Listen Linda! Hosted by Jacquiline Cox
Music commentary
Listen Linda! Hosted by Jacquiline Cox
Faith & Fundraising w/Dr. Janelle Harvey: Overcoming Fears and Embracing Divine Plans
How do you break free from the fears and self-imposed boundaries that hold you back? Join us for an inspiring conversation with the dynamic Dr. Janelle Harvey, as we explore the transformative power of the mind and the extraordinary potential that lies within each of us. This episode promises to equip you with the tools and motivation to overcome obstacles, set meaningful goals, and embrace the divine plans destined for your life. Anchored by the uplifting track "Keep On" by D Train and inspired by Jeremiah 29:11, we remind you that God's plans for us are beyond our wildest dreams.
After a rejuvenating break, I'm back with renewed energy, eager to share stories of perseverance and faith. Dr. Harvey and I delve into the fears that often paralyze leaders and people of faith, emphasizing the crucial need for support and the courage to step beyond judgment. With profound insights and shared experiences, we invite you to shed your self-imposed limitations and strive for greatness. Tune in for an episode filled with faith, motivation, and practical advice that will inspire you to keep pressing forward and unlock your true potential.
Wave on, wave on, wave on.
Speaker 1:One step into your great high ground. Nobody turn around. Step on up. You can claim the highest star. Straight ahead cause life will be far. Yeah, keep on, keep on.
Speaker 1:With the strength of your mind, you can be set free. You can overcome your past, search deep inside and you will see Time has come at last. Keep on, keep on, keep on, keep on, keep on, keep on, keep on. You can make it, if you only try. Don't stop reaching till you touch the sky, like that many of us now Put your feet on the ground. Keep on, keep on, keep on, keep on, keep on, keep on, keep on, keep on, keep on, keep on. Through the strength of your mind, you can be set free. You can overcome your past Search deep inside and you will see the sign has come and played. Keep on, yeah, keep on, yeah, keep on, keep, keep.
Speaker 1:You know you gotta keep, keep. You know Keep on, keep, keep. You know you gotta keep, keep. You know Keep, keep. You know you gotta keep, keep. You know Keep, keep. You know you gotta keep, keep. You know, keep, keep. You know you gotta keep, keep. You know, keep it on. You can have what you want, be who you want. Ooh, ooh, yeah, yeah, keep on. Yeah, listen, I can't Let nobody Keep me From reaching the top. Don't you Give up on nothing. Keep on Till you get by. Reach, reach, reach. You're almost there. Reach, reach, reach. You're almost there. If you have a goal, set it in your mind, reach for it. Say to yourself this will be mine. This will be mine to keep on pressing. Thank you.
Speaker 2:Welcome, welcome, welcome to this edition of Listen. Linda Faith and Fundraising. Y'all know I'm back, she's back.
Speaker 1:Welcome back yes.
Speaker 2:I know y'all miss me. I've been gone, ain't I? Yes, I have, but I am so glad to be back. Thank you guys so much. I've been getting so many emails, so many inboxes. People been hitting me up like where you at, girl. I have had to take a break, take a restart, regroup, refocus, just take a breather, you know. But I am so glad to come back and start back season six, episode four. And what better way to start back with a topic so profound, with a guest so dynamic?
Speaker 2:Um, first of all, let's start off with the song okay, keep on with d train, keep on, okay, I like this song. This song is so phenomenal and I was introduced to it by the guest host today, dr Janelle Harvey. So, before we get into it, I want to read the scripture, my favorite scripture, which is Jeremiah 29, 11. And the scripture I'm just going to paraphrase it. And the scripture I'm just going to paraphrase it. And it is for I know the plan I have for you, plan to prosper and give you, you know, an expected end. And that is Jeremiah 29, 11. Praying for you, know, to prosper you and give you an expected end. God has a plan for our life, okay, he wants to give us something so profound, something that we cannot ever imagine even in our minds, Like the biggest thing that we can imagine in our mind. God has that for us times a thousand, okay. And in order for us to reach that potential, we have to let go of all the boundaries that we set upon ourselves in our life. So sometimes we can be our own handcuffs, sometimes we can be our own setbacks, because we are so afraid that because we are people of faith, because we are leaders in our ministry, because we are people you know of the church or we are leaders in our communities, we are scared to ask for help, we are scared to reach out for support in fear of judgment. So I have had the pleasure of not only being introduced to this woman of God, this woman of faith, but to become, in such a short time, really good friends with this woman who not only knows her stuff but knows her stuff. And I'm a woman. I can tell you one thing If you could tell me what to do, you can tell me what to do. So before she introduces herself, let me give you a little background about Dr Janelle Harvey. Okay, let me give you a little background about Dr Janelle Harvey. Okay, dr Janelle Harvey's career in fundraising and nonprofit management is rooted in a combination of her academic background, professional experiences and personal faith.
