Fundraising & PR with Kristin Boyce

In a world of nonprofits, fundraising and public relations are two powerful forces driving change. But what truly fuels their success? 

At the PRSSA event last week, the students in attendance had the honor of hearing from Kristin Boyce, Assistant Professor & Director for the Center for Entrepreneurship. With an MBA and over a decade of business leadership experience, she discussed key insights on fundraising and public relations. 

She shared with students the three C’s of fundraising: 

1. Commitment

   1. Understand the person’s dedication to the cause - make sure that there’s alignment

   2. Time, talent, treasure

   3. Has the prospect previously supported other causes?

   4. Do their values and mission align?

2. Connection

   1. Cultivate relationships! Sit down, grab coffee, and get to know them.

   2. People want to be heard and understood

3. Capacity 

   1. Understand what their philanthropic level is

   2. What are they able to donate?

Boyce also gave a few PR tips for Christians:

1. Be honest and authentic

   1. Don’t try to be someone else- there is only one of you!

2. Treat others well and fairly

   1. The Bible teaches to treat others how you would like to be treated

   2. You never know who will be your boss someday!

3. Be consistent

   1. Jesus was ready with a defense at any moment 

   2. Be prepared with your “elevator pitch” 

4. Be clear

   1. Jesus spoke clearly and well without extra jargon

5. Be loving

   1. Jesus spoke the truth in love

6. Know your audience and tailor your message towards them

   1. Jesus knew how to meet people where they were

7. Tell a story

   1. Stories are what get people’s heartstrings tugged and moved in the right direction

   2. Make it a real, authentic, impactful story

8. Build relationships and network

   1. Grab coffee with experts and ask how they got where they are

   2. This can open major opportunities in the future

9. Always fact check

10. Use PR to share your message

11. See crisis as an opportunity

    1. Crisis draws people to the Lord 

12. Use the strength of an opponent’s attack to improve your defense

13. Treat PR more like a ministry than a science

Along with these helpful tips, Boyce emphasizes the main elements that fundraising and PR involve: “Prayer, perseverance, risk, and falling into the arms of Jesus,” she states. She also leaves students with some helpful words of advice for their future careers. “Be obedient, be in prayer, and trust what God has for you,” she suggests.“Where He guides, He provides, and where He leads you, He will equip you.”

Written by Katelyn Stomp