Even in a depressed economy, KLRC-FM (Fayetteville / Northwest Arkansas) has reached ever-increasing goals. Thorough planning and timely execution of Fundraiser essentials, in a fun and encouraging way, are at the center of this team effort.

Does properly executing an On-air Fundraising Event checklist really make a difference? Absolutely!

KLRC GM Sean Sawatzky and PD Mark Michaels present 3 keys to their 16 consecutive years of Fundraiser success:

1. Fundraising Event planning is a year-long process

2. Fundraisers require 100% from 100% of your team

3. Fundraising Events require prayer

They also provide specific ways that you can prepare for and promote your Event through all of your currently available communication channels.

Even if your Event just ended, you’ll want to hear this presentation. And if you’re gearing up for your next Fundraiser, this could make the difference for you. Discover some “difference-makers” when you listen to this special Teleseminar.

“Sean and his team have hit every goal for the last 16 years. There is a reason Sean and his staff are so successful. I have hosted hundreds of Sharathons and KLRC’s event is one of the top events I am a part of.”
– Bill Scott, ShareMedia Fundraising Host and Producer

“From my years of experience, I have not seen a better planned Sharathon event than the one at KLRC. Sean and his team have every detail covered and that planning and passion has resulted in phenomenal fundraising success! Every Station Manager and PD in America would be wise to hear what Sean has to say.”
– Dave Kirby, ShareMedia Fundraising Host and Producer

If you’re serious about your pre-event planning, contact us now to request a free copy of the Teleseminar discussion notes.

Water, Earth’s most precious resource, is at the heart of a daily crisis faced by a billion of the world’s most vulnerable people. Every year more than 3.4 million people die as a result of water  related diseases, making it the leading cause of disease and death around the world.

Is there really a water crisis?

Unlike war and terrorism, the global water crisis does not make media headlines – despite the fact that it claims more lives through disease than any war claims through guns.

Unlike natural disasters, it does not rally concerted international action, despite the fact that more people die each year from drinking dirty water than from the world’s hurricanes, floods, tsunamis, and earthquakes combined.

Dirty water is the single largest killer in the developing world.

The statistics are staggering: Every 15 seconds a child dies from contaminated water.

For those fortunate enough to have access to clean water, the average person in the developing world survives on just one gallon of water per day-for all their needs. Would you encourage your friends to take the “Gallon Challenge”? It’s simple – you may even want to challenge yourself.

Try living one day by only using one gallon of water per person in your household. That’s the same amount of water most families in the developing world have for one day. That includes water for everything: drinking, cooking, washing clothes and hands, toilet and sanitation.

Are you up for the challenge? We have some free resources for radio partners to use … download them here.

Plus, if you’d like to schedule a radio interview to learn more about the present water crisis, please email Kathy Redmond (kredmond@us.ci.org) at Compassion International or you can call her at 719-272-5639.

“And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded.” – Jesus (Matthew 10:42)

Regardless of your title, position, or stage of life, God has appointed you for leadership. And He wants to use you in unique ways this year.

Be inspired by one of Christian radio’s most seasoned leaders, as Todd Isberner dialogues with Wayne Pederson, President of HCJB Global. “Living Out Your Leadership in 2012” was our ministry-focused Teleseminar event held on January 26, 2012.

Wayne is well qualified to speak on this topic, having served in Christian leadership roles spanning four decades with Northwestern College Radio, National Religious Broadcasters, Mission America, Christian Music Broadcasters, Moody Broadcasting, and now HCJB Global. 

Wayne Pederson has thrived in the ever-changing radio environment. Over the years he has drawn on solid biblical principles in leading teams and ministries. 

The Lord has taught Wayne what is most important when it comes to exercising leadership in the real world of deadlines, people, ministry, financial pressures, and the daily demands we all face. Listen in as he digs into important and timely topics during the Teleseminar, including:

• The greatest leadership skill
• The greatest leadership quality
• The greatest leadership vision
• The greatest leadership weakness

There’s also a Q&A time with our Teleseminar participants where relevant leadership issues and challenges are addressed.

Click here to stream the Teleseminar now and be sure to share it with your team members. And join us for future events, always provided at no charge. 

