STRATEGIC GROWTH CAMPAIGN
Campaign Report 2019-2021
Strategic Growth Campaign Campaign Report
2019-2021
The Vision of 6.6 Million Dear friends at High Plains Christian Ministries, At Denison Ministries, our calling follows the Apostle Paul’s exhortation to the Christians at Ephesus “to equip the saints for the work of ministry” (Ephesians 4:12). You have partnered with us in this great calling through your faithful, generous giving. We could not be more grateful. “The Lord uses Denison Ministries in continuing to help me grow in Christ. My prayer is that this seed I have planted will do the same for many others. Thank you for your ministry and may God bless you.” - Kenneth D. (DF reader)
So many have given generously across the three consecutive years of this strategic growth campaign. Not only did we meet our goal of regularly engaging 6.6 million people, but we exceeded it, and in less time than we allotted. I am so personally humbled by your trusted partnership and the incredible investment that you have made. Your giving ensures that Christians are daily influenced, challenged, and encouraged by God’s word on current events, as evidenced by the outcomes of the campaign and the stories you’ll read in the following pages. Readers like these then influence others. So, that means your giving is making a compounding impact on our culture for God’s glory. With your gifts, you are likewise working “to equip the saints for the work of ministry.” We are so grateful for you. Blessings, Dr. Jim Denison
Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder
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The Strategy
AUDIENCE GROWTH
When starting the strategic growth campaign, we could have never imagined a pandemic was nearing. God set up Denison Ministries for such a time as this to focus on creating valuable digital content at a time when church doors were closed and the internet was the only thing connecting households to the world around them. We launched this campaign to develop Culture-Changing Christians who are committed to using their sphere of influence to change the world. Denison Ministries aspired to reach 6.6 million Christians, a tipping point of evangelicals in the US, to experience God daily through its content across its major brands. To accomplish this goal, Denison Ministries committed to leveraging the media of the time in order to reach Christians right where they are. Denison Ministries deployed a robust digital marketing strategy to reach new users, with the content they need to change the world, and we are happy to report the campaign was successful, a year early and under budget. By God’s grace, Denison Ministries has seen expansion and opportunities beyond our biggest dreams. The audience reading, listening, and watching our content each month grew tremendously over these 2 years. By the end of 2021, Denison Ministries had surpassed its goal, reaching over 6.8 million people with our transformative content. We have also seen tremendous growth in our donors surpassing 15,400+ active donors who have given in the last 12 months, up from 6,342 (143% increase).
We believe not just in the value of meaningful content, but its power to transform lives so God’s people can transform the world around them. To that end, every Daily Article, each book, every First15 devotional, all Christian Parenting podcasts, all of Janet’s Bible studies, every media opportunity — everything... all of it — is a result of that focus. After surveying our audiences, we were amazed by the ways the Lord is impacting lives through our content, accomplishing the mission he set before us.
“Thank you” does not seem to be enough to show my gratitude for your generosity. At a time when the world needed truth and God’s hope, through your support, God placed Denison Ministries into the digital hands of millions. We are so grateful for your generosity to make this impact happen.
Jen Abohosh Chief Strategy Officer & Chief of Staff
89% 93%
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of First15 readers feel refreshed after they read the First15 devotional. of Daily Article readers are now praying for the world around us.
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DENISON FORUM
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FIRST15
Aggregate Audience Across All Platforms:
2,845,497
Number of people reading the Daily Devotional online each month:
571,000
Streams of First15 Worship songs every month:
6,60
Lie f time video views on oY utube:
961,0 0
Number of podcast episodes downloaded each month:
420,0 0
Facebook Likes:
439,000
People o f llowing along on Social Media:
5 0, 7 0
Instagram Followers:
24,200 Aggregate Audience Across All Platforms:
Number of people following along on social media: 10
75,000
99,479
Number of people reading the Spanish Devotional online each month:
18,000
Facebook Likes:
74,390
Instagram Followers: Podcast Downloads:
477 7,000
Twitter Followers:
43,700
Number of people who have signed up to receive the daily devotional:
475,000 11
CHRISTIAN PARENTING
1, 0 87, 3 36 320, 0 00
164, 0 00
341, 0 00
159, 0 00
190, 0 00 31,100 12
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FOUNDATIONS WITH JANET DENISON
Aggregate Audience Across All Platforms:
84, 8 31 Number of People reading Foundations resources each month:
1,200
People registered for online Bible studies:
35,000
Lifetime video views on Youtube:
41,000 Facebook Lie k s:
8,500 People following along on social media:
91,000 Instagram Followers:
524
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Because of your generous support, we are thrilled to officially finish the Strategic Growth Campaign by hitting and exceeding 6.6 million in monthly aggregate audience!
