Adaptive crisis response toolkit
Addressing the current situation
We’re here to help. We’re offering three different affordable and approachable services tailored to the realities and restrictions of this unique time.
For example, we can lead a curated conversation or group coaching online with your leadership team or stewardship committee to address the following topics:
01. Money Stories
We all have money stories, whether we recognize it or not. These stories influence how we engage in crisis—often through fear and shame. They supersede what we learn from our faith traditions and where we profess to place our trust. Money and possessions are one of the most common topics in scripture, and Jesus talked about money more than faith and prayer. Our money story, therefore, is a spiritual story. During our time together, we’ll begin to unpack our own stories alongside scriptural stories. We’ll explore how they might be influencing our current response to the crisis we are in, and consider how they affect stewardship and fundraising ministries at all times.
02. Communicating With Your People
We have choices. How we choose to communicate with our community can influence our levels of anxiety and fear and reflect our ability to respond in loving ways to the crisis at hand. Together we’ll explore how human connection can break through feelings of isolation. We’ll talk about how to strike a balance with messaging that’s positive, yet honest. We’ll share stories of positive interruption, leaning into the best of human nature. We’ll brainstorm creative ideas, and prepare your leadership to create a plan to get your message out.
03. How Do We Gather When We Can’t “Be” Together?
Communities are finding so many ways of engaging with each other from a distance: Churches are recreating a feeling of the familiar by moving their worship services online; virtual happy hours, knitting circles, even family dinners on FaceTime are closing the gaps created by health and safety guidelines. Beyond the continuum of re-creating what has been, there’s opportunity here to see what spaces are opening up for new ways of being community now and in the future. As routines are disrupted, and how we gather is broken open, let’s look together at the particularity of your neighborhood, your community, and brainstorm ways of being that go beyond “business as usual,” and lean into the creativity that this time can offer.
We’re approaching this work from a 4-tiered perspective.
We’ve outlined some of the major questions for you here. Connect with us and we will find a way to support your organization through this hardship.
What now? Triage
Fundraising right now
It may seem hard to pick up the phone to call donors with all the uncertainty we’re facing, but the truth is that we’re all seeking connection now more than ever. History shows that giving doesn’t recede in a time of crisis, if anything it grows as people consider what they value and make decisions about their resources from their hearts. So, don’t make up your mind about the donor’s desire to give for them. Definitely do take the time to reach out and remind your community why they value you in the first place. Also, remember that there are all sorts of things you can ask for—and they do want to give—prayers, stories, brainstorming sessions, etc.
Messaging and media
Overload is real. The first instinct of many organizations has been to turn on a riot hose of information as if to prove their worth in the face of usual channels of communication. Now, more than ever, it’s time to be sure that every message you send reflects the essence of who you are and what you value. Now is not the time to add to a chorus of facts and references. In this moment, your voice can be heard above the fray when you focus ever more keenly on saying something your community needs to hear from you.
Design and implementation
Without the many benefits of in-person interaction to fill in the gaps, your use of design and technology can make the difference between your ability to bring a welcome message or experience to your community or unintentionally losing them—or even adding to their anxiety—with poorly designed or executed communications.
What’s next? Resetting and reimagining
Money stories
Times of crisis and uncertainty take down our normal defenses and bring our subconscious beliefs to the surface. Everyone has a money story as part of their subconscious belief system. And because these stories begin much earlier than we think they do, they’re more deeply ingrained and harder to see with our conscious mind. Getting to these stories, through exercises, conversations and explorations can unlock levels of freedom and confidence around money that have been hidden for a lifetime.
Identity and values
If you’re like many people, this particular crisis, with its abrupt removal of the normal comings and goings of life, has made you think about who you are and what you’re all about. For organizations, this is always a valuable exercise. Right now, it may be more important than ever. Like human beings, organizations may know themselves, but they lack the objectivity to define and direct their identity and values outward with the greatest impact. Engaging a partner to uncover the essence of your organization is the beginning of finding the path forward from where you are now.
Vision for a new day
Looking outside your organization at the world around you— forever changed in ways yet to be seen—is the other half of the equation in charting a way forward. What vision will be needed? What vision can you claim as your way of contributing to a world regaining a sense of equilibrium in the wake of shared trauma?
Who’s there for me/us? Connection and support in times of isolation
Sounding board
Sometimes all you need is an objective listener, preferably one who knows your context, shares your values, and can reflect back what is most valuable for you to sort and sift through. We can bring that intentional listening to your board, staff or leadership team as you discern your way through the layers of response you’re considering.
Coaching
A seasoned, skilled, and committed coach can make breakthroughs possible. Listening and guiding you through the noise of your own internal conversations; working with you to assess what you’re hearing from others; and forming ideas for solutions in your particular context can give you reassurance as you navigate these uncharted waters.
Gathering cohorts
Who would you most like to be together with in this time? What group would bring the insight, brain power, and heart to the conversation that’s needed now? We can help you bring together and get the most out of an online forum of your design.
How do I do this? Support for implementation
Website
Whether you need to make your website work harder or just do a better job of keeping it up to date, we can provide hands on admin or backend support, content management and design services to lighten your burden.
Social media
Now’s the time to look at all the ways that are out there for getting your message across. We can strategize, develop, or implement your ideas in this time when the whole world is living online.
Content-Design-Templates
A few simple outlines for basic communications can make your response more nimble, consistent, and reflective of your organization, while you focus on the important and ever-changing needs of the specifics.
Grants and aid
We can help you apply for funding through sources old and new that can help your organization weather the crisis and emerge in shape to move forward for the long road ahead.