Speaker 2:After a successful tenure as a professor of marketing, where she has developed strong skills and strategic planning and community engagement, she transitioned into the field of fund development in 2002. This shift has applied to her expertise in marketing to a realm where it has made a meaningful social impact. Her involvement with the Grants Professional Association and her role on their executive board as a treasurer indicates a deep commitment to the field and a desire to enhance her understanding of fundraising dynamics, raising dynamics. This professional engagement has further equipped her with the knowledge and networks necessary to excel and fund development. As the sole proprietor of Harvey MPO Consulting Group, she has been able to channel her passion for helping organizations secure funding into training and consulting, enabling her to impact a wide range of non-profit organizations, ministries and schools across the country. Her work is clearly driven by a mission to ensure that these entities can sustain their operations and fulfill their missions. Moreover, her strong faith, as evidenced by her active role in her church and her favorite scripture from Philippians, likely inspires her work and provides a framework for her approach to fundraising. This blend of academic knowledge, practical experience and personal conviction has shaped her career, allowing her to make significant contributions to the nonprofit sector while remaining grounded in her values.
Speaker 2:Please welcome my guest host this afternoon while you eat your lunch, dr Janelle Harvey, how you doing? Miss Lady? Welcome to Listen, linda. Thank you, how are you? Can you hear me? I can hear you just fine, beautiful. How are you? I'm good. Thank you so much for having me today, thank you, thank you. So, Dr Janelle, can you share your journey into the world of fundraising and how your faith has played a role in it? Absolutely.
Speaker 2:I graduated from college back in 2002. I went to an all-female college it's called Stevens, down in Missouri and when I graduated it was really hard trying to find a job. For my senior project, I actually created a campaign it was called Caps for Chemo. So when I got home I didn't find a job immediately. So I did some volunteer work at a hospital and eventually got a call to work as an executive director for a nonprofit. So I was only 22 years old, I didn't know much of anything, but the directors took it upon themselves to take me under their wing and from there I learned about grants management. I met a woman who I praise every time I get to speak. Her name is Arlene Peterson. To this day we are still good friends. She's like a big sister. So she was one of the people who was very impactful as it relates to helping me understand fund development and marketing. So I did that for a couple of years, eventually went on to Purdue University and became their grant writer. I eventually went on to get my doctoral degree and I taught for a number of years in higher education and got tenure and then eventually just decided that I wanted to work more so as an entrepreneur. So right now I have clients. I do workshops at Indiana University, at US Steel Corporation. Every year I'm invited to the Hammond Development Corps. I've been down to Florida and worked with a couple of churches, so I'm still trying to build my network.
Speaker 2:Okay, and what are some common misconceptions people have about fundraising, especially in a nonprofit context? I think people think that it's very difficult. I actually have a worksheet. It's called a grant readiness worksheet. So before, if you are a nonprofit and you feel that grants are needed to help sustain, I can actually send the worksheet to you. But there are a couple of things that you need to make sure that you have in place, like your annual 990. You also need to make sure that your board members are actively engaged in the agency that you have in place, like your annual 990. You also need to make sure that your board members are actively engaged in the agency, that you have an annual audit, I'm sorry, and that there are no dings so to say on that.
Speaker 2:Another issue, I think, is that people totally rely on grants and you should have a diversified fundraising strategy. So what does that mean? That you should engage in major gifts. You can do crowdfunding like GoFundMe. You can get in-kind sources. You can get government contracts. So don't rely solely on grants, because what happens one day? If that foundation or institution no longer exists, then you no longer have the money that you need. Then you no longer have the money that you need.