Denison Ministries’ aggregate audience is 6.8 million per month. We reach a total of 2.99 million each month with Denison Forum. We have an audience of 2.64 million engaging with devotional content through First15, 1.1 million parents diving into our Christian Parenting resources, and 89 thousand engaging in Foundations with Janet Denison each month. Over the last 3 years, there has been a 900% increase in total awareness of the Denison Ministries brands. Denison Forum’s email list has now surpassed one-half million people receiving the Daily Article by email each morning. The Christian Parenting Podcast Network launched in 2020 and now generates 320 thousand downloads per month. First15 surpassed 10 million lifetime downloads on the podcast in November, 2021. We have over 1 million Facebook likes across all of our brands. Denison Forum now has 1.8 million views on YouTube including the new videos created for the Discern show on Igniter TV. First15 Worship launched in 2021 and now has 6 thousand monthly listeners and 880 thousand views on YouTube. We have 1,200 people signed up for Foundations with Janet Denison Bible Studies, and many more to come online this year. Please be encouraged as you read more updates on a brand specific level. All of which were made possible by your generous support.
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God continues to provide financial provision for the ministry As Denison Ministries dramatically increased the readership across all of the family of brands, we were positively surprised that more and more of these readers became donors who gave in response to the impact the content was having on their lives. As you can see by the chart, as the audience grew over the past 3 years so did the number of donors. The donor file increased from 6,342 donors to over 15,400+ donors by the end of 2021. The income from that category of donors grew from $3,475,597 to $6,141,804. Your seed money in the organization through the “Strategic Growth Campaign Investment” led to the ministry’s next wave of funding by increasing our donor file thereby sustaining the ministry in coming years. We cannot thank God enough for the provision of your investment that keeps on giving. Because of your support, we can continue resourcing the new 6.8 million believers everyday with transformative content.
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What’s Next It was a joy to work together with you and the amazing team and Board of Directors at Denison Ministries. The fact that resourcing an audience of 6.6 million was just a dream a few years ago, and now has come to fruition, is a testament to how God always empowers his people to accomplish his purposes. Thank you for being such a critical investor and partner in making this dream of mobilizing God’s people through transformative content come true. As I’m shifting my role of serving Denison Ministries from CEO to co-chairing our new Partner Board, I am thrilled to still be a part of what God is doing through our partnership together. With Dad (Jim), Jeff, Jen, and the rest of the team and Board of Directors at the helm, it’s going to be a joy to support the ongoing vision of Denison Ministries. Thank you for your faith and friendship. May God bless you as you seek him,
“A family member shared your daily news email with me last year and it changed my life. It has also changed the way I start my day. I now get up early to pray, read Denison’s email, and spend time in God’s word. I am 52 years old and was saved and baptized as a child, but I’ve never done any of these things consistently. But Denison’s Daily Article changed all of that and now I feel closer to God than ever before. Thank you for changing my life, strengthening my faith, and realigning my path to walk closer with Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior! I’m praying that my small, monthly donation will help your ministry continue to bless others the way it has blessed me.” - Melissa W.
“I’ve read your devotional for about four years. So often God uses you to speak for Him when I am distressed to the point of not being able to hear Him. I lost my husband about a year and a half ago and I was a caregiver for three years. So often I turn to First15 for comfort and encouragement. Thank you so much for listening to the Lord and sharing with us.” - Joyce B.
Craig Denison Denison Ministries Partners Co-chair
“Christian Parenting has been a ‘lifeline’ for me. Thank you for all of your resources. From the prayer journal to all of the podcasts in your podcast network to the newsletters with amazing articles you seem to know just what parents need. Keep up the great work. We need you!” - Amanda P.
“Janet, you teach with such Joy and enthusiasm for Jesus. His light is shining through you! Thank you for being a great example to all of us. I am eager to study the book of Romans and understand more thoroughly the Lord’s design for my life.” - Melissa H.
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Strategic Growth Campaign Campaign Report
2019-2021