The king said to me, “What is it you want?” Then I prayed to the God of heaven, and I answered the king, “If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my ancestors are buried so that I can rebuild it.” (Nehemiah 2:4-5)

Nehemiah prayed and planned for this moment with King Artaxerxes. When a major donor asks what you want, boldly share your heart and tell them exactly what you need. We know what we want but turn the question around. What do your donors want from you? Many donors are frustrated with ministry leaders who don’t make sound business decisions. One major donor looks for at least four critical leadership qualities.

Clear Thinking
Effective fundraising starts with a clear, compelling case for support based upon sound research. Some ministry leaders make decisions on a hunch. Perhaps the Spirt is prompting you in a certain direction but God has given you a mind to think carefully about your steps. “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?” (Luke 14:28). Do your homework!

Good Judgment
A businessman who served on a board became increasingly frustrated with the way the executive director overspent the budget then desperately turned to donors for help. At every meeting the businessman raised red flags, but the other board members gave into the leader’s whims. Eventually, he resigned in discouragement because couldn’t stand to see the ministry he loved destroyed by bad decisions.

Competence
One major donor evaluated a leader’s ability and concluded, “He’s a nice guy who genuinely wants to help people, but he’s somewhat incompetent.” Donors with this attitude about your ministry’s leadership may stop giving and wait for the next leader to see if things turn around. They might maintain their status quo giving but they certainly won’t give sacrificially.

Diligence
Laziness is a cardinal sin. Donors can understand if you fall short of your projections, but they won’t understand if you don’t give 110% percent to achieve your goal. Major donors are successful in business because they work hard and have little sympathy for those who don’t. “The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty” (Prov. 21:5). One important way to build trust with your donors is to do what you say you will do. The king granted Nehemiah’s request because Nehemiah knew exactly what he needed and how long it would take (see Neh. 2:6-9).

Think about this: Effective leaders are rare in the nonprofit world—or in the for-profit world for that matter. If God has called you to leadership, evaluate yourself to see how you match up with these donor expectations. If God has called you to follow, “lead up” and help those above you live out these characteristics. Your donors will notice and thank you. Which of these traits will you enact today?

Response: Father, I want to be an effective leader. Please give me clear thinking and good judgment. I pray for competence and diligence to serve you to the best of my ability.

Ron Haas has served the Lord as a pastor, the vice president of advancement of a Bible college, a Christian foundation director, a board member and a fundraising consultant. He’s authored three books: Ask for a Fish – Bold Faith-Based Fundraising, Simply Share – Bold, Grace-Based Giving, and Keep on Asking – Bold, Spirit-Led Fundraising. He regularly presents fundraising workshops at ministry conferences and has written fundraising articles for  Christian Leadership Alliance’s Outcomes magazine.

The Lord said to Moses: “Bring me seventy of Israel’s elders who are known to you as leaders and officials among the people. Have them come to the tent of meeting, that they may stand there with you.  I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take some of the power of the Spirit that is on you and put it on them. They will share the burden of the people with you so that you will not have to carry it alone” (Numbers 11:16-17).

The Children of Israel whined and complained about the menu longing for food from Egypt. Moses was at his wit’s end and cried out, “This job is too much for me. How can I take care of all these people by myself? If this is the way you’re going to treat me, just kill me now and end my miserable life!” (Num. 11:14-15 CEV). Have you reached your breaking point with all your fundraising responsibilities? There’s hope if you follow Moses’ example and find some help.

Recruit
Perhaps you’ve had dismal experiences with volunteers and are reluctant to try again. It may seem easier to do everything yourself, but it’s a surefire way to burn out. Don’t settle for just any volunteers. Solomon warns, “Like an archer who wounds at random is one who hires a fool or any passer-by” (Prov. 26:10). Moses chose those who were known for leadership. Inform prospective board members about their responsibility to give and get others to give.

Empower
Most volunteers want to accomplish something significant. Some nonprofits recruit successful businesspeople but then don’t use them. Eventually, they quit because the ministry wasted their time. These seventy leaders were empowered with the Holy Spirit. Empower your Spirit-filled volunteers with stories of your mission impact. Motivate your leaders to advance your mission by showing them the eternal difference they are making in the lives of those you serve.

