When most people talk about seminaries, they refer to the theology classes, the professors, and the students training to be ministers. But a number of seminaries trained and coached by Benevon have another story—how their graduates provide comfort to people who have experienced disasters, hardships, or just ordinary setbacks in life. This week, we talk to Fuller Theological Seminary in Northern California; Lexington Theological Seminary in Lexington, KY; Meadville Lombard Theological School in Chicago, IL; and Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, GA, on their success with Benevon's mission-based fundraising approach.

Every seminary has a powerful story of how their graduates are helping guide people through life.

Lee Barker, the president of Meadville Lombard Theological School, has a three-year-old in her "fairy princess" phase. He tells potential donors he works where he does so that when his daughter grows up and realizes life isn't a fairy tale, there is a Unitarian Universalist minister to help her navigate life's rough spots.

At Meadville, there's a graduate in her seventies who arrived in Shreveport, LA, to work in a church just two months before Hurricane Katrina.

At Fuller Theological Seminary, graduates work with the Cambodian government to create safe houses and schools for children recovering from involvement in the sex slave trade.

With Benevon's help in teaching them how to powerfully share their stories of equipping future leaders to do God's work, the support for these schools has grown.

Fuller Theological Seminary never had an active fundraising program other than random donations. So when they had their first fundraising Ask Event, they really didn't know what to expect, said Dr. Curt Longacre, the director.

With 175 people, they raised $175,000 in gifts and pledges.

"I was stunned. I couldn't believe it," Longacre said. "I was thankful in so many ways."

After attending a Benevon 101 Workshop, the team at Lexington Theological Seminary (LTS) realized how little outreach they had been doing in the community.

They started inviting the public to Point of Entry^® Events every other Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. Guests were then invited to stay for chapel and lunch, where they could hear students preaching and get to know them better.

"We kept hearing that LTS is the best-kept secret in central Kentucky," said Heather McColl, the director of development.

The seminary has found several ways of getting its programs known. They are taking their Point of Entry Events on the road to congregations that have LTS ministers. They also invite groups of senior citizens who are traveling to come to a Point of Entry on their campus and stay for lunch. And, when they had a denominational general assembly, they held a mini Point of Entry for alumni, where they showed their powerful video and displayed alumni photos.

"I can honestly say these principles have brought new energy around here and a new perspective of ministry for everyone," said McColl.

The seminaries say they not only appreciate the newly raised money, but also the ability to share their stories and bond as a team.

"Everyone is passionate about the school because their lives have been touched in such a profound way by ministry," said Trish Bailey, vice president of institutional advancement at Meadville Lombard. "This type of ministry doesn't just happen; it's formed and shaped at our school...[Benevon] has taught us to tell those stories."

At their first fundraising Ask Event^™, Meadville Lombard raised $650,000 in gifts and pledges with 400 people in attendance. At their second Ask Event, they raised more than $160,000 from 100 attendees.

Richard DuBose, the vice president for development and seminary relations at Columbia Theological Seminary, wrote a five-page article in Seminary Development News about his seminary's experience with Benevon (formerly Raising More Money). (Note: Adobe Acrobat reader is required to view this document. Scroll down to page ten.)

"We saw dramatic results immediately," DuBose said. "Perhaps the most important tangible benefit is that, overwhelmingly, our trustees, alumni, and other core volunteers love the events."