Contact: Matt Baxter, Mission Increase, 503-906-1622, mbaxter@missionincrease.org

PORTLAND, Or., Feb. 14 /Christian Newswire/ -- It's not just giving that suffers when the economy slows. New donor acquisition also takes a hit. A recent report from the Association of Fundraising Professionals shows new donor acquisition has fallen 6.7 percent since 2005.

So where should ministries look for new donations? "In the closets, garages, and storage units of their community," says Eric Foley, Vice President of Giving and Training for Mission Increase Foundation. "A Gift-In-Kind (GIK) program is a great tool for new donor acquisition."

According to a 2003 IRS study, GIK donations dominated other forms of giving, totaling an impressive $37 billion. Trailing GIK giving were foundations at $27 billion, wills and estates at $18 billion, and corporations at $12 billion.

"Unlike cash gifts that dry up in an uncertain economy, don't be surprised to see GIKs continue to flow even when people are tightening their budgets," predicts Foley. According to the Association of Fundraising Professionals, when donors feel economic anxiety and can't give outright gifts, they are more inclined to give away things.

"People want to give and be involved, even in tough financial times. This presents a golden opportunity for charitable organizations," says Foley

However, Foley believes the key to turning a GIK program into a donor acquisition program is not to focus on the gift. "The focus needs to be on the giver, on cultivating that relationship, and helping that person get more engaged in your cause," says Foley.

"The goal of GIK should be to draw people into a greater understanding of what you do and who you serve," explains Foley. "It needs to be more than a donor transferring their garbage to improve their bottom line. Ministries should only accept gifts that connect donors to their cause and the people they serve."

"Transformational Giving is about changing the heart of the donor to be comprehensively generous," Foley continues. "People who are giving goods willingly, and sacrificially, are receiving as great of a blessing as those who give a cash gift. We are training Christian ministries to focus on this key transformational element."

To sign up for Mission Increase Foundation's free March 2008 Gifts-In-Kind training workshop in Arizona, California, Colorado, Oregon, or Washington, go to www.missionincrease.org.

Mission Increase Foundation seeks to transform lives for Christ through effective giving and training. For more information, please visit our website, www.missionincrease.org