P.S. We had some challenges at the beginning of the Teleseminar with some participating caller noise. Most audio issues have been edited out. Our apologies for the distraction in this live, interactive environment.

Do you have a plan in place to boost your year-end fundraising? If so, well done. … If you don’t, here are a few key things you can do before 2011 closes.

1.  Maximize your valuable airtime:  Produce a few spots to air in between your Christmas songs and add scripts for your jocks to use on their breaks. Thank your listeners sincerely for their support and remind them of the valuable part that they play in ministering to others who need you.

“WXYZ is grateful for your partnership…”

“Thank you for listening and making WXYZ part of your year-end giving…”

“As we remember the blessings of this past year, we’re especially thankful for you…”

2.  Use your website efficiently:  Update your site with thank you messages and provide visitors with a simple and easy to find the donation page. (Remember that there are some donors who wait all year long to finally make a contribution to a charitable organization for tax deductible purposes. Make it simple and easy for them.)

If you are sincere and can make good on it, ask any visitor to your site to submit a praise or prayer request. This is great ministry and it gives you a way to acquire new donor names or potential new donors for almost no investment on your part.

NOTE: Ask for basic contact information as part of the praise or prayer request submission, but don’t require it. Some listeners will want to remain anonymous.

3.  Email can be your friend: If you use email to communicate with your listeners, schedule and send a series of messages leading up to a final week “ask” for their special year-end gift. Short, simple and to-the-point messages will be most effective. You have approximately 3 seconds to get someone to read your subject line, 5 seconds for them to grasp your appeal and 7 seconds for them to respond. Make every moment count…

           State simply who you are, what you do for them, why you are asking  and how they can help.

4.  Use social media to invite your “friends”:  Use Twitter, updates on your Facebook page, and staff posts on their personal FB pages to remind friends that a special year-end gift will help them minister to others today and in the coming year.

Make it personal and simple for your visitors.

5.  Donors have voicemail boxes, too:  If you have staff and time, divide up your donor list and have everybody make phone calls to your donors. Convey a very simple message using a script to guide the call. Use this opportunity to thank the donor and remind them that they can give a special year-end gift online or by replying to the mailing that you’ve already sent.

Using the messaging of your on-air appeal or jock appeals, craft a simple thank you message with a request for a  year-end gift.  If you don’t reach the person, leave a voicemail just to say thanks and provide a call back number if you have one.

6.  Direct Mail is still king of year-end funding: Mail your appeal letters by December 10th (if you haven’t already). If your budget is tight, limited your recipients. For example: You could mail only to those who have given in the past 18 months and are active in your donor management system. And remember to broadly and sincerely say, “thank you.”

Use hand-written thank you notes as part of the mailing to personalize it as much as possible.

Regardless of the number of these efforts you make before year’s end, be genuine and consistent with your messaging. Repeating the same things over and over may seem boring to you, but your listeners and your donors may need to hear the same thing in 5 or more different ways to understand what you’re asking them to do. And as always, say “thank you”.

If you’d like ramp-up your fundraising efforts in the new year and need help, please contact us anytime to learn more about our consulting services.

About the same time I was improving my culinary arts,the Lord showed me a “secret ingredient” for Sharathons and Pledge Drives that does the same thing. If properly used, it draws out the best of what is already there. Fundraiser results almost always show the difference. What’s the “secret ingredient”?

It’s Ministry.

Hopefully I’m not being presumptuous or overstating the obvious. But the vital importance of seasoning every fundraising broadcast with ministry cannot be overemphasized. And don’t get hung up on the word “ministry” just because it is over used or used in the wrong context. To “minister” is simply to serve the listener and provide opportunity for the Lord to meet needs through you.

Certainly the objective of a broadcast fundraiser is to raise money.  However, to do it in a context of providing ministry is the real challenge and opportunity. So here are three suggestions for “seasoning” your next fundraiser with “ministry.”

1. A DAY OF PRAISE AND WORSHIP

Dedicating a full broadcast day (or even a week) of Praise and Worship can be the number one most effective way to provide a “ministry” experience for your listeners. It is also one of the biblical models for raising money (see 1 Chronicles 29). Praise and worship helps prepare people to give. Spend at least one full day BEFORE and AFTER your broadcast fundraiser with a live, interactive “ministry” of praise broadcast. Use specific topics and invite listeners to call in and share praise to the Lord for who He is and give thanks for what He’s done.