Delegate
The Lord chose these leaders to share Moses’ burden. Delegation is an art. Too often leaders simply dump responsibilities on others hoping for the best. Even worse, some leaders delegate then micromanage their volunteers. A wise leader clearly defines expectations, trains fully, provides the resources to be successful, then steps back and lets them own it.

Trust
When you give someone a responsibility you must trust them to carry it out. Moses had to release his burden to others. Your key volunteers can help carry your fundraising efforts by identifying, cultivating, and even soliciting donors. They have relationships you don’t and can speak to their friends with passion.

Think About This: Perhaps God has increased your pressures to teach you to rely on him and not yourself. Finding, training, and motivating key volunteer leaders is a challenging job, yet you limit your effectiveness if you try to do it all by yourself. As the African proverb says, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” Start small. Who are two individuals you could recruit this week to help you fundraise?

Response: Lord, please forgive me for trying to do it all myself. I praise you for empowering others who could help carry the load. Please reveal them to me.

Ron Haas has served the Lord as a pastor, the vice president of advancement of a Bible college, a Christian foundation director, a board member and a fundraising consultant. He’s authored three books: Ask for a Fish – Bold Faith-Based Fundraising, Simply Share – Bold, Grace-Based Giving, and Keep on Asking – Bold, Spirit-Led Fundraising. He regularly presents fundraising workshops at ministry conferences and has written fundraising articles for  Christian Leadership Alliance’s Outcomes magazine.

“When Moses sent them to explore Canaan, he said, ‘Go up through the Negev and on into the hill country. See what the land is like and whether the people who live there are strong or weak, few or many. What kind of land do they live in? Is it good or bad? What kind of towns do they live in? Are they unwalled or fortified? How is the soil? Is it fertile or poor? Are there trees in it or not? Do your best to bring back some of the fruit of the land.’ (It was the season for the first ripe grapes.)” (Numbers 13:17-20).

Moses sent twelves spies into the Promised Land to discover all the blessings God had in store for the Children of Israel. This wasn’t a recreational trip but a reconnaissance mission. Moses wanted to prepare his people for what was ahead. He needed answers to many questions and asked for evidence, “Bring back some fruit of the land.” Moses. As you envision your preferred future for your ministry, ask your key stakeholders these four questions.

What is right we should amplify?
Focus on what your ministry does well. What unique characteristics set you apart from other organizations? W. Edwards Deming championed the concept of continual improvement which simply means, “getting better all the time.” How could you improve your most effective programs to make them even more productive?

What is broken we should fix?
It takes courage to admit some things in your ministry are broken. Sometimes, the best move is to eliminate a program but those are painful conversations. If the program is worth salvaging, don’t take a band aid approach. Invest the personnel and dollars to completely turn it around. Small changes can gradually add up to big changes in effectiveness.

What is missing we should add?
What needs do your clients have? How would additional programing solve their problems? Test your assumptions with some key donors to make sure they believe your new idea has merit. It’s easy to fall in love with a new, shiny object. The danger is adding another program just for the sake of adding another program. Instead of doing many things in a mediocre way, concentrate on doing a few things exceptionally.

What is confusing we should clarify?
Donor communication is the greatest challenge for every organization. Do donors understand your ministry story? Apply the preacher’s principle, “A mist in the pulpit becomes a fog in the pew.” Clearly articulate your vison and eternal impact. Donors won’t give generously to a strategic plan they don’t understand.

The twelve spies believed the land was “flowing with milk and honey.” Unfortunately, ten had more fear than faith. This is a great strategic planning lesson. You can see all the evidence pointing to a God-inspired vision for your ministry, but if you lack faith, you won’t move forward.

Think about this: Many organizations put great effort into their strategic plan only to have it gather dust on a shelf. General George S. Patton said, “A good plan violently executed now is better than a perfect plan executed next week.”

Response: Lord, help me ask the right questions to discover your plan and take the right steps of faith.

Ron Haas has served the Lord as a pastor, the vice president of advancement of a Bible college, a Christian foundation director, a board member and a fundraising consultant. He’s authored three books: Ask for a Fish – Bold Faith-Based Fundraising, Simply Share – Bold, Grace-Based Giving, and Keep on Asking – Bold, Spirit-Led Fundraising. He regularly presents fundraising workshops at ministry conferences and has written fundraising articles for  Christian Leadership Alliance’s Outcomes magazine.

“If a ruler’s anger rises against you, do not leave your post; calmness can lay great offenses to rest” (Ecclesiastes 10:4).

