First Choice: A Center for Life in Montgomery, AL

First Choice Women’s Medical Center empowers decisions for life in Montgomery, AL, by meeting the spiritual, emotional, and physical needs of women and families facing unplanned pregnancy. The center lives out its belief that every life is created by God in His image with purpose and value. By providing all services free of charge and by addressing the spiritual needs of clients, First Choice tangibly exhibits a life-giving, Christ-like love.

The center initially hired Cannan Group & Associates to help with fundraising coaching. Bethany Garth, First Choice executive director, knew that they needed to advance their efforts beyond the “annual-banquet-style-fundraising” and move toward major donor development.

Garth reflects, “One of the most helpful things about our relationship with CG&A has been having regular conversations with seasoned fundraisers. This gives me language and ideas for practical ways to connect with our ministry partners. Talking through potential visits and then getting feedback after has given me direction for future relationships. It has also helped me normalize the process of cultivating more meaningful relationships with our supporters.”

Matthew Bryant, CG&A senior consultant, worked with Garth and First Choice on fundraising coaching/training, installing the windshield/matrix tools, and shifting the philosophy to a major donor fundraising model.

However, First Choice quickly saw the need for work in several other areas. We were then honored to work with them on board governance training and the creation of a strategic plan/strategic financial plan. Garth is thankful for the clear plan that now guides First Choice into the coming years.

Now, with two years of increased annual giving under First Choice’s belt and a clear sense of what’s next, we are soon to embark on a feasibility study with the center to test for a possible campaign.

It’s exciting to see how the Lord is at work through generous donors and First Choice to tangibly love the people of Montgomery, but even with this big picture excitement, Garth finds herself coming back to one phrase that CG&A often uses: “See the people.” She says, “There’s a lot more to fundraising than that, but I now often stop and ask myself if I’m getting out to see the people. I am much more consistently spending intentional time with our supporters, and that is truly a gift.”