Listeners will be inspired, filled with gratitude and given new hope as they hear how God is at work in so many powerful ways.

I recall one Day of Praise recently, when a woman called in to tell us she received Christ after listening to the testimonies (and that happens more than you realize). Later a man called to tell us he needed to pledge to support the effect this kind of radio has on people. And he made sure we knew he wasn’t even a Christian! (yet). A day of Praise and Worship will set the ministry tone for the rest of your fundraiser.

2. SHARING A BIGGER VISION

While it’s true that, “Where there is NO vision, people lose heart,” it is equally true that where there IS vision, people take heart. So get a vision that drives your ministry to new places of impact and outreach. How?

Ask God what’s next.
Get clarity and focus.
Flesh it out for your staff with details to engage and inspire them.

Perhaps it’s more community outreach or global partnerships, station improvements and expansion, new media ventures or a dozen other things that allows God to use your ministry in more effective ways.

Next, present the vision to your listeners. Do it during your regular fundraiser or produce a separate broadcast that focuses on engaging new listeners and donors with the Vision. Whatever it is make sure it is in line with what your listeners also want so that they can fulfill their vision through you. Invite listeners who have never given before to lead the way. Think big and expand your vision so you don’t focus so tightly on your immediate budget needs that you lose sight of the bigger picture.

3. HELPING OTHER MINISTRIES IN NEED

When your listeners hear you say, “We’re more than a radio station, we’re a ministry,” do they believe you?  “Partnering” with other ministries is one way to prove it. Additionally it’s a kingdom principle that Jesus taught. “From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.”  (Lk. 12:48)

You’ve been “given much” through a medium that reaches the masses and sharing with other ministries in need (whether locally or abroad) is one way to practice this principle.

You are giving your listeners an opportunity to be part of something through their support of your radio station that reaches beyond your own backyard. Engage them in a variety of ways that allows them to participate and engage where they want via web, social media, special events and community outreach. Also include opportunities for partnership during your fundraisers that dedicate a portion of the listener’s gift to the ministry partner. You will be amazed at how this motivates your donors when they know their giving counts for even more.

Ministry, woven into the fabric of all your fundraising, is the secret ingredient to keep your Sharathons and Pledge Drives spiritually vibrant and effective. Why? Because ministry is about people and as the beloved Father of Sharathons, and our fundraising mentor Mel Johnson, used to say, “Fund raising is not about money, it’s about people.”

Your partner in Ministry,

Todd Isberner
President 

I have a really cool earbud my staff gave me for a birthday present. I slip it over my ear and walk around when I’m on the phone so I can move about and gesture a lot. Gives me a certain amount of freedom so I don’t feel chained to my office chair.

Know what I mean?

The only problem is that if I wander outside of range of my phone, a lovely lady speaks into my ear, “Lost connection.” She says it so emphatically it almost makes me feel guilty!

While I appreciate the heads up, it bugs me to know that I’m no longer “connected!” Of course as soon as I move back into range everything is fine and she whispers, “Connected.” (Okay she doesn’t really whisper, I’m dramatizing.)

Today when I heard “Lost connection,” I’m sure I heard another voice. Not audible but just as clear.

He said, “Son, you get it?”

I said, “Yes Lord. Thank you!”

Lost connection with Jesus is no good. And while in the midst of the whirl wind of insanely busy stuff, we may not always feel like we are still connected.

How about you? Are you intentionally slowing down every once in a while to simply recognize His presence in and around you? Nobody who walks with Him ever wants a “Lost Connection.” So stay connected.

I’m thinking the same may apply to our donors. Do they ever feel that they have “lost connection” with us? Yeah, I know we say “Thank You” as soon as they send their first gift, but then what?

Do we assure them often enough and in the right ways that we appreciate staying connected with them beyond a receipt? Do we connect with them in ways that show how much we value them as a vital part of the ministry team… basically how much we love them?

May I suggest something different this month?

Instead of the same old thank you letter with a statement or receipt try one of these:

Call them and thank them. Even a voice mail would be nice.