Speaker 2:A lot of times, people think that fundraising is kind of like scams, right? So I'm trying to figure out like, how do you think faith influenced the way that organization, organizations, approach fundraising? So I think that true people of faith are going to make sure that, um, whatever they endeavor to do, that they are transparent online. So let's say they're raising money for a hospital, then on website they're going to list all of their goals and objectives. They're going to make sure that whoever is donating out of their pocket if it's an individual donating that they get their tax receipt at the end of the year. So they're going to be transparent. If I'm a donor and I want to see your financial statements or I want to look at your books before I donate, then as a potential donor, I have the right to do that. So whatever an individual who wants to donate to you needs as far as questions, that they're going to be open and transparent.
Speaker 2:Can you describe to the audience a memorable fundraising campaign you've worked on and what made it successful? I think and this is one that I use when I teach there's an organization called Grace Beyond Borders, and he's actually one of my clients. When I graduated college, I worked for Boys and Girls Club not for very long, but I met a man named Marcus Martin, so he was the director of the Boys and Girls Club at that time, and presently he has a homeless shelter in East Chicago where he helps drug addicted men and those who are recently released from prison get back into society so that they can be successful. So I actually wrote a proposal for him to a foundation in East Chicago. It took a lot of research. So I had to go to like SAMHSA substance abuse, mental health I can't think of what the acronym stands for, but it took a lot of research. I was like up till midnight getting that done and he was awarded the entire amount. So he was very pleased with that. He even told me that the reviewer said that it was one of the best proposals that they had read for that particular grant period. I actually got my master's in English.
Speaker 2:So whatever I do, I always do it to the best of my ability because I want the organization to shine and I want them little on the question. But I want to get back to your faith part of it. You touched on the journey into fundraising. But I want you to kind of go deeper into how has your faith played a role into fundraising, into the whole world of fundraising. How has your faith played a major role into fundraising? I think that well, I know that trusting God because, as you know, when you apply for grants I try to compare it. This is probably a bad analogy, but I compare it to playing the lottery. It's like an odd. You may apply for 10 grants, you may get one. You may apply for 15 grants, you may get none. So when I apply, I don't always get the grant that an agency applied for. Nobody does, because there are so many different variables that are taken into consideration.
Speaker 2:So I always go to my quiet place and pray and ask God for direction. What could we have done better? Is there another opportunity that I didn't consider? Just always totally relying on God, because if we didn't have those troublesome times, then we wouldn't have the opportunity to go before God and ask for clarity. So if things were always peachy, clean and successful, then we would have our heads up high and think we're all that. But sometimes we have to succumb to pitfalls and not always being successful, because we go back to God and tell him God, give me the grace and give me clear direction, or maybe this is the way that you want me to go, so always relying on God and knowing that even when things don't go our way, he still has success down the road.
Speaker 2:Amen, jeremiah 29, 11. And then you know that's him having that plan for us Right. And then, like you, touched on that secret place that's Psalms 91, dwelling in that secret place there's a lot of scriptures. Dominion over all of that Absolutely.
Speaker 2:And that wasn't a bad analogy. That was actually a great analogy, because in trusting God is absolutely just like the lottery you don't know the outcome of it. The only thing you do, you're trusting in God. You're trusting just like people trust in the lottery they don't know the outcome of it, but what they're doing is they're taking a gamble. They're putting their faith in something. It may not be the best thing that they're doing by doing it right, but they're putting their faith into something. You know that's not them and that's what you're doing.
Speaker 2:When you're writing your grants. You're putting your faith into God. You're using your talent, your ability, what God gave to you, and what you're doing with that is that you're using the oil that God has given you and you're putting it all into him. And you're not going to always get it right, but what God has for you is going to be for you regardless. What God has for them is going to be for them regardless, and of course, you're not going to get them all, but he has the plan at the end of the day. So I think what you're doing in the community is phenomenal and the work that you put in is absolutely phenomenal. So, yes, but you doing it, and you doing it with faith, is what makes your mission and what you do out here successful and that's what keeps you afloat and that's what keeps your clients afloat. So, um, I commend you on that, but of course, you know I have more questions, right, okay, okay. So just, you know, relax, you know, I see you a little tense, but it's okay, because you ask me questions a little quick. I'm like, girl, you got some more. You safe, you safe. Okay.
