I Major on Face-to-Face Appeals
© The Navigators. All Rights Reserved. Do Not Use Without Permission.
…I discovered that face-to-face encounters build deeper relationships.
As much as I want my fundraising to go quickly and painlessly, I’ve learned that the time-consuming work of face-to-face appointments is wiser in the long run.
True, I send a once-a-year appeal to my mailing list, but the heart of my funding strategy is face-to-face (or Zoom-to-Zoom). It takes time, but my yes-rate hovers at 70%-80%.
Yes-Rates of Other Methods:
Appeal letters at the end of the year—5%-10% (one-time gifts—not monthly)
Email appeals—1%-3% (one-time)
Phone appeals—27%
Group meetings—9%
Hinting—0%!
Also, I discovered that face-to-face encounters build deeper relationships. By God’s grace, I rarely lose a giving partner.
“But face-to-face takes so much time!” True, but it takes even more time to start over every year seeking non-donors or lapsed donors. Plus, when you look someone in the eye there is no guessing—friendships are more easily developed.
In a text you cannot pick up body language. Social media word flurries often fail to spot a negative emotional reaction. The Apostle John did not have digital communication, but look what he wrote to a troubled colleague in a distant church:
“Though I have many things to write to you, I do not want to do so with paper and ink; but I hope to come to you and speak face-to-face, so that your joy may be full.”
“Your joy!” A face-to-face meeting stimulates greater joy than a digital post.
Confession and Lesson Learned! I like digital communication! In my many ministry leadership roles I’ve sent a gazillion emails and 100 gazillion texts—digital has its place. But even well-composed and prayed-over digital words can miss the heart. When I’m puzzled about what to say digitally, I have learned: “Just go talk to the guy!”
Prayer: Father in Heaven, I confess I want my funding to go smoothly and quickly without causing brain damage! Please give me grace to bond with my giving partners. Amen.