Did you know the average tenure of a fundraiser is two years or less? Fundraising is a tough job. A recent survey indicated unrealistic expectations, low appreciation, and dysfunctional work environments all contribute to this rapid turnover.1 Is there a way to hang in there and be productive despite all the forces working against you? Solomon gave great counsel for employees who are facing the king’s wrath.

When You Face the Heat

Is your boss mad at you for the sin of commission (something you did you shouldn’t have done), or the sin of omission (something you should have done you didn’t do)? Either way, it’s unpleasant. Perhaps your boss has no legitimate reason to be dissatisfied with you or your work. Maybe he or she is just having a bad hair day. Perhaps you are the boss, and you are facing heat from your board for some decision you made or didn’t make. Whatever situation you face, you need a crisis management plan to deal with the firestorm.

And Feel Tempted to Quit

You have three choices when resolving workplace conflict. You can flee, fight, or flow. Many take the easy way out and flee to the mirage of greener pastures. Solomon strongly counsels against this, “do not leave your post.” Others will stand and fight for their cause which they might win or lose. Some will go with the flow seeking to find a win-win situation where both parties compromise. This sounds promising but it’s often unrealistic. After all, compromise means no one really gets what they want. Solomon offers a fourth option—face it calmly.

Keep Calm and Carry On

No doubt you’ve seen a variation of this motivational poster. In 1939, the British government used this phrase to boost the morale of the British people as they prepared for World War II. Solomon was the first to preach this concept, “calmness can lay great offenses to rest.” Maybe you have greatly offended your boss or your board, Solomon gives hope for a peaceful resolution your conflict. What’s your best response? When your boss/board blows a gasket, respond with grace. “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” (Prov. 15:1). Instead of reacting sinfully, faithfully keep doing your job and calmly respond in kindness. God can use your gentleness to change hearts. “Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone” (Prov. 25:15).

Think About This: Ask the Lord for discernment to flee, fight or flow. God may be calling you to a new ministry where you can use your gifts more effectively. He may be giving you the courage to fight for what is right for the ministry, or he may be asking you to calm down and learn to live with other broken people. Whatever your decision, take time to listen to the Spirit.

Response: Lord, please give me strength to endure when my boss/board gets angry. Help me show patience, grace, love, and kindness.

Joslyn, H. (2019, August 6) 51% of Fundraisers Plan to Leave Their Jobs by 2021, Says New Survey from https://www.philanthropy.com/article/51-of-Fundraisers-Plan-to/246857

Ron Haas has served the Lord as a pastor, the vice president of advancement of a Bible college, a Christian foundation director, a board member and a fundraising consultant. He’s authored three books: Ask for a Fish – Bold Faith-Based Fundraising, Simply Share – Bold, Grace-Based Giving, and Keep on Asking – Bold, Spirit-Led Fundraising. He regularly presents fundraising workshops at ministry conferences and has written fundraising articles for  Christian Leadership Alliance’s Outcomes magazine.

“I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you” (John 15:15).

Do you treat your donors as servants or friends? Do you only care about your donors for what they have and what they can do for you instead of who they are and what you can do for them? Jesus makes an amazing statement to his disciples, “I have called you friends.” Yes, we are Christ’s servants, but he has elevated our relationship to friend status and desires to be your close friend. You should elevate your donors to friends.

Terminology
How we refer to those who support us reveals how we value them. We run reports and categorize people by their giving frequency, recency, and gift amount. Subconsciously or consciously we often view our donors as dollar signs. Make a significant shift in your vocabulary and start referring to your donors as ministry partners.

Trust
How does a servant become a friend? The answer is by building trust. Joseph was a faithful servant who rose to become ruler of Egypt because he could be trusted. The trust we develop with our ministry partners is built over years of keeping our word. Do what you say you will do. If you promise to follow up with an answer to their question, follow up promptly. If you indicate you will use their gift for a certain project, don’t shift their funds to something else without asking their permission. Broken trust is difficult to repair.