Have the staff send hand written notes … with first class postage. (Yeah in the mail. Remember that?)

Mention their names on the air.

Compose and send an e-blast that has their name and every donors name featured. (Probably just the first name?)

But no asking for more money. You can always do that later.

Just love on them… and stay connected.**

Todd Isberner
President
ShareMedia Services

** Speaking of staying connected, I’ll be presenting at CMB Momentum 2011 in Orlando to give some surprising insights from donors that will help you stay better connected with them. If you are planning on being there next month, drop us a note so we can be looking for you.

And while you were not rushing somewhere to put out a literal fire, there was likely something else just as urgent.

Because in everyday life, we’re bombarded by reasons to increase the speed. We’re being pushed it seems from all directions. But in the blur of our personal race track experience, are we leaving some things and people behind?

As Christians, we know that our one-to-one connection with people, in small moments and large ways, is what matters. Something that’s increasingly difficult in the rush.

In Christian broadcasting we all share a responsibility to maximize each minute and effectively use the tools God has provided. We must also ask ourselves the questions… Are we making a tangible impact in people’s lives? Do listeners contact us to confirm there is a difference being made? If that’s not happening, we must take inventory and make course corrections. In this spiritual matter, there is no time to waste and the “fire” is real.

If you are receiving positive feedback from listeners, then it’s essential to share those stories to let others be encouraged.

Getting stopped on the highway for going too fast is not virtuous, but getting noticed for doing something important in someone’s life IS.

Rather than slowing down this summer, pick up the pace of changing lives and relaying the stories your listeners share with you. And be sure to record and archive these moments. When it comes time for producing your ongoing promos and fundraisers, you’ll have a great selection of stories to draw from.

It’s all part of making every moment count…

Blessings,

The ShareMedia Services Team

Do you ever wonder if your average listener is like this example I read about recently?…

“…my 5-year-old son.  On a daily basis I have to repeatedly hound him, over and over, to do some of the most routine tasks.  I’ll say ‘dinner’s ready’ half a dozen times as he continues playing with his toys, acting like he’s completely oblivious to what I’m saying.

I can then take the same kid, put him in his room, close the door, and then proceed to talk about what my plans are for his next birthday party on the other side of the house and he will literally hear every single word. It’s like he’s got this innate sixth sense that allows him to process the stimulus all around him, and then simply focus on what’s actually important to him.”

Maybe you can relate personally if you have younger kids (or even older ones).  Your listeners are not all 5-year-olds, but this writer makes a valid point worthy of our daily application.

With the bombardment of competing media messages, busyness of daily life, and constant stresses and distractions, it’s a good reminder that we don’t have a listener’s full attention. And without a solid strategy, your messages may end up getting lost in the clutter.

Working as a team, our ShareMedia fundraising and programming consultants can provide guidance in all areas essential to truly connecting with listeners.  This includes the content needed for messages to actually be “heard” by your audience.

And if you want your listeners to TAKE ACTION, finely tuned messaging becomes even more important.

So here’s the point…  When you make any appeal on-air, whether live or recorded, it MUST creatively stand out to get your listeners’ attention.

And knowing exactly whom you’re talking to (like the 5-year-old in our example above) can allow you to whisper the message and they will hear it.

If you’d like to learn more about how to create content that will draw in your listeners, give us a call.  We’ll help you get the fundraising and programming assistance you need…

Todd Isberner
President
ShareMedia Services

Using Listener stories is the key to making your fundraiser sound good and giving credibility to the impact of your ministry. So you must be intentional in using them and set them up right.

It’s vital to know why, when, and how you are going to use a specific listener testimonial.

Plan Each Break Ahead of Time: Let’s assume for one hour you are focusing on the theme of “How God uses the station to bring comfort to people who are hurting.” 

Do this:        

1. Look in your list of listener stories pertaining to the theme.

2. Find one that you’d like to use.

• If it’s a recorded story, LISTEN to it before you use it on the air;

• If it’s a written testimonial, READ IT OUT LOUD before you use it on air

This will remove any surprises so the story is used correctly and you can use a song that goes along with the theme. 

Set up the break with your jocks so they understand their roles and the flow of the break (i.e. who will set up or read the story and who will give a call to action based on the testimonial).

