Long-Term Fundraisers: Thresholds

We are challenging each

...

field worker to aim to complete their goal in six months.

We would encourage each field worker to aim to see 1/4 of their total goal raised every six weeks.  

Data indicates that each field worker should aim for approximately 60 partners. 

On average, it is typical for a field worker's support team to be around 60 partners per field worker in the family unit. If both husband and wife are raising support, it would be expected for their support team to be about 120 people.

It is uncommon for  a missionary to not a field worker not to meet these minimum standards as follows, up to 12 weeks out of training. We wanted to let you know that we have put a system in place to help support and keep the missionary field worker accountable in the midst of whatever their circumstances might be. Again the goal is to help the missionaries field workers in their season of support raising through any potential roadblocks that may come up, seeing them to 100% of their goal.

Minimum Standards for the first six weeks. 

We have seen that there is typically significant progress made in the first six weeks when a field worker is healthy. This usually indicates that the field worker will likely reach their goal in the long haul.  Likewise, we have seen that a lack of progress almost always indicates problems. We will watch for this. 

1. The minimum standard we hold for the first six weeks , is for each fund-raiser to see $600/month pledged in that time.
2. We will do a second check at 10-12 weeks for those that had fallen short of the minimum standard. $1000/month pledged in fund-raising is our minimum expectation for the second check (at ten weeks).
   

Communications

The following email is sent at 6 weeks when a missionary is failing to meet the minimum standard of $600/mo pledged in 6 weeks.

Dear Missionary, Supervisor, Coach, and Vertical,

Congratulations to everyone for crossing the first six-weeks of the Fund-raising season! We are now 11 weeks into the support raising season.

As we explained at the MTD training that Missionary attended, our hope is that each worker can see their fund-raising completed in 6-12  months.  We also explained that the minimum standard we hold for the first six weeks, is for each fund-raiser to see $600/month pledged in that time. Usually the first weeks of fund-raising are more fruitful because the first people contacted are usually have close relationships with the fund-raiser. 

Currently Missionary has raised $____/mo in support.  You can see this is less than our minimum expectation.

Today we are writing to draw your attention to this reality. Please let us know if these numbers are surprising.

Moving forward here’s what is needed:

• We need to hear from the missionary how they plan to address this need. Please direct these plans to your MTD coach within the next seven days. (This can be verbal or in writing.)
• We need the supervisor to review with the missionary what his/her responsibilities are currently.  It’s common that a fund-raiser in this situation has not sufficiently set aside on-going ministry responsibilities.  Please keep in mind that fund-raising is the first (preferably only) responsibility in this season.
• We will check progress again in four weeks.

Our expectation when we check again is that fund-raising has become more fruitful.  Seeing $100/month per week in fund-raising is our minimum expectation.  If we don’t see progress that matches those minimum expectations at our next check, Reliant will initiate a Standard of Performance.   A Standard of Performance could result in a severance of ministry relationship, if that is deemed appropriate.

During the next four weeks, the missionary needs to be sure to:

• Keep meeting weekly performance goals with MTD.
• Turn in their MTD activity report each week.

Blessings

2019 special communication

Temporary separate email to inform supervisors and coaches over 2019 while we implement this threshold.

Dear Supervisors and Coaches

We appreciate your ministry and being able to partner with you.  We are reaching out to let you know of some improvements we have made as we all work together to help your missionary complete their fund-raising.  Please read below so you know what you’ll hear from us in the next few months. 

We are now reaching out to fund-raisers, coaches, and supervisors if a New Missionary does not manage to reach a minimum threshold of funds in the first six weeks. The minimum standard we hold for the first six weeks, is for each fund-raiser to see $600/month pledged in that time.

We explained this during MTD training so that each new missionary already knows our expectations.  

Please understand this is the equivalent of a red-flag, rather than a meaningful goal. When fund-raisers don’t manage to see that much pledged in six weeks, it typically tells us they are having serious trouble. Usually, the first weeks of fund-raising are more fruitful because the first people contacted usually have close relationships with the fund-raiser.

Reliant will check progress at 6 weeks.  If the missionary is exceeding the minimum standard then no email will be sent.

If they are below the minimum standard we will reach out to the supervisor, missionary, and coach to learn more about their current situation and why they may be struggling. The hope is that we would be able to work together to support the missionary and help them get back on track.

We will do a second check at 10-12 weeks for those that had fallen short of the minimum standard. Our hope is that fund-raising has become more fruitful at the second check. Seeing $1000/month pledged in fund-raising is our minimum expectation for the second check (at ten weeks). 

If we don’t see progress that matches those minimum expectations at our next check, the coach and supervisor have the options of seeking a formal Standard of Performance.  This summarizes our minimum expectation. 

If you have any questions or concerns please let me know!

Action Steps for Missed Thresholds

If a field worker is not meeting the minimum standard six weeks out from training

1. Reliant will email the field worker, coach, supervisor, and vertical to assess the situation. The goal is to help the field worker get back on track.
2. Another check will be done at 10-12 weeks to see if the situation has improved and if support raising exceeds the minimum standards.
3. If we don’t see progress that matches those minimum expectations at our next check, we will evaluate what steps are necessary for seeing change happen.

Short-Term Fundraisers: Milestones

The main difference for short-term (or fixed-term) fundraisers is that they have a designated start date built into their program. Most will have somewhere between 3-6 months to raise the needed funds to allow them to do the ministry full-time for 1-3 years (whatever their program dictates). One of our ways of helping to keep short-term fundraisers on pace is by using milestones.

Every program is different and will have differing milestones, but in general, we create three check-in dates throughout the timeframe of support raising. Here are two examples of a milestone:

Example #1

• Training Time: Early March
• Milestone 1: 30% by May 1st
• Milestone 2: 50% by June 1st
• Milestone 3: 80% by July 2nd
• Start Date: August 1st (hopefully at 100%)

Example #2

• Training Time: Late January
• Milestone 1: 25% by April 1st
• Milestone 2: 60% by June 1st
• Milestone 3: 80% by August 1st
• Start date: September 1st (hopefully at 100%)

Action Steps for Missed Milestones

As we have mentioned, each program/internship is different and will have different responses to milestones being missed. However, Reliant encourages a few steps to take place to help field workers see milestones as real deadlines:

• Milestone 1 Missed
  • Leadership is informed
  • Suggested that leadership reach out personally with encouragement
  • Coach reset goals and work hard to make the second one
• Milestone 2 Missed
  • Since this is normally the halfway point, it's taken a bit more seriously
  • Leadership is informed
  • Suggestion: Reliant to write up a Standard of Performance (SOP) for the individual
    • Leadership presents the SOP to the field worker
    • The MTD Coach will hold the field worker accountable to the SOP timeframe (usually 3-4 weeks)
    • Once SOP is completed, it will be evaluated by Reliant staff and leadership; a decision about moving forward will be made.
• Milestone 3 Missed 
  • Leadership is informed
  • Suggestion: SOP (if one was not given for milestone 2)
  • Suggestion: Coach resets goals and makes an aggressive end push

The goal is to help field workers move from 0-100% within the allotted time for fundraising. However, with the uniqueness of a start date already in place, not everyone will make it to 100% before their ministry assignment starts. Therefore, we recommend coaching starts from the end of training until two months after the start date of the program (or until 100% funded, whichever comes first). Blessings,