Calls 3 years later.

I just got off the phone with a pastor from North Carolina. He said he read my quote on the Fundraising Today web site.

In late 2003 our church was researching Stewardship / Fundraising firms. During this process, we came across a mailing for Fundraising today. Long story short, we ended up going with them and were very happy with the results. (3 times our annual budget in pledges)

So for all those interested and for future phone callers (I'm going to point them to this post.) Here's my two cents.

1. The price of Fundraising today's class is peanuts compared to what another Stewardship company will charge for their services. As such, going to the fundraising today class is money well spent even if you don't go with them for your campaign. No looking back and wondering what if?
2. You leave the class with a kit that walks you through the entire campaign process.
3. They have "canned" literature if you don't want to create your own. We created our own and used a local printer.
4. You need someone on you own team to hold team member accountable or the system will not work.
5. You need your senior pastor to cast the vision for the campaign.
6. If you don't have 4 or 5 you are better off going with a different program.
7. Support is an email away.
   

We had a great experience and a very successful campaign.