The Fishing Differently® Framework
A Key Lever in the Consulting Tool Kit of Crossing Capital Group
Monetizing Mission, Programs, & Assets—
The Innovative Principle of Adaptive Reuse
One of our consulting tools is the Fishing Differently® Framework, first conceptualized by our founder, Sidney Williams in 2008. It's not just a catchy phrase; it's the blueprint that guides our journey in reimagining, revitalizing, and monetizing spaces with purpose and passion.
We call this process “adaptive reuse.” It’s not simply about developing a soup kitchen or affordable housing but rather engaging in the process of seeing beyond the surface, recognizing the wealth of resources that communities possess but might overlook.
Fishing Differently® stands for Faith, Intellectual, Social, and Human (FISH) - the four pillars of capital that every community has in abundance, waiting to be tapped into and celebrated.
Monetize Your Mission, Programs, & Assets
Want to See Fishing Differently® in Action?
To see a small, lived example of adaptive reuse leveraging the Fishing Differently® model, read more about Sidney’s first-hand experience with his congregation below.
Faith Capital
Also understood as Financial Capital, Faith Capital is the spirit and dedication of the people that powers missions and dreams. It's the kind of support that comes from the heart, fueling projects with passion and perseverance. Within a local congregation, this translates to the tithes and offerings collected from faithful members each Sunday.
While Faith (Financial) Capital is necessary, this form of capital alone is often not enough to transform an entire community.
Our founder Rev. Dr. Sidney Williams realized this quickly when Hurricane Sandy destroyed his church (Bethel Church, Morristown, NJ) back in 2011…
Intellectual Capital
Intellectual Capital shines a light on the knowledge and skills within each member of the community. It's about valuing everyone's unique talents, from organizing a community event to running a soup kitchen, and recognizing that these skills can lead to extraordinary outcomes.
Even though Dr. Sidney and the congregation were devastated when they lost their church to Hurricane Sandy, the people were determined to make the most out of the situation. They had a vision for a soup kitchen…
Leveraging Dr. Sidney’s knowledge and skills as a Wharton Grad with extensive Wall Street experience, having facilitated over $10 billion in public equity and debt offerings, within a couple of months, the congregation raised over one million dollars for the soup kitchen.
Gloria (center), a longstanding congregation member, had the professional background to ensure the church received the commercial licensing necessary to run the soup kitchen. Even more than that, she ran the soup kitchen for a couple of years, leveraging her decades of career experience!
That’s “Intellectual capital.” Dr. Sidney didn’t have the skills to run a soup kitchen, but he had someone in the congregation who could. Imagine if he never asked the members for help beyond their tithes and offerings.
But it didn’t stop there…
Social Capital
Imagine a community like a treasure chest. Within it lies Social Capital - the rich network of relationships and partnerships that extend beyond the immediate circle, bringing in diverse resources and opportunities. It's about connecting with others who share your vision and are eager to lend their support.
Building Social Capital is an invitation to ask, “Who, outside of our community, should we partner with in executing missions and goals?”
Whereas Intellectual Capital is about harnessing the internal brainpower and skills within your congregation, Social Capital is about leveraging external relationships and connections to enhance community effectiveness.
While Intellectual Capital focuses on the strengths within, Social Capital is all about widening the circle and creating meaningful partnerships outside your immediate community. Both are crucial assets.
Today, the non-profit arm of Dr. Sidney’s Church, Table of Hope, is run by thousands of volunteers of diverse religious, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds who commit faithfully to the larger vision of community empowerment. That’s Social Capital in action!
Human Capital
Then, there's Human Capital - the hands-on, action-oriented energy that brings ideas to life. It's the commitment to roll up sleeves, get involved, and make a tangible difference in the lives of others.
Human Capital is about the implementation of projects and programs which are relevant and have a demonstrable impact on human lives. As members of a faithful community, there's a deep-rooted sense of responsibility. Human Capital calls on us to use our resources, skills, and energy to actively contribute to human flourishing.
Table of Hope supports thousands of families, and the organization continues to measure their impact to optimize opportunities to further support the community.
Read more about this transformational work in the recent case study conducted by Leadership Education at Duke Divinity, "Feeding the 5,000: Small Churches Delivering Outsized Community Impact."
Read Fishing Differently® in Action
At Crossing Capital Group, we've seen the power of the Fishing Differently® Framework firsthand for nearly two decades, impacting tens of thousands of lives.
Our framework is about harnessing all these forms of capital, weaving them together to create strong, sustainable communities. It's about dreaming big and having the tools and support to make those dreams come true.
So, whether you're part of a faith group, an educational institution, or simply someone who believes in the power of community, remember: there's an ocean of potential in your collective resources. Let's fish differently, together, and turn those hidden treasures into waves of positive change.
Learn more about our services, or take some time to read through this life-changing case study on our work.