable experience for your supporters.

5. Set Clear Goals: Inspire Action with a Purpose

Your donors want to be a part of something meaningful. Clearly articulate your fundraising goals and how they contribute to your overarching mission. Make your goals specific, measurable, and time-bound. When donors understand the impact of their contributions, they are more likely to feel a sense of purpose and urgency, driving them to take action.

6. Celebrate Milestones: Show Appreciation and Recognition

Acknowledging the efforts and contributions of your donors is crucial for building lasting relationships. Create a culture of appreciation with timely recognition. Wait too long and you may miss the opportunity for a second gift. Show appreciation through social media shout-outs, personalized emails, “Thank You” cards, and donor appreciation events. You need to make your supporters feel like the heroes they are.

7. Diversify Revenue Streams: Plan for Long-Term Sustainability

To thrive it’s essential to diversify your revenue streams. Explore various fundraising avenues, such as recurring campaigns, business partnerships, workplace giving, event sponsorships, and peer-to-peer programs. By establishing a diverse funding portfolio, you not only insulate your organization from economic uncertainties but also create a foundation for long-term sustainability.

In the fundraising journey, remember that every interaction with your supporters is an opportunity to strengthen your community and advance your mission. Embrace the insights shared and infuse them with your unique passion and dedication.

Hopefully, this has been a source of inspiration and a beacon of hope. Together, we can create a future where your nonprofit not only survives but flourishes, making a lasting impact on the lives you touch.

I am here to help with personalized storytelling, multi-channel campaigns, and a mindful approach, so you’re poised to not just survive but thrive in the world of fundraising.

Keep inspiring, keep connecting, and keep bringing hope to the world.

With gratitude,

Patrick

When the City of Denver, nonprofit partners, and State resources became overwhelmed with the influx of migrants at the beginning of 2023, a representative from the State of Colorado reached out to see if the Church could help to welcome, host, and care for newly arrived migrants.

We responded by producing a collaborative forum to gather the City of Denver, service providers, churches, businesses, and concerned citizens to learn how to engage and support our new neighbors.

The Love Thy Neighbor forum was an insightful discussion as we heard from Shantelle & Chad Mullinik with the West Colfax Lampstand. As well as Juan with Providence Bible & Roberto with Renuevo Church. 

It seemed like an appropriate time for those who had been working diligently on the issue to share and connect, as well as to glean and discern the next steps.

When Roberto and Juan shared their story of working together to serve 70 Venezuelan migrants that had walked through the doors of Renuevo Church, it was apparent that their collaboration was not only unique but possibly a future model for bridging resources to serve the needs of our new neighbors.

We are exploring how to bridge the resource gap and encourage collaborative service models similar to Providence Bible and Renuevo Church.

It was a beautiful evening remembering Isabella Joy Thallas and loved ones lost to violence as we prayed for healing and peace at the second annual Bella Joy Gardens Memorial.

We stood with Ana Hernandez-Thallas to remember loved ones lost and to celebrate the life of her daughter Isabella Joy Thallas, a ballpark murder victim, whose life was tragically taken by gun violence on June 10th, 2020.

At this small park in the heart of Denver, we celebrated life with food, fun, and friendship. Then we entered into a time of remembrance, prayer, and a candlelight vigil to raise our light toward all who have suffered and mourned, spreading healing and hope with our lives in the city.

On March 23rd, we gathered in response to the increase in violent crimes, gun violence, and lives lost in our city. Though there are complex issues that go into why we are experiencing this violence, the gathering was a response and a forum to express concerns, prayers, and insights in the pursuit of peace in our city.

Lewis “Proxy” Brown, A well-known musician, faith leader, and moderator for the evening highlighted that coming together as the Church in the city is a great first step. He stated the next step is then to “Be Peacemakers” – He shared that being a peacemaker is not the same as being a peacekeeper.

“A Peacemaker is someone who works on behalf of peace…And what’s hard about that is sometimes you have to first work through your own pain and grief for peace.”

We had the pleasure of having several leaders in the city share their stories and insights into their peacemaking journey.

One of those was Armondo Saldate, assistant deputy director of the Department of Public Safety. He shared that we have gone through a lot of trauma in the city that has been magnified by the pandemic along with many co-occurring issues. He shared that “I come here as a peacemaker… and we need more safe spaces to talk through the trauma.”

Armondo talked about putting leadership together to address the root causes co-occurring with violent acts in the city – and that “We cannot arrest ourselves out of this problem… Police are not going to solve every problem by arresting people and incarcerating them – putting them in that cycle is not the solution…A big part of what we need is in this room…”

Now is the time to be focused on your Monthly Giving Program and appealing to those potential donors.

In the dynamic world of fundraising, finding the right focus for your efforts is essential, and your Monthly Giving Program could be the key to unlocking a sustained and engaged donor base. Building relationships and nurturing donors is a year-round task, but strategic focus can significantly boost your program’s effectiveness. Let’s explore why your Monthly Giving Program is a vital component of your fundraising plan.

Finding the Right Timing:

Navigating multiple campaigns simultaneously can be overwhelming, making it challenging to effectively engage potential donors. Consider shining a spotlight on your Monthly Giving Program between your spring and year-end fundraising campaigns. This targeted approach allows you to capture the attention of potential donors without competing with other campaigns.

The Importance of Your Monthly Giving Program:

Your Monthly Giving Program holds a pivotal role in providing financial stability to your organization. By transitioning one-time and annual givers up the engagement ladder, you cultivate a deeper investment in your mission. This not only increases their lifetime giving value but also enhances the likelihood of retaining these donors in the long run.

