November 5, 1998 | Read Time: 3 minutes
THE PHILANTHROPY 400 – No. 331
(Table of Contents)
Year founded: 1991
What it does: Holds stadium events, presents educational seminars, and uses other methods to inspire men to follow Christian principles in order to strengthen their families, churches, and neighborhoods
Number of staff members: 347 full-time employees, including 13 fund raisers
Spending on fund raising: $5,771,420
Largest single gift in 1997: A $300,000 matching grant from the Maclellan Foundation for the Stand in the Gap rally in Washington, the charity’s largest event to date. The grant was matched dollar for dollar with contributions from individuals.
Location: Denver
World-Wide Web: http://www.promisekeepers.org
How Promise Keepers reached the top: Criticized by some liberals and women’s groups as sexist and patriarchal, and plagued by a severe cash-flow problem last year, Promise Keepers has nevertheless enjoyed explosive growth since its founding just seven years ago. In 1997, the charity hired new development officers, beefed up its direct-mail program, and made other efforts to improve fund raising. As a result, contributions more than tripled last year. The number of direct-mail donors grew from 90,000 in 1996 to 200,000, and a group for monthly contrinbutors increasedfrom 2,000 to 12,000 members last year. The emphasis on improving fund raising came in the wake of a decision to stop charging for events. And the charity needed to raise money for its $10-million Stand in the Gap event. Tens of thousands of men attended free of charge but were asked to make a small contribution.
Biggest fund-raising challenge: Convinced that charging admission fees was no longer consistent with the goal of spreading religious principles to all men, Promise Keepers announced last year that its events would be free and that it would henceforth rely on donations. After a financial crisis in early 1997 — the charity laid off its entire staff in April — a flood of contributions has enabled Promise Keepers to rehire most of the people who were laid off and to continue to grow. However, the charity faces another trying situation. As Promise Keepers attempts to expand globally, its leaders have announced that the group will once again trim the size of its staff.
Fund-raising climate for religious groups: Religious charities on the Philanthropy 400 saw a 5.7-per-cent increase in donations last year. While most groups survive on gifts of $50 or less from individuals, a few have been getting bigger donations by refining direct mail, hiring fund raisers to visit donors in person, and trying other fund-raising techniques. Those groups that have succeeded in raising more money face new decisions about what to do with it. Setting aside reserve funds or endowments, say leaders of religious groups, demonstrates a lack of faith in God’s ability to provide funds as needed. Yet limited resources and a near-total reliance on individuals puts heavy demands on religious fund raisers. Many worry about studies that show that people are giving less and less of their income to religion.
‘God Chooses to Bless Us’
”Our decision to no longer charge for events was a bold step of faith. We were prepared to go under, but we got a clear statement from donors that we couldn’t go under. It is a demonstration of the spirit of God moving across the hearts of individuals. If you were to define a miracle, that is what is going on with Promise Keepers. In our stewardship of money, God chooses to bless us or to be absent. God has blessed us.’’
— David C.M. Farr, Acting Director of Development
