Four Foundational Practices for Privately Funded Organizations
In committing to being 100% privately funded, organizations that follow a few basic steps can build a well-rounded fundraising program.
Travis received his Master of Divinity from Cincinnati Christian University and his Doctorate of Ministry from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. After serving in local church ministry for 17 years, he has worked in development for the past eight, serving full-time at Watered Gardens Ministries since January, 2017.
He is also a lieutenant, serving as a chaplain, for the United States Navy Reserve, and he teaches in congregations and universities on issues of race, culture, and the church. A fellow of the World Journalism Institute, his work has appeared in The Christian Standard and as a guest columnist for local news outlets.
In his current role as Director of Advancement for Watered Gardens and True Charity, Travis is responsible for fundraising and marketing for the ministry.
In addition to 4 children, Travis has 3 grandsons who regularly join him in mischief around the 4-state area of SW Missouri where he lives.
In committing to being 100% privately funded, organizations that follow a few basic steps can build a well-rounded fundraising program.
More and more nonprofit leaders are looking at ways to eventually become “completely self-sustaining.” Aiming to build enough of an endowment or revenue generation programs that they no longer need to rely on donors. But there’s a lot to like about the dynamic, so why work to eliminate it? TCI’s Travis Hurley offers three reasons for reliance on a donor base.
An empowered volunteer team can be the backbone of an effective and cost-efficient ministry. The more clearly you convey how essential they are, equip them to succeed, and show you appreciate their efforts, the more likely you are to have such a team. TCI’s Travis Hurley shares best practices in recruitment, training, and retention.
If your experience has been anything like mine, you’ve had a negative view of fundraising at some point in your life (and maybe you still do now). When I was approached ten years ago to consider coming on staff in the development department with a private college, I first had to ask what “development” even was. When I was told it was primarily fundraising, I said, “No, thank you!” I didn’t want to be part of a field I had always seen as a necessary evil that burdened donors, and I was fearful of the responsibility that came with finding an organization’s necessary funding.
Have you wrestled with a growing sense that charity alone isn’t enough to solve the world’s deepest problems? Whether it’s feeding the hungry, ending human trafficking, providing clean water or translating Scripture, nonprofit leaders have been looking for ways to increase impact without creating fatigue for their financial donors.
It’s no secret that maintaining a strong relationship with your organization’s top donors is paramount to long-term sustainability. It takes intentional effort to ensure those relationships extend beyond a mere exchange of money. Wouldn’t it be helpful to know their thoughts and attitudes about your organization, their resources, and the factors that bring the two together?
Kyle is a young man who has been mowing the yard for Mary over the past two summers. Mary is in her sixties, suffers from depression and anxiety, and is on disability. Kyle and Mary were introduced through Neighbor Connect, a program of Watered Gardens Ministries that cares for the local community by connecting one neighbor’s need to another neighbor’s skill. By databasing and categorizing the services volunteers can offer, Neighbor Connect took Kyle’s willingness to volunteer mowing services and paired it with Mary’s lawn care needs.
Travis Hurley Director of Advancement “Will work for food.” That’s a common cardboard sign you’ll see from someone in need. And the response at Watered Gardens is, “You’ve […]
By Travis Hurley, published in the Joplin Globe on April 15th, 2018 “Anything will help.” That’s what the sign read as someone was panhandling in the parking lot of a […]
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