Transparency
“A servant doesn’t know his master’s business.” Masters didn’t consult their servants for advice but they would ask their friends. Jesus treats us as friends by sharing important information with us. He is completely transparent, everything he learned from his father he has shared with us. Sometimes we keep our donors in the dark about our ministry plans. Treating your donors as friends means you genuinely care for them and communicate openly and honestly about your needs. Your transparency will earn you the opportunity to ask for their help.
Henri Nouwen made this insightful statement about a fundraiser’s relationship with donors, “Once we are prayerfully committed to placing our whole trust in God, and have become clear we are concerned only for the Kingdom; once we have learned to love the rich for who they are rather than what they have; and once we believe we have something of great value to give them, then we will have no trouble at all in asking someone for a large sum of money.”

Think About This: If we love the rich for who they are we will view them as friends, even close friends. If we love the rich for what they have, we will see them only as a means to an end–their means to support our end. Let Nouwen’s phrase sink into your heart, “Love the rich for who they are rather than what they have.” What will you do this week to build trust with your ministry partners?

Response: Father, forgive me for viewing our donors as dollar signs, not my personal friends.

Henry Nouwen, The Spirituality of Fundraising

Ron Haas has served the Lord as a pastor, the vice president of advancement of a Bible college, a Christian foundation director, a board member and a fundraising consultant. He’s authored three books: Ask for a Fish – Bold Faith-Based Fundraising, Simply Share – Bold, Grace-Based Giving, and Keep on Asking – Bold, Spirit-Led Fundraising. He regularly presents fundraising workshops at ministry conferences and has written fundraising articles for  Christian Leadership Alliance’s Outcomes magazine.

“But generous people plan to do what is generous, and they stand firm in their generosity.” Isaiah 32:8 NLT

Generous giving is spiritual warfare. When believers give generously, they join you in pushing back the darkness. Satan will do everything he can to discourage your donors by tempting them with greed, fear, and doubt. He will try to convince them they can’t afford to give, or their gifts won’t make an eternal difference. Thankfully, generous people stand firm in their generosity, but their giving decisions are not simple or easy. Consider these four challenges:

Family
Family obligations are often used as an excuse for not giving. You may have heard someone say, “I’m helping my child or grandchild through college, so I can’t give.” The friend at midnight’s friend also used his children as an excuse. “My children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything,” (Luke 11:7). It is proper to care for your family (1 Tim. 5:8) but unfortunately some senior saints are living for pleasure (1 Tim. 5:7). Giving becomes more challenging when children question their parents’ or grandparents’ charitable legacy decisions. However, generous people are determined to make generosity a priority because they have an eternal perspective.

Finances
Making wise giving decisions is difficult work. With so many worthy charitable options, donors must ask the Lord for wisdom to “discern what is best” (Phil. 1:10). Your donors may want to give but simply cannot because of other responsibilities. Fred was asked for a campaign gift. He initially indicated he would give $25,000, but after prayer and considering his other gift commitments, he decided to give $10,000. Our proper response should be gratitude, not disappointment.

Frustrations
Major donors face everyday trials just like you. They may be thinking about giving a gift when life interrupts them with a car accident, health issues, or chaos at work. These challenges can impact their gift amount or timing. Steve was planning to ask a major donor for a $150,000 gift. When they met for coffee the donor shared, “I just learned my administrative assistant embezzled $150,000 from our office.” Steve wisely kept the gift proposal in his notebook for another day.

Fear
Satan throws his ultimate weapons of fear and doubt at generous people. It’s only human to question, “If I give, will I have enough to meet my needs?” (Matt. 6:33) or “How can I be sure God will ‘throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it?’” (Mal. 3:10). Giving requires immense faith no matter what your net worth. Fear can surprise even a well-intentioned donor at any time in the giving process—even after they have made a verbal commitment to support your ministry. Pray fervently for your donors to stand firm against the devil’s excuses.

Think About This: Faith is the answer to Satan’s attack. “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). Surround your ministry partners with your shield of faith to extinguish the flaming arrows aimed at their hearts.

Response: Lord, please protect our donors from Satan’s attacks. Give them wisdom to know what to give, to whom, and when.

Ron Haas has served the Lord as a pastor, the vice president of advancement of a Bible college, a Christian foundation director, a board member and a fundraising consultant. He’s authored three books: Ask for a Fish – Bold Faith-Based Fundraising, Simply Share – Bold, Grace-Based Giving, and Keep on Asking – Bold, Spirit-Led Fundraising. He regularly presents fundraising workshops at ministry conferences and has written fundraising articles for  Christian Leadership Alliance’s Outcomes magazine.