When you use the listener testimonial, let the story serve as the single “Case” message for that break (i.e. the reason that someone should support the station). Don’t come in after the listener story and add another appeal or another story of your own. Let one testimonial serve as a springboard for a call to action.

Here is an example: A listener named Jennifer shares how the station has encouraged her in the midst of a difficult time.  You can come out of that story by simply saying something like this:

“When you support (station name), you are helping to encourage Jennifer and others like her who need the comfort that this station provides. Please call (phone number) or go online to (website address) and give your gift of encouragement right now.”

It takes extra work to gather, organize, and use listener stories well, but if you’re willing to do the work, you will find that listener testimonials truly are your most valuable fundraising asset. Furthermore, you and your listeners will be blessed when you hear the stories of how God is working to change lives through your ministry!

ShareMedia’s 2011 Fundraising Toolkit has all the resources and instructions to help you maximize the effectiveness of your listener stories. Give us a call or send a note to get more information.

One of our consultants is standing by who can help you and guide your success.

We look forward to hearing from you.

The ShareMedia Services Team

]]> http://sharemediaservices.com/2011/05/08/who-can-say-it-better/feed/ 0 http://sharemediaservices.com/2011/04/20/are-you-changing-lives/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=are-you-changing-lives http://sharemediaservices.com/2011/04/20/are-you-changing-lives/#comments Thu, 21 Apr 2011 00:52:00 +0000 Jim http://sharemediaservices.com/?p=111 more]]> Your listeners can answer that question.

For the past few weeks we’ve provided you with a series called “Get Ready for Something Great” … things that you really should do to get ready for your fundraiser.

If you missed any of the prior posts you can read them here in our blog. Everything on the site is easy to find. Just use the Search box above in the navigation.

The most vital thing that you need to do to help generate response during your fundraiser?

4. Capture compelling listener stories for use on-air and on your website

Research shows that listeners who are tuned in during a fundraising broadcast will respond when they hear sincere and convincing appeals and stories from fellow listeners. They are natural, unscripted, and come straight from that person’s heart.

Here’s how to capture and use these great stories:

The first step is to solicit stories from your callers. You can do this anytime but some of the best ones occur during your on-air fundraiser so capture them at that time. When folks call to pledge or donate ask them what they would tell someone else when asking to support the station. With the right question you not only have a great story about the impact of the ministry but a great appeal coming from someone who is sincere and has “listener credibility.”

Second, find the best way to record the call and when you have the audio ask the caller for permission to use their story.

Finally, collect all your recordings and assign a “theme”, “name”, “title” and/or “topic” to the file name so you know what the caller talked about.  Make sure you catalog all the testimonials you receive and keep them easily accessible so you can use them. This will be important as you plan your fundraiser and continue to produce your various year-round fundraising elements.

Do the same thing for your website. On your homepage during your fundraiser, have some pictures of listeners and creative “hooks” to draw the user’s attention to the listener stories. Or better yet, post a video or series of videos on your website homepage.  And then invite new users to “tell you their story” on your blog and/or Facebook page. We find many stations are using these very powerful tool to connect with new donors.

The ShareMedia Fundraising Toolkit contains a focused number of produced testimonials with different themes.

Listen to this sample: “Changing Families” Promo

The toolkit also contains “opens and closes” so you can simply drop your listener recordings in to produce a complete spot. If you prefer you can use the completely dry versions so you can mix with your own music or background to make them uniquely yours.

Our friends at Christian Family Radio WEMI produced a promo spot that made use of both listener stories and a celebrity endorsement. Here it is: WEMI FM Fundraiser Promo with Brandon Heath

General Manager Paul Cameron explains how this all came together (with the help of artist Brandon Heath):

“We got this a couple years ago from Brandon when he was in the area. We had the scripts written and cut them up a bit. Then, last fundraiser we were getting audio from phone operators and got the woman’s audio, and lastly I gave it to the production team for final editing.”

Capturing, cataloging, and using listener stories will bless you and your team and will greatly enhance the sound and success of your fundraiser.

Give us a call or send me a note. We would be glad to help you.

Todd Isberner
President
ShareMedia Services