Speaker 2:What advice would you give someone starting out in fundraising who may feel overwhelmed? I would say to connect with a mentor. There are so many professional organizations, like the Grant Professional Association, the Association of Certified Fundraising Executives, there are a couple of others, but they always have programs for folks that are new to the profession. You can reach out to universities where people or professors teach that sort of subject. People are always willing to share their gems or knowledge with you. There's even networks on, like Facebook I'm about to say Faithin Facebook, linkedin, instagram. There are all sorts of different communities where you can connect with individuals that could shed a light for you? Okay. And how do you build trust with donors and ensure they feel confident in the organizations that they support? Okay.
Speaker 2:So when you're applying for grants versus funding from individuals or corporations, those processes are different. So just to set the way, when you're applying for a grant, you get an application it's typically called an RFP or request for a proposal and there's guidelines. So like when you're at school in an English class, the teacher gives you a rubric and she or he says this is what is required for this particular assignment. So that's the same with the grant. They have these guidelines 10 pages, 9.5 times New Roman, so to speak and you have to align yourself specifically with those guidelines or it's a potential that they would throw your grant away. On the other hand, if you're asking for money from individuals, the process is different. So we always say that fundraising is friend raising.
Speaker 2:If you have identified a potential donor and you know they're wealthy and you want to ask for money, you know you can't just offhand ask them for money. You have to build a relationship. So if you have, say, a homeless shelter, you can have events where they can come and tour your organization. You can send them information about what's going on at your particular facility. It takes like five to seven touch points that you should have with that individual before you request money. So, as with any relationship, you have to build it before someone will trust you. And there are different things that you can do. You connect with them through LinkedIn. You can go to their events A lot of organizations have like coffee with the executive director, or they may have a brown bag lunch series. So any opportunity that you can get before them to talk about what you're doing and to share some of your successes before you ask for money would be critical, in that that is a major gem that a lot of people miss out on.
Speaker 2:And that's with anything, not even just, you know, with sponsorships with me. I can't stand for somebody, dr Janelle, to come to me and want to work with me and I don't know them from a can of paint, you know and want to work with me I don't know them from a can of paint, you know. But they are so quick to try to come, ask me to do something for them, right, and I'm just like, okay, where did they come from? Who is this person? Or they'll add you on the social media and just throw in their services in your box and you'll be like, wait a minute, who is this person? And then social media will do it to you too. They'll be like this person accepted your friend request and you'd be like I didn't. I didn't actually be this person's friend. Mark Zuckerberg, I bind you, you. I didn't ask to be this person's friend and the next thing you know they like be this life insurance person or be this travel agent, and you be like what? I don't want to be a travel agent. I don't want to be a peer-me-and-scheme person. Like what? No, and you know.
Speaker 2:So, yes, before you come and offer your services to me, please like a post, share my post. You know, scratch my back and I'll scratch yours. That's all I'm saying. I've got things that I offer. My, my boys have a whole you know things that they're doing. They have books out. You know, share their posts. Like their posts, like their content, do something that's going to. You know, benefit me too. You know I don't mind helping people at all, but show some type of you know interest into what I'm doing as well.
Speaker 2:Don't just think that I'm supposed to just always, always, always, help you or throw you some, throw you a bone, but I don't reciprocate anything. You know what I'm saying. Invite me. I might say no nine times out of ten, but give me the opportunity to say no. Don't ask for my money, don't ask for my network, don't ask for my Rolodex, but you don't want to share yours. Am I saying it right, dr Janelle, I understand where you're coming from. Yep, it's like you have your fist open, but then you have your fist closed.
Speaker 2:So, yeah, even when I'm speaking, I usually give it in the context of my son. So they like to ask and ask and ask. But have you cleaned your room? Have you raked the leaves? Did you do what I asked you to do? So to just, but you want your allowance, right? You can't just ask for money. You have to establish a relationship. Yeah, yeah, how. You want what's in my pocket, but you ain't did what you're supposed to do. You, I don't know you, but you want my money.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so yeah, in your experience, what are the key elements that make a fundraising strategy effective? Okay, I think that you need to consider all elements of whatever it is you're trying to do. So I'll give the example of building, erecting new buildings downtown Gary, which is close to where I live. So you need to make sure that you have um to identify funding for each area of that particular strategy. So you may need money for research to make sure that that area is a feasible area to develop whatever building you want. Maybe it's a homeless shelter, so you can look to grantsgov. Maybe HUD has money for sociologists to do research to see if that area is even feasible. You need to identify a strategy for the capital development so you may have a goal in there to raise $100,000 from 100 wealthy individuals in the area.