“When the queen of Sheba heard of Solomon’s fame, she came to Jerusalem to test him with hard questions. Arriving with a very great caravan—with camels carrying spices, large quantities of gold, and precious stones—she came to Solomon and talked with him about all she had on her mind. Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was too hard for him to explain to her. When the queen of Sheba saw the wisdom of Solomon, as well as the palace he had built, the food on his table, the seating of his officials, the attending servants in their robes, the cupbearers in their robes and the burnt offerings he made at the temple of the Lord, she was overwhelmed” (2 Chronicles 9:1-4).

John D. Rockefeller, Jr. once said, “I have been brought up to believe, and the conviction only grows on me, that giving ought to be entered into in just the same careful way as investing–that giving is investing and should be tested by the same intelligent standards. Whether we expect dividends in dollars or human betterment, we need to be sure the gift or the investment is a wise one and therefore we should know all about it.”
The queen of Sheba visited Solomon to see for herself if everything she heard about his wisdom and splendor was true. She brought with her expensive gifts and hard questions. No question was too difficult for him. Major donors also ask hard questions which you must be prepared to answer.

Fiscal Responsibility
Businesspeople want to know your ministry plans make sound financial sense. They may want to review your audit, challenge your financial projections, and question your strategic plan. Major donors give generously after they believe you will manage their gift well. “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much” (Luke 16:10).

Spiritual Impact
Kingdom givers look for spiritual outcomes and resonate with everything you do to advance the Gospel. Share facts and figures demonstrating your ministry’s effectiveness. Always tell your story through the lives you have reached for Christ. Be just as concerned about your spiritual accounting as your fiscal accounting.

Healthy Organization
Wise donors know your organization must be spiritually healthy to make an eternal difference. Solomon’s kingdom was breathtaking. His palace was beautiful, the food superb, his servant’s uniforms were exquisite. She was overwhelmed as she looked in every direction. But what caught her attention the most was how happy Solomon’s people were (v. 7). The queen realized God was the reason Solomon’s court was so special. “Praise be to the Lord your God, who has delighted in you” (v. 8).
The Queen of Sheba was convinced Solomon was the real deal. She was amazed at his wisdom and how God had blessed him in every imaginable way. Will your ministry pass the donor test?

Think About This: Solomon gave the queen more than she gave him (v. 12). The same is true for your donors and you. They bless you with financial resources, but your gift to them is far greater because you give them an opportunity to lay up treasures in heaven!

Response: Father, help us reflect your glory well so our donors see you not us.

Ron Haas has served the Lord as a pastor, the vice president of advancement of a Bible college, a Christian foundation director, a board member and a fundraising consultant. He’s authored three books: Ask for a Fish – Bold Faith-Based Fundraising, Simply Share – Bold, Grace-Based Giving, and Keep on Asking – Bold, Spirit-Led Fundraising. He regularly presents fundraising workshops at ministry conferences and has written fundraising articles for  Christian Leadership Alliance’s Outcomes magazine.

“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:2-3).

Development departments fail for many reasons including issues like unclear vision, inadequate donor information, insufficient funding, misguided strategies, lackluster implementation, and ineffective communication. Dysfunctional internal relationships top the list for many organizations. You can have the greatest ministry vision, an outstanding CRM database, well-designed strategies, dedicated board members, and clear donor communications but without a healthy organizational culture you will struggle to reach your fundraising potential. Paul shares four antidotes to overcome toxic work cultures.

Be completely humble.
So much office drama could be avoided if we simply practiced humility toward one another. Unfortunately, our egos wrestle to gain the upper hand. We chafe when someone else gets credit for what we’ve accomplished. Solomon teaches, “Where there is strife, there is pride, but wisdom is found in those who take advice” (Prov. 13:10). How have you shown pride in your workplace?

Be completely gentle.
“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” (Prov. 15:1). When a coworker is harsh, you can respond in kindness or throw gas on the fire. If your boss is unreasonable, calmly and gently make your case. “Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone” (Prov. 25:15). Follow Paul’s instruction, “Let your gentleness be evident to all” (Phil. 4:5).

Be patient.
Fundraising demands great patience. Externally, it takes time to schedule donor meetings. It can be very frustrating to make multiple attempts to connect with your donors, but you must maintain politeness and kindness. Internally, crafting solicitation materials involves considerable time for writing, designing, proofing, and printing. Being impatient with fellow team members or external vendors usually doesn’t speed up the process but only adds anxiety and stress to your entire team.