Building a Loyal Community:

A branded monthly giving program offers the opportunity to create a loyal and engaged community within your giving circle. Imagine these contributors as long-term investors in the success of your mission. Engaging monthly donors requires a unique approach, much like companies interact with investors differently from one-time customers. This strategy adds depth and stability to your mission, fostering a sense of belonging among your donors.

Moving from One-Time to Monthly Giving:

Just as a one-time consumer may need several engagements before becoming a loyal customer, so too does a one-time giver. Gradually, as their consistency and engagement increase, you can extend an invitation for them to become monthly donors. Think of it like someone subscribing to a monthly service they love. As a community-driven mission, this is your chance to create a circle of deeply invested individuals connected not just to your cause but to each other and the community.

Real-Life Inspiration: Kingdom Eyes Monthly Giving Program

For example consider the Monthly Giving Program that we developed for Kingdom Eyes, a disability awareness organization. Branded as “Kingdom Builders,” this program identifies individuals who resonate with the mission and understand the transformative power of their investment. The program breaks down the impact of the donor’s investment and extends an invitation to quarterly gatherings for community and connection with like-minded individuals. This community-building opportunity aims to be both fun and uniquely aligned with the organization’s culture, ensuring that participants walk away feeling connected and part of a community that truly matters.

A Monthly Giving Program can bring financial stability to your organization by moving one-time and annual givers up the engagement ladder to be more invested in your mission, increasing their lifetime giving value and increasing the likelihood of keeping those donors engaged in your mission long-term.

On February 16th, we celebrated Black History Month and it was an enriching experience. Amber Kierra, the founder of Kingdom Eyes, shared her insight on how to put on “Kingdom Eyes” to see where we are and where we are going.

She shared her story as a black, blind, female, offering a unique perspective on how to acknowledge and appreciate our differences. The talk was a hope-infused inspiration to love our neighbor and embrace our differences with an open heart.

She shared how she has found freedom from the perceptions and limiting perspectives of the world:

“I have three different ways I’ve learned to sing a freedom song as a black woman in America…through God’s Sovereignty, His Sight, and His Spirit”

“I know what it feels like to think that ‘Freedom will come…If only I wasn’t black…If only I didn’t have this disability…Or if only my skin wasn’t so dark.’ But because I’m a child of God I have the ability to be free right now”… “I can choose to live my life not by how the world sees me, but based on how God sees me.”

– Amber Kierra @amberkierra , Kingdom Eyes @kingdomeyesofficial

Meet Amber! She is bridging the divide in our faith communities for those with disabilities and sharing her experiences and story as a solo, black, female, founder. Her story of God taking her pain and flipping it into possibility for herself and for those with disabilities is causing new vision and faith to rise up in people’s lives to see themselves as God sees them.

Meeting Amber and journeying with her has been an amazing experience that you will want to have!

Meet Amber @amberkierra & @kingdomeyesofficial

And check out her POSSIBILITY Campaign at KingdomEyes.org/Possibility

It was an honor to stand with Ana Thallas to produce what became a beautiful memorial and celebration of her daughter whose life was taken by gun violence this past summer of 2020. Bella Joy Gardens is a park dedicated to her daughter Isabella Joy Thallas, a place of healing and hope for the community and to mourn loved ones lost to gun violence.

At this small park in the heart of Denver, we celebrated LIFE with food, fun, and friendship. We shared a time of remembrance, prayer, and a candlelight vigil to raise our light toward spreading healing and hope with our prayers and lives.

The evening included Food Trucks, Live Music, and a 3-on-3 Youth Basketball Tournament in partnership with Colorado Community Church, Church In The City-Beth Abraham, Denver Dream Center, Confluence Ministries, and Public Peace Initiative.

By Patrick Kennedy

5 min read

Events are a love / hate relationship for many, but we all know that events drive engagement, that’s why we do them. Not all events are engaging and an event without the proper context can drive your budget into a hole. Now in our digital world we especially need to be thinking about context as our events are turning virtual. By establishing our “Why” and a strong narrative we will create meaningful context and engagement across live and virtual gatherings.

For years I’ve seen a ton of success integrating live events with digital campaigns. A well orchestrated campaign can provide a much needed and powerful context for your fundraising event. With this strategy it’s not about the event as much as it’s about the campaign as a whole. Making the event a compliment versus the main focus will allow you to leverage your fundraising event in a powerful story based framework to drive engagement toward your fundraising goals. So as we move into a virtual event landscape, we can make the digital campaign even more explosive, especially now that people are becoming normalized to the virtual meet-up. The digital and virtual landscape is dynamic. If we integrate virtual events with digital campaigns we will be able to elevate the event medium to make a more powerful appeal that highlights impactful stories, and casts a vision that inspires your constituents to give.

You may be thinking that the virtual event will never replace the in-person event, and I agree. In person connections will always be more meaningful but that doesn’t mean that we can’t leverage the digital landscape to create impact moments that can be just as lucrative!

According to recent study, Why America Gives 2020, “30% of survey respondents said they supported or participated in a virtual charity event since the start of the pandemic. Of those respondents, 60% said they donated and/or raised more in the virtual environment than they have for past in-person events. These results not only underline people’s willingness to participate virtually, but the possibility for greater levels of support.”

Event planners like Danielle Snelson are pushing the fold on virtual events and seeing a huge upside. The most noticeable upside is that virtual events can be a fraction of the cost to produce, which can allow you to increase returns by connecting with more people while cutting production time. An innovation that can cut down on time and expense while increasing revenue is definitely worth pursuing – and when you sync it up with a well orchestrated campaign, you may just see exponential returns.  

This is a great 10 min conversation with Danielle Snelson on her experience with virtual events.

Here’s the big take away: There is a huge upside to virtual events. Consider creating one and put it into context within a digital campaign.