Christian Leadership Alliance

Capital Fundraising

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60 seconds with Douglas Shaw

Not yet involved in Christian Management Partners? You might be closer than you think after seeing what happened to this Chicago fundraising consultant.
Mark Cutshall | Outcomes, Jul/Aug 2007

Prior to founding Douglas Shaw & Associates with his wife Stevey in 1994, Doug spent more than 15 years working on staff and as a consultant to regional, national and international nonprofit organizations and ministries. It was during these years that Doug came to value a donor-focused approach to fundraising for both its ability to connect with and involve donors and for its effectiveness in generating higher donor responses and revenue. We put the stopwatch on Doug and watched the minute race by.

CMA: What got you involved in Christian Management Partners?

Shaw: I became involved in CMP when John Pearson, the past president of CMA, approached me. I saw the opportunity to serve as well as be served by people who share significant management responsibilities.

CMA: Respected leaders get several invitations to volunteer for any number of worthy causes. What keeps you involved in CMP? Why does it remain a priority of yours?

Shaw: All of us are called to serve, rather than merely direct or manage. CMP offers me the opportunity to both influence, and be influenced by, my ministry colleagues.

CMA: And of course, since CMP exists to advance the mission of Christian Management Association, you know that your ongoing investment in CMP is really being leveraged to support the collective Kingdom impact of CMA's combined membership of 4,160 individuals and organizations.

Shaw: Absolutely. One reason I'm behind CMA is that it offers constant opportunities to question (and reaffirm) what it is we're called to do. CMA provides me with the forum for discussing the "rights of followers," because there can't be leaders without those who are willing to follow and, as managers, we must know their rights.

CMA: How would you like your contribution to CMP, and thus CMA, to make a difference?

Shaw: My vision for CMA is to see it acknowledged as an unusually effective model for all other management organizations. Excellence in all things must be our challenge to us.

CMA: Please whisper (or shout out) what you think Christian leaders are missing by not being involved in CMA. Go ahead, I'll cover my ears.

Shaw: If they're not yet involved in CMP, they're missing the very spark that ignites all other CMA activities. CMP is where the egos are checked at the door, the guards are let down and on occasion, the gloves come off—all for the sake of better service to those we've been called to serve. Or as Jesus said, " … the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like the one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one at the table? But I am among you as one who serves" (Luke 22:26b-27 NRSV).

Douglas Shaw and his wife Stevey make their home in Wheaton, Ill. Connect with him at dshaw@douglasshaw.com.

Mark Cutshall always enjoys a good story, come rain or shine—mcutsh@aol.com.