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What's In a Name

Planning a new event, program or ministry? Before you make the new name official, do some homework to find out who else is using it locally or on a national level. Also steer clear of:

• Cliche acronyms - words formed from the initial letters of a name such as Save Our Students (SOS). This overused name is used by at least five organizations in one city alone.

• Complicated or long acronyms - HOPE sounds nice ... but Helping Others Find Peace Eternal is a stretch. WOMEN sounds great ... but Wives On a Mission Emphasizing Needs does not.

• Names that could be confused with a name another organization is already using. During the holidays, several ministries in one town use a project name that includes the word "harvest."

• Titles that don't give a clear indication of what the event, program or ministry is about. Instead of trying to be creative, focus on being clear.

Now for the test: You are opening a new facility for women. A board member suggests you name it after a former founder. Another suggests BRIGHT FUTURES CENTER. A staff contest results in the choice HOUSE OF LOVE. Which do you choose?

None of these names tell your donors or the public anything about the new facility. All will require you to spend time and money educating donors and the public about the new facility, what goes on there and why you chose that particular name.

Opt instead for a boring, but clear name such as "City Mission Women's Shelter" or "City Mission Women's Center."

Kudos to these organizations for their great names:

FCA Fellowship of Christian Athletes
YFC Youth for Christ
WBT Wycliffe Bible Translators

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