Speaker 2:You also need to make sure that your goals are measurable and they're time-stamped. So you may say, jackie Cox Foundation will raise $100,000 by January 2026 from 30 individuals, but whatever you set out to do, it always has to have a percentage and it has to be timestamped. So what percentage of that goal will you obtain and by when will you obtain it? You also need someone who's going to keep you accountable, so that could be an external evaluator or an accountability partner on your board. So this person is going to look at the goals that you've set forth and they're going to go to the director every so often, according to whatever guidelines you've identified, and say we haven't mastered this goal yet, what can we do to get further? So I think those are all things that need to be considered. Okay, you mentioned the importance of community engagement. Can you explain how it ties into successful fundraising? Yes, so whenever you apply for, especially those major grants, they want you, funders want you to collaborate. So, for example, right now there's a grant out called the 21st Century Community Learning Center. It's a grant with the Department of Education and organizations whether it be a church or a nonprofit or a school they can apply for funding to help disadvantaged children who perform low on standardized tests in afterschool settings and I was actually looking at it today. But one of the key components is that you collaborate so they know that if you got $500,000 for afterschool programming, then one institution can't do it all, so you may bring in maybe there's a local dentist who's going to come in to make sure the kids have good oral health, or maybe you're going to bring in some tutors from the Boys and Girls Club who are going to come after school to help with math and help them learn basketball. So whenever you apply again, especially for those larger grants, if you want to be competitive and show that you're not duplicating services, those individuals that fund you are going to look for your ability to work with other community associations. Wow, now that is a major gem, major, major major. But in order to apply for that grant you say you have to be able to collaborate. Key word guys collaborate, collaborate, collaborate.
Speaker 2:And can you repeat the name of that grant again for some people who may not have heard the name of that grant right, it is called the uh 21st century community learning center. So it's open right now for the state of indiana. I'm not sure about other places, but it is going to close, I think, on the 6th of august. I may not be correct, but if you Google 21st Century Community Learning Center, indiana, department of Education, it is open. Okay, indiana, you got five days to get that grant done. So if you're in Indiana and you're looking for a grant and it's for, you say it's for schools, it's through the Department of Education, and who all can apply for that grant? So it could be a school 501c3-based organization. So churches, nonprofit organizations that have the capacity to help low-performing children that struggle in their academics. So if you can't do that specifically, then you can partner with somebody to bring that service to a school district. Awesome, awesome, awesome information. That is awesome information.
Speaker 2:Okay, next question that I wanted to ask you you handle, how do you handle, challenges or setbacks in fundraising efforts and what keeps you motivated? So setbacks, I think, just the tenacity to not give up because, as I mentioned, every goal that I set forth, it may take a while to come to fruition or it may not come at all. I posted online. I have a class, it's called the Calculator CEO. So I have a credential with the certified fundraising executive. So anyone who wants to obtain that particular certificate. My class will earn them nine points towards their credential and once you earn that credential it can like triple your salary. You can make a hundred thousand plus.
Speaker 2:But these, this, that was just one goal that I had written in a book, a journal, like when I was 22,. No kidding, we attended a church called Bethel Temple and the first lady I remember she told all of the young ladies to get a prayer journal and just write down things that you want God to do for you. And I'm 44 now. So look how long it took for God to trust me, for me to go through trials and tribulations, for me to fall down and get back up, until he handed my gold back over to me, to bless me, to be able to work with Indiana University. We had quite a number of students a couple of Saturdays ago. They earned a certificate and I give God the glory.
Speaker 2:So I think that whatever it is that you endeavor to do, put it before God, take it to the altar, and if it's his will, I think that's where we get mixed up. We have all these ideas, but if it's not God's will, it's not going to happen. Or if it is God's will. It's going to happen when he gets ready. So, overcoming pitfalls, just having a strong faith in God, not getting upset when things don't go my way, and just remember that he has a perfect and expected end for me, back again in Jeremiah 29, 11, and also knowing that we have to pass that test and until we pass the test, he can't do the rest.
