Rachel Deffenbaugh
Snapshots From Our 2026 Annual Conference
Click here to learn more about our next Annual Conference!
Strategic Fundraising: Design a Donor-Centered 12-Month Plan for Maternity Homes
Strategic Fundraising: Design a Donor-Centered 12-Month Plan for Maternity Homes
Beginning June 10
Duration: 4 Weeks | LIVE on Wednesdays*
No class on Wednesday, June 24
Join us for this course that will help you create and execute a Strategic Fundraising plan for your maternity home.
Sharpen your approach and walk away with fresh confidence to execute a simple, yet highly effective annual fundraising plan that keeps you sane and keeps your donors coming back. We'll kick things off by revisiting the true definition of fundraising and exploring why donors are genuinely motivated to invest in your maternity home. From there, you'll dive into the most effective development activities that actually move the needle. Spoiler alert: no massive galas or logistical nightmares required! Our time together will be interactive, insightful, practical, and yes, fun. You'll leave with a streamlined 12-month fundraising plan designed to raise the funds you need, without overcomplicating what's already working.
Online Course: Trauma Informed Care for Maternity Housing
Trauma Informed Care for Maternity Housing
Beginning June 5
Duration: 3 Weeks | LIVE on Fridays*
Hosted by: The Maternity Housing Coalition
About This Course
This course is designed to equip staff and volunteers in maternity homes with practical tools for supporting women who have experienced trauma. The training explores how trauma, especially adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), can influence pregnancy, parenting, and overall well-being, while offering biblically grounded strategies for fostering healing and resilience.
Students will learn the key principles of trauma-informed care as defined by SAMHSA, how trauma impacts brain development, stress response systems, pregnancy outcomes, and maternal-child bonding. Practical applications are reinforced through scenario-based learning and reflection questions.
This course is ideal for individuals working in maternity homes who want to increase their effectiveness in walking alongside women with trauma histories. It is particularly helpful for caregivers seeking both evidence-based knowledge and faith-rooted approaches to serve with compassion.
Book a FREE Consultation
This week only (March 24-27, 2026), schedule a FREE 15-minute consultation from one of our pregnancy help consultants! These men and women bring expertise from a wide variety of topics and are excited to connect with you.
Consultation Offerings/Topics
- Legal/Structural, Financial/Development, Services, Leadership/Organizational, Marketing/Branding, HR, Spiritual, and Growth/Change Management Potential.
- Strategic Planning, Board Training, and Vision Casting integrated or as standalone offerings.
- Organizational Distress Management or Change - when immediate intercession is needed, and tough calls must be made.
- Turnaround CEO in the most advanced organizational distress situations.
- Extended Executive Coaching or Team Coaching post-consultation toward the goal of implementation and achieving the highest possible effectiveness of your investment.
Consultation Offerings/Topics
- Heartbeat International’s Governing Essentials
Consultation Offerings/Topics
- Fundraising Assessments
- Training and Coaching in Effective Fundraising Strategies
- Consultation and Coaching for Annual Budget Fundraising
- Project Specific Fundraising
- Capital Campaigns
Consultation Offerings/Topics
- Prevention Education in the Community
- Sexual Risk Avoidance/Abstinence Education
- Client Education (Relationships, Sexual Integrity, Parenting)
Consultation Offerings/Topics
- Major Gifts Fundraising
- Setting up your Development Shop
- The Spirituality of Fundraising
- Four Steps to Biblical Fundraising
Consultation Offerings/Topics
- Heartbeat International's Governing Essentials
- Heartbeat International's The LOVE Approach
- Beyond The Training - Board Training Follow Up
- Cultures That Thrive - from Chaos to Cadence
- Leading Those Entrusted to Us
- One-on-One Mentor/Accountability
Consultation Offerings/Topics
- Training for Fundraising Newbies to Old-timers
- Creating a 12-month Fundraising Activity Plan
- Planning Micro Events with Big Impact
- Executing Meaningful Large Events
- Designing Faith-Based End-of-Year Campaigns
- Adding a Major Gifts Program
- Making the Most of Direct Mail Appeals
- Engaging Board Members in Fundraising
- Learning How to Make "The Ask”
- Meeting 1:1 to Help with Your Specific Challenges
Consultation Offerings/Topics
- Banquets: Identifying strengths and weaknesses of your current model Partnering with you to find proven ways to increase funding, bring new energy to your event and build a sustainable event which succeeds year after year.
- One-on-one mentoring in development and vision-casting.
Two Connections. Two Lives Rescued.
Two Connections. Two Lives Rescued.
The 'Chat' That Became Rachel's Turning Point
'Rachel' contacted Option Line in May 2025 through chat. She was a junior in high school and had recently found out she was pregnant. An appointment was made with her local pregnancy center. Today, she reached back out and had this to say:
"Hi, I talked here last year and had my baby boy in Dec. I love him more than I ever thought I could, and [I'm] so glad he's here. I’ve thought about everything that led to this, and that convo really stayed with me, I’m not sure I would have made the same choice without it."
"That conversation we had last year really stuck with me and was such a turning point for me when everything felt impossible. I’m so grateful for how you talked me through things and just listened. It really mattered more than you probably know."
She mentioned the pregnancy center was very helpful, that she took classes there, and received baby supplies. She said it was a combination of her conversation with Option Line and seeing her ultrasound at the pregnancy center that led to her choosing life for her son.
A Single Call Rescued Her Baby...And Her
Megan writes:
"Back in May, I found out I was pregnant while I was in the middle of filing for a divorce from my spouse. In June, after pressure from family members, I took the first abortion pill at 10 weeks and, within an hour, immediately regretted my decision. I started frantically googling my options and found the APR 24-hour hotline, and within 10 hours of taking the pill, I was prescribed progesterone to reverse the effects.
I did have some vaginal bleeding about 24 hours after taking the first abortion pill, but at the ER, an ultrasound showed that my baby was miraculously still alive. With the help of APR, they continued to provide me with progesterone pills and follow-up ultrasounds at the Birth Choice clinic, which showed that my baby had not only survived but was thriving.
My baby was born at 39 weeks and 5 days at a healthy 7 pounds and 2 ounces, and I am truly grateful to APR for the treatment that they provided because without them, I wouldn’t have had my beautiful baby girl. They provided immediate support very quickly, and the staff at the Birth Choice Clinic helped me mentally cope with my guilt and regret after what I did. I felt nothing but kindness and compassion from them."
