In June 2020, as I began my tenure as president of Central Seminary in Shawnee, Kansas, I knew that one of the institution's most pressing needs was the creation of a professional and strategic development plan. I turned to a trusted colleague, whose fundraising work and non-profit leadership I knew and respected.
The Thread team evaluated Central's full cycle of fundraising efforts, coached our staff in best development practices, and provided leadership in our 2020 end-of-year giving campaign. Early in 2021, Thread Strategies delivered a comprehensive development plan to us, complete with an executive calendar and extensive resources that have been our guide as we have built a development team. The creation of that team was the result of Thread's staff assessment, which recommended positions needed for Central to succeed in its fundraising efforts.
Reflecting back on my first year at Central, I believe engaging Thread’s services was the best decision I made in those early months of my presidency. I appreciate their professionalism, clear and frequent communication, straightforward assessment, and honest feedback. Their insightful guidance of our development work, excellent resourcing of our staff needs, and high expectations of our team encouraged us and also held us accountable to do the work needed to enhance our fundraising efforts. With Thread's assistance, Central is well on its way to building a strong development program that is founded on a culture of gratitude, values and is attentive to faithful donors at every level of giving—small, mid-level, and major and is growing our donor base.