Speaker 2:I remember Dr Vailman told me a while back, until I said God won't do this for me, she said no, it's not that he won't do it, it's that you haven't passed the test. You're going to keep going back to square one until you fulfill the first order of command. You cannot jump over the first order. You keep trying to get to the last order. That's true. You don't want to do the first order. You keep trying to skip over the first order because you don't want to. You're trying to skip over the first because you don't want to do that one. But you have to do the first one. As much as you don't want to do that one, we always want to be like nah, god, I don't want to do that one, but until you do the one that you just really don't want to do, you have to pass that first test in order to do the rest. So, whatever that test was the one you really didn't want to do, you probably ended up doing it unbeknownst to you. You probably finally put your foot down on something you really didn't want to put your foot down on, probably put finally put your foot down on something you really didn't want to put your foot down on and you finally got it done. And that's what, you know, probably took a while for you. I don't know, and I'm only speaking out the side of my neck, you know I don't know nothing, you know, but whatever it is, I'm glad god did it for you.
Speaker 2:A lot of times, you know, I can remember reading something in the Bible about this woman of God and this prophet, this man of God. He was a traveler and he was passing through. He was always passing through and her and her husband, um, they made a, um a thing in their house for him to come and sleep, and you know they were very, very wealthy and stuff like that, and but they didn't have kids, right, and he told her that she would be able to have kids and she was like I'm not going to have no kids, my husband is old and he said this time next year you're going to have a baby. And that lady ended up having a baby, you know what I'm saying. And it was like I can't remember who it was or who it was in the bible, because, you know, my mind is kind of clogged up right now, I can't remember who it was in about, but she ended up having a baby. My other husband was really old so, but you know she it was because of you know her being obedient to god and and and and her having that faith. But her husband was real open, she obeyed, you know, god and was nice and kind and gentle to that man of God and that prophet. And he told her, you know, he basically blessed her.
Speaker 2:And so sometimes we have to kind of just do what God tells us to do. And you did, and I'm so, so glad that God blessed you with the desires of your heart. You know, you wrote it down, you made it plain, you spoke it out your mouth. But you were also obedient to what he told you to do. And it don't matter the when, the wind doesn't matter, all that matters is the wind. So not not the w-h-e-n, but the w-i-n. A lot of times we focus on the w-h-e-n. Um and time, and not the w-i-n, is the victory and that's where we lose right, we lose because we focus on the W-H-E-N instead of the W-I-N. So you know, being mindful of that is not the win, but the win Moving right along.
Speaker 2:I got some more questions for you. Can you talk about the role of transparency and accountability and fundraising and why they matter Absolutely? So when you are applying for any sort of grant, you have to show an annual audit. So that's when a licensed CPA just comes to look at your books to make sure that everything your checks and balances align with each other. An organization is not going to fund somebody who has been guilty of stealing or misappropriating funds. When you apply for federal funds, for example, if you mismanage that money and they find out, your organization is put on a blacklist. So you can go to Google and you can see a number of organizations that can no longer apply for federal funding because they took it upon themselves to mishandle that money. So when you apply for grants or major gifts, whatever it is, you have to remember that is not your money.
Speaker 2:You cannot go to spain. You cannot get your hair done. It's not for you. You can't get a Gucci bag, whatever goes and objectives, trying to go all to Africa and Jamaica, they will find out. They're going to put it on Facebook and they're going to find out. But yes, you don't want to do that. You want to make sure. Whatever you signed off on their contract, whatever that stipulation is, that's the only thing you should do. Unless you reach out and you ask them if it's okay to realign money. If not, then please don't. I'm going to cover my mouth on that. Nope, I rebuke that I'm not doing it.
Speaker 2:What scripture or faith-based principle do you rely on most when facing difficulties in your work? I know the plans that I have for you, plans to prosper you. Sometimes you're going to have me go to church mode. Yes, ma'am, that's what this platform is all about. Right platform is all about right.
Speaker 2:Sometimes I just think about some of the negative circumstances that I had to overcome, like being burned on my face when I was about 14. I uh went to get my tonsils out and I had a bad reaction. I don't know if it was a burn from the plastic or whatever, but my skin was just terrible and I just remember kids being mean, a teacher asking me if I had cancer. I remember, just I don't know. Growing up, kids were just mean, and you often hear people say sticks and stones may break my bones. That is not true. Words will never hurt me. Words stick and they progress and as an adult woman, I just dealt with self-esteem issues so badly that it affected my. I think it affected choices that I made, relationships that I was willing to be a part of because I wanted that spirit of acceptance.
