“May those who fear you rejoice when they see me, for I have put my hope in your word.” (Psalm 119:74)

Perhaps you’ve seen this funny poster, “Everyone brings joy to this office. Some when they enter. Some when they leave.” Major donor work involves face to face visits in people’s homes or offices. We all bring joy to our donors, but is it when we arrive or leave? Are they glad to welcome you, or do they hide behind the curtains hoping you will think they’re not home? What can you do to make sure you bring joy to your donors? This simple verse shares four key insights.

I have put my hope in your word.
No matter what your mission statement is, the reason your ministry exists is to be the hands and feet of Jesus. You are not just providing a quality education; you are instilling principles from God’s word. You are not just feeding the hungry, you are hoping your guests will respond to God’s kindness. You are not just caring for physical needs; you are caring for souls. Your ministry partners love you because you have put your hope in the Word and are attempting to do what it says.

May those who fear you
Your commitment to the Bible limits your potential donor pool. Some secular donors may appreciate the temporal work you do even though they don’t resonate with your eternal work. Should you take money from those who don’t align with your faith? Salvation Army founder William Booth is often quoted as saying, “the problem with tainted money is there t’aint enough.” Yet, recent scandals from high profile donors are prompting some nonprofit organizations to have reconsider their policies.

Rejoice
Generosity stirs emotions of the giver and the receiver. “God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7). You think you’re excited to receive a large gift, but your donors are even more excited to give it. The Macedonians gave a sacrificial gift to Paul so he could share with the poor believers suffering in Jerusalem. Paul was amazed at their generosity, “In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity” (2 Corinthians 8:2).

When they see me
Face to face fundraising is the gold standard strategy for connecting with your ministry partners. Many ministry leaders find it very difficult to visit with their donors. A very successful grandparent was identified in a feasibility study. He loved his grandchildren and had given, but the school’s development director had never visited him. The director even said, “If you lined him up in a crowd, I couldn’t identify him.” Unfortunately, the donor had no idea what the development director looked like either.

Think About This: Follow Paul’s example, “And they praised God because of me” (Galatians 1:24). In your desire to visit your donors, don’t overstay your welcome. A pastor had a reputation for making long hospital calls. He thought spending enormous amounts of time showed how much he cared, but he didn’t understand the law of diminishing returns.

Response: Father, forgive me for not spending quality time with my key donors. Help me make personal visits a primary strategy for engaging our donors.

Have a Spirit-led Fundraising Week!

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 blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,
whose confidence is in him.
They will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
    and never fails to bear fruit.” (Jeremiah 17:7-8)

How do you approach fundraising? Some trust their education, years of experience, great strategies, or even their winning personality. All these rely on human efforts. Fundraising is spiritual work requiring spiritual resources. Jesus taught, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). If your fundraising work implements the latest, greatest strategies and tactics you might succeed from a world perspective but will accomplish nothing for eternity. Instead, yield your plans to the Lord and seek his guidance for your every move.

Notice how Jeremiah describes fruitfulness:

Planted by the Water
As a ministry leader, you must pursue a growing relationship with the Lord. Don’t go through spiritual motions; ground yourself in the word. It’s too easy to get caught up with the tasks you believe God wants you to do and neglect who God wants you to be. Are you closer to the Lord today than when you first started fundraising?

No Fear When Heat Comes
Fundraising is the ministry front line. Have you faced the heat yet? Heat comes from many sources: antagonism from those who oppose your mission, disgruntled constituents who question a decision, board members or staff with different agendas, or miscommunication among your team members. You won’t have all the answers but seek to resolve issues with humble confidence.

Leaves are Always Green
When your root system is firmly connected with the living water, you will always have a fresh perspective of your situation. Much of fundraising relies on optimism. Joy and confidence from the Lord can overflow to your donors and staff.

No Worries in a Year of Drought
Perhaps you are experiencing a fundraising drought. Don’t worry. “The pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them” (Matt. 6:32). Work as hard as you can and pray God will open “the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it” (Mal. 3:10).

Never Fails to Bear Fruit
Sure, we all want the fruit of more donors and dollars than last year, but what about the spiritual fruit you bore in the lives of your donors? How did you challenge them grow in the grace of giving? How did you encourage them to lay up treasures in heaven? Seek fruit which will endure for eternity (John 6:27).

Think About This: When you face a God-sized goal, be sure to reflect all the glory to him when he enables you to achieve it! “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit” (John 15:8).

Response. Father, forgive me for trying to bear fundraising fruit in my own strength. Prompt me to invest more time in prayer to implement the right strategies which yield eternal fruit. donors to throw us a rope!

Have a Spirit-led Fundraising Week!

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.

“Ebed-Melek the Cushite said to Jeremiah, ‘Put these old rags and worn-out clothes under your arms to pad the ropes.’ Jeremiah did so, and they pulled him up with the ropes and lifted him out of the cistern.” (Jeremiah 38:12-13)

Nebuchadnezzar was knocking on Jerusalem’s door. Jeremiah warned those who stayed in the city would die; those who escaped would live. Even though he was speaking God’s truth, the city officials accused him of discouraging everyone, “This man is not seeking the good of these people but their ruin” (Jer. 38:4). The officials complained to King Zedekiah, so he turned Jeremiah over to them and they threw him into a cistern. Imagine how desperate Jeremiah felt as he sank into the mud. We can learn five lessons from his dire situation.

When You’re Stuck in the Mud…
Do you feel like Jeremiah? He spoke truth, but no one wanted to listen. Perhaps your ministry has taken an unpopular stand. Maybe the media has caught wind of the story and amplified the situation. No matter how much you try to explain your side of the story, public opinion says, “you are not seeking good, but ruin.” Consequently, you’re stuck with few options.

You Need a Friend…
Thankfully, Jeremiah had a friend who cared. Ebed-Melek was also a city official, but he was convinced Jeremiah was speaking the truth. He pleaded to King Zedekiah, “he will starve to death” (Jer. 38:9). You need people to speak on your behalf when you don’t have a voice. Stand your ground. Be faithful to your mission. Your donors will notice and respond.

To Recruit His Friends…
King Zed gave Ebed-Melek permission to round up thirty-one friends and rescue Jeremiah. