8 Ways to Share the Effective Charity Vision

In February, True Charity Network members from around the country gathered for a “True Charity Chat,” a casual time of brainstorming and sharing experiences. This quarter’s topic was “Sharing the TC Mindset with your Team.”

Sometimes leaders have trouble communicating their passion for effective charity with volunteers, staff, or board members who are used to the status quo. As always, our network members had some great ideas!

Here are some of the tips they shared:

1: Connect With the Other Person’s “Why”

Lana from Missouri shared that she likes to have individual conversations with team members where she asks about their motivation. Why did they begin this work? What values motivate them? What is their vision? Then, she connects the relational, empowering program shift to that unique passion.

2: Use New Language Consistently

Once you introduce your staff and volunteers to terms like “relief,” “development,” and “exchange,” use them! When you review a particular program, for instance, ask whether the clients who make use of that program are in need of relief or development. Make effective charity language a regular part of your culture.

3: Make Use of Social Media

Try posting a True Charity Takeaway video (members can access all of them here), re-posting a fellow network member’s success post, or a story about how one of your clients overcame an obstacle.

4: Use Phrases That Evoke a Question

It can be difficult to communicate all the nuances of the effective charity vision in a couple of words. Come up with a phrase or two that gets the listener asking questions. Travis Hurley, director of advancement for network member Watered Gardens often says they “help people remember who they are when they might have forgotten.” What does that mean? How do they do it? Now you have an an opening to explain how your program reminds people they are made in the image of God with capacity and inherent dignity!

5: Use Images

People remember pictures! Take every chance you get to draw what you are talking about, even if it is on the back of a napkin. Micah from Missouri shared that he often draws When Helping Hurts’ framework for relief, rehabilitation, and development. True Charity CEO, James Whitford, often does the same with Toxic Charity’s 5 steps to dependency.

6: Direct the Mind, Motivate the Emotions, and Shape the Path of Change

Speaking of images, don’t forget this one from Switch: How to Change Things when Change is Hard. A prospective change-maker is like a rider on an elephant following a path. In order to make real change, one has to prove the rational basis for an improvement (direct the rider), evoke a strong emotion (motivate the elephant), then make the direction to that change clear (shape the path). Make it easy to say “yes.”

Bonus Tip: We create MAPs and Toolkits to shape the path for change-makers like you!

7: Host a Book Club

Rich from Oklahoma, Micah from Missouri, and other members have hosted book clubs for other community leaders, staff members, and even donors. Check out our book highlights for specific recommendations!

8: Perfect Your Stump Speech

When someone asks you about why you do things the way you do, be prepared with an answer. One member offered this outline for a quick “stump speech,” adapted from the book Fierce Conversations:

• • Where are we going? (Explain the vision)
  • Why are we going there? (Explain the motivation or problem)
  • How do we get there? (Give an example of success)
  • Who is coming with me? (Invite the listener along)

The theme of time came up throughout the conversation. Heart change takes time. Sharing the vision with your staff, volunteers, board, friends, and community members may even take years. However, with programs that truly work, you’ll be able to show time and again how relational charity truly does empower clients to overcome poverty.