Speaker 2:So it's just important, whether you're in an elementary setting, whether you're an adult in a work setting, if you're at a church, you have to be careful of the words that come out of your mouth or how you judge people. If you think something is going on, if you don't know the truth, don't say it at all. Just I don't know. Words can have a very negative impact. If you think about the book of Genesis when God said let there be. Every time he said let there be, it generated into the atmosphere. So you have that same potential. Whatever you say, it can come to fruition and it can make or break somebody's spirit. So as you go on through life, eventually there will be a judgment and you will be held accountable for the things that we say and do. So just be careful of the things that come out your mouth. Amen, amen.
Speaker 2:Looking ahead, what trends do you see shaping the future of fundraising, especially within faith-based organizations? We won't know until next year, but it's through the Lilly Foundation and they were offering about a million dollars to institutions of faith and churches only if they involve kids into the ministry. So that could mean that kids have a part of the service where they're playing an instrument or maybe they leave Bible study. So the goal was to just get kids more actively involved in a place of congregation, a church setting. So I think more opportunities are going to open up and I think the maybe the political environment plays a big key role in that, because there are so many different ideas as it relates to Christianity or religion in general. But if you go to Google and you do a keyword search, you'll be surprised by the number of opportunities that are available for faith-based initiatives.
Speaker 2:And last but not least, is there anything else that you have coming up that you want the audience to know, and where can we reach you? Do you have anything that you would want to propose to the audience? I mean, what? What can we look forward to from Dr Janelle Harvey? Yes, ma'am, so I am working on two books right now. One is an e-book, thanks to Miss Jackie. She just is like a wealth of knowledge, so we just sit and brainstorm. So I will be working on that. I also have a contract with another publishing agency, so a book that deals with social media and fundraising is set to launch in March and fundraising is set to launch in March.
Speaker 2:As a consultant, I help organizations write grants. I also help them complete Form 1023 and 1023EZ. So that is the document that is completed. If you want to obtain a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization, if you are an executive director and you want to enroll with me for six months, if you're a new executive director and you need to learn strategic planning, board development etc. You can email me at drharveywrites at gmailcom and I can send you an application to sign up for that cohort if that's something you're interested in. And outside of that, I am a mom to my two babies and a wife to my loving husband. So after this call, we're actually going for ice cream Once again.
Speaker 2:Can you leave people where they can find you on social media, your social media handles where they can reach you. Yes, ma'am. So on Facebook it is Harvey N, as in Nancy P, as in Paul O, as in Olive. On LinkedIn, it's Dr Janelle D-R-J-A-N-E-L-L, harvey H-A-R-V-E-Y. You can also go to my website is drharveywritescom. All right, I want to thank you so much, dr Janelle, for being my guest host today. Thank all 32 listeners who are tuning in. Well, 36 listeners who are tuning in right now. 36 listeners who are tuning in right now. This will be available for replay on all platforms later on today. I want to thank everyone for tuning in today. Dr Janelle, it has beena pleasure. I'm going to play us out with Ashby. Pray for everyone. Have a blessed rest of your day and God bless, thank you.
Speaker 1:We know the man that I prayed for.
Speaker 3:Not wishing with no man. That wasn't made for me. See, this love, we have gotta be tailored Ain't wishing with no man. That ain't no fit for me. Do you pray, cause I pray? You want kids, I want eight. Are you faithful? Oh wait, tell me, can you stand the rain? You a king, I'm a queen. We require certain things, and that's what I pray for. So that's what I wait for.
Speaker 3:Dear God, tell me, you're sinning. I know he is. I hope he's happy, already healed. But if he's sinning I know he is, I know he will. Dear God, that's what I pray for. So that's what I wait for, and I vow to be everything you need. Share my life with you, on the right, with you, and I promise to support all your dreams, but I gotta know that you were made for me. Do you pray, cause I pray? You want kids, I want eight. Are you faithful? Oh wait, tell me, can you stand and reign? You a king? I'm a queen. We require certain things, and that's what I pray for. So that's what I pray for. So that's what I wait for.
Speaker 1:That's what I pray for. That's what I wait for. Dear God, I'm in your center. That's what I pray for.
Speaker 3:That's what I wait for. Dear God, I'm in your center. I won't be ready. Dear God, you do this for me. I won't forget in my heart. I'm awake, I know we will.
