• Word & Deed
• SCA Testimony

Our Executive Director, Ken Godevenos, has written on "What Donors Need from Christian Charities." This is available by reading below, or a hard copy is available by calling us at 1-877-474-2689 or at info@scainternational.org

Part I: Guilt free giving

That’s how the Arts & Entertainment Section headline of the Toronto Star newspaper read on Tuesday, February 22, 2005. The sub-title went like this…”How you can have a good time, and help a good cause. Charity event promoters have found that while not everyone likes a lecture, people will happily pay to party.”

As someone concerned with ministry and donor support, I read on. “When it comes to young people and charity, guilt just isn’t enough…Getting the under-40 crowd to turn over free time and cash requires…an entertaining twist. In most cases, that means a party…People empty their pockets all the time buying booze. . . . ‘Our generation does want to get involved…But…you’ve got to offer them a little incentive and excitement to attract them.’” The story went on to give several examples of how successful such events (read parties) are for the charities involved. Wow was I behind the times. There was only one line in the whole page and a half article (counting the pictures) that I could identify with…”It’s not that people don’t care…It’s they just don’t know there are opportunities out there.”

Well, that’s the world we have to compete in today, assuming we want to compete. And it’s because the world is like that, that I personally value each and every one of you who donate so faithfully to this ministry – even without a party. I believe, though, as Christians who want to be good stewards of the money God has loaned you, you need several things (as Larry Matthews shared in the May/June 2004 issue of Faith Today) from any Christian charity you support. These include:

· Clarity – “Show me why you exist and what your work will accomplish.”

· Passion – “Show me something to care about.”

· Goals – “Describe concrete results of your work and our gifts.”

· Accountability – “Please don’t make me ask you to report.”

· Leadership – “Show us how you are helping to set the pace for everyone in your field.”

· Strategy – “Show me a credible plan.”

· Authenticity -- “Tell me the truth about the work you do.”

· Relationship – “Show me that I am known.”

· Stewardship – “Be reasonable about costs.”

· Respect – “I accept that you should ask me. You should accept that I may say ‘No.’”

· Significance – “Show me how to do something important.”

· Joy – “I need something to celebrate in my heart, not just affirm in my head.”

I believe we at SCA International do in fact provide these requirements to you. These are critical conditions we must satisfy if we are to maintain your trust, confidence, and support, and if we are to enlarge our donor base to meet the growing needs of our goals and objectives for building up the Body of Christ in Canada.

Secondly, I know that as a charity there are several considerations facing us as well. Other leaders of much more prominent charities have identified some of these in the same article quoted above. These include:

· That satisfying the above requirements is no guarantee for a long-lasting relationship, only the price for getting today’s donor engaged.

· Not everything of importance can be expressed in concrete, measurable terms.

· Turning the sorrow of our donors into joy.

· Building a relationship of trust and joy between the donor and the fundraiser.

· Communication that makes a meaningful difference.

· Connecting passionate donors & ministry projects creates an incredibly powerful partnership.

· Ensuring that we carry out our Christian philanthropic activities and strategies with the spiritual and sacred principles of the Christian life, and distinct from those of ‘secular’ fundraising.