Bearing with one another in love.
Eugene Peterson’s The Message paraphrases Ephesians 4:3 this way, “pouring yourselves out for each other in acts of love, alert at noticing differences and quick at mending fences.” We all have unique personalities and idiosyncrasies and are bound to rub one another the wrong way. A culture of love recognizes and appreciates the differences and works quickly to reconcile when disagreements arise. The greatest solution is to deeply love one another because “love covers a multitude of sins” (1 Pet. 4:8).
These principles are easy to say and difficult to implement, but the right atmosphere makes fundraising much more enjoyable and productive. If your development department is toxic, what proactive steps can you take to keep the unity of the Spirit? Paul admonishes us, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone” (Rom. 12:18).

Think About This: When times are good everyone is happy, but ugly personalities emerge when times get tough. Sometimes the only way to maintain the peace is to terminate a disruptive employee. “Drive out the mocker, and out goes strife; quarrels and insults are ended” (Prov. 22:10).

Response: Father, forgive me for things I’ve said and done which have caused drama in our department. Give me wisdom to repair broken relationships on our team.

Ron Haas has served the Lord as a pastor, the vice president of advancement of a Bible college, a Christian foundation director, a board member and a fundraising consultant. He’s authored three books: Ask for a Fish – Bold Faith-Based Fundraising, Simply Share – Bold, Grace-Based Giving, and Keep on Asking – Bold, Spirit-Led Fundraising. He regularly presents fundraising workshops at ministry conferences and has written fundraising articles for  Christian Leadership Alliance’s Outcomes magazine.

“Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds” (John 12:23-24).

Seeds are miraculous. Farmers and gardeners know it requires proper soil, water, temperature, and light conditions for seeds to germinate. In simple terms, the seed must die to reproduce. Jesus used seeds to illustrate his death and resurrection. Because of Christ’s death—the one seed— “many will be made righteous” (Rom. 5:19). Jesus invites believers to follow in his steps. “Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life” (John 12:25). God calls us to work in his harvest field, but first we must die to ourselves.

Sowing and Reaping
The dying seed principle applies directly to generous giving. The money we give becomes dead to us in the sense we give up our control. God takes our seed and works a miracle to produce a harvest of righteousness in others (see 2 Cor. 9:10). The sowing and reaping principle means you reap in proportion to what you sow. If you sow with caution, you will reap a meager harvest. If you sow with abundance, you will reap a bumper crop. This truth should compel us and our donors to give as much as we possibly can—and then give even more!

Death Throes
Many donors struggle with letting go of their possessions. The rich young ruler desired to follow Jesus but when he learned it would cost him everything, he became sad because he was very wealthy (see Luke 18:18-23). People think they own things, but often things own them. Jesus warned, “the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word (seed), making it unfruitful” (see Mark 4:18-20). Present your ministry partners with gift opportunities to stretch them. Encourage them to die to their own will and reap an abundant spiritual harvest.

Multiplication Factor
Communicate your needs to your donors by emphasizing the eternal results their gift will produce as they partner with you. Help them understand how your ministry will multiply their gift in the lives of the people you serve directly, and how the chain reaction of one changed life will impact many others. The students you educate today will be leaders tomorrow. The homeless person you feed, clothe, shelter, and retrain now will become a productive community member in the future.

Eternal Impact
Often colleges and universities conduct an economic impact study demonstrating their value to the community. Frame your appeals with an “eternal impact” perspective proving your value to your constituency. Donors want to know your ministry is a good investment producing a spiritual return on their gift. Tell your “many seeds” stories to encourage your donors to plant their single seed.

Think About This: Paul gave up everything to follow Christ and encouraged believers to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice (Rom. 12:1-2). The main problem with being a living sacrifice is we keep crawling off the altar!

Response: Father, help me communicate the incredible eternal impact a generous gift would make in the lives of the people we serve.

Ron Haas has served the Lord as a pastor, the vice president of advancement of a Bible college, a Christian foundation director, a board member and a fundraising consultant. He’s authored three books: Ask for a Fish – Bold Faith-Based Fundraising, Simply Share – Bold, Grace-Based Giving, and Keep on Asking – Bold, Spirit-Led Fundraising. He regularly presents fundraising workshops at ministry conferences and has written fundraising articles for  Christian Leadership Alliance’s Outcomes magazine.