“So he sent two of his disciples, telling them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. ¹⁴ Say to the owner of the house he enters, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’” Mark 14:13-14

What are we to understand from this curious story from Holy Week? It feels like a scene from a spy thriller. “You will meet a man wearing a pink carnation. Follow him.” One possible explanation is that Jesus was protecting his disciples by keeping the location of the Last Supper a secret from the Jewish leaders and even Judas. The disciples obeyed Jesus’ instructions and found everything as he said.

There is a fundraising application to this story. Often when we look at our donor portfolios, we don’t see many people of wealth. One major gift officer complained, “I would like to find a few donors that have more than two nickels to rub together!” The nugget in this gospel account is that the first man the disciples met wasn’t the owner of the house, he was the man who lead them to the donor who provided for their needs.

You may not have many major donors on your list, but perhaps you know people who can introduce you to high impact donors. Always ask, “Who do you know that might be interested in our project?” One time I asked this question and the donor said, “Our very best friends shared with us last week that they recently made $300,000 in the stock market.” I discovered that this “new” prospect was already a donor to our ministry. I visited this couple and they eventually gave a $75,000 gift!

Follow every prompting of the Holy Spirit!

Ron

“I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.” I Corinthians 3:6

Paul recognized that the church is not built upon the efforts of only one person, but the contributions from many and the blessing of God. Paul was the evangelist that shared the Gospel calling people to repentance. Apollos was a teacher who grounded new believers in the Word. God used them and many others to build his church.

Likewise, fundraising is a team effort. Your president sets the pace by casting vision and inviting your key major donors to partner with you. Your board members have incredible influence representing your ministry to your community and constituency. Your marketing team crafts your message and keeps your website looking sharp. Your staff manages the database, appeals, receipting and donor communications. And you have the joy of identifying, cultivating and soliciting major donors. Everyone plays a critical role in creating a culture of philanthropy.

When I served as Vice President for Advancement many times while visiting donors, a sweet little lady would show me an engraved bible that the former president had given her. Every time that happened, I said to myself, “Thanks Gordon.” He planted the seed that I had the privilege of harvesting. What seed can you plant or water today in your donors’ hearts that will yield fruit long after you’re gone?

God bless,
Ron

“Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, ‘Come, let’s go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised men. Perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few.’” 1 Samuel 14:6

Jonathan was a man of action. He wasn’t interested in waiting for the Philistines to attack Israel. Instead, he looked for an opportunity to take the battle to them. He devised a plan to draw the Philistines into a fight and they took the bait. Jonathan believed that God could bring a great victory by his little act of faith. His initiative ignited a battle that caused so much confusion the enemy began fighting themselves. It was a panic sent by God.

Are you a risk-taker when it comes to engaging your donors or do you prefer having every word of your donor meetings highly scripted? Being well-prepared is a great quality, but there’s something to be said for stepping out in faith and trusting God for the results. Jonathan had a simple plan, “If they say, ‘Come up to us’ that will be our sign.” Jonathan had a general idea of what he wanted to accomplish, but he trusted God to guide each step.

Phil was unable to connect with a certain major donor after many unsuccessful attempts. Finally, he decided to text this person he had never met. On the morning he was scheduled to be in the area, the donor texted him back, “Mr. Jones… your text surprises me. I do not know you, but I know of your ministry. I can meet this morning at 9:00 a.m.”

Take the initiative. God can act on your behalf and give you great success.

God bless,
Ron

“Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, with integrity and godly sincerity. We have done so, relying not on worldly wisdom but on God’s grace.” (2 Corinthians 1:12)

Warren Buffett said, “It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you’ll do things differently.” Paul was confident that in the eyes of the world and among fellow believers he had not done anything to tarnish his reputation. That doesn’t mean that everybody liked him or that his ministry was free from conflict. What it does mean is that Paul’s life and words matched. People knew that Paul meant what he said and lived what he believed.

Integrity is a bedrock principal of fundraising. Donors must have complete confidence that you are accomplishing what you advertise in your ministry and wisely using the funds you receive. Accurate donor reports are critical to continued donor engagement. Everything your ministry does either builds trust and credibility or erodes it – your communication, your ministry impact, the way you deal with controversies, and even the way you treat your staff.

Organizational credibility is essential, but your personal reputation is just as important. Paul used the phrases, “integrity, godly sincerity, and not relying on worldly wisdom, but God’s grace.” Do your donors see the fruit of the Spirit in your life every time you meet with them, or do they simply see a professional fundraiser? Charles R. Swindoll noted, “Only you can do the self-exam needed for integrity. No one else knows the truth.”

God bless,
Ron

^“We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.” 2 Corinthians 1:8-11

Would your marketing department create a Facebook post about all the troubles you are facing as a ministry? Probably not. We strive to manage our public image to make the best impression possible. Yet, Paul communicated raw, unvarnished reality about what he was facing. It’s really refreshing to read how transparent he was about his struggles.

The beauty of Paul’s communication is that he gave God the glory for delivering him time and time again. He emphasized that his trials forced him to rely on God and not himself. Then Paul draws the Corinthians into his struggles, “as you help us by your prayers.” Do you ask for prayer or only for money? Paul asked for both.

Maybe your newsletter or website are not the right platforms to share intimate requests. Consider developing an insider’s prayer email and invite your major donors to join in your spiritual battles. Then when God answers, they will give thanks with you because they are your partners in ministry. The more fervently someone prays with you, the more generously they will be prompted to give.

God bless,
Ron

“I will answer him and care for him… your fruitfulness comes from me.” Hosea 14:8

How successful was your year-end giving campaign? One statistic says, “Approximately 31% of all annual giving occurs in December and approximately 12% of all annual giving occurs in the last three days of December. 28% of nonprofits raise between 26 – 50% of their annual funds from their year-end ask.” Many ministries kicked off their year-end push with Giving Tuesday, followed by a Thanksgiving or Christmas card, possibly an email campaign or social media blitz, a year-end appeal letter, and lots and lots of phone calls and personal visits.

You might have taken a well-deserved break for a minute or two, but your work isn’t done. Now its receipt and “thank you” writing season as you follow up with your generous donors. While your thoughts are still fresh, evaluate what worked and what didn’t and adjust for next year. Soon your calendar shifts to your busy spring season as you write board reports, finalize donor event details, and schedule major donor visits. To adapt an old adage, “Everyone else in your ministry works from sun to sun, but a fundraisers work is never done.”

This is why Hosea 14:8 is so meaningful. You can work hard. You can even work smart, but you won’t accomplish what God wants you to accomplish without his power. You know that and you and your team prayed fervently for all your year-end strategies. Take comfort that the Lord promises to answer and care for you. Remember, any lasting fruit comes from him. Fervent prayer is the key to your fundraising success. Consider amping up your fundraising prayer effort for 2020. Start today by praying for each donor who contributed to your year-end campaign.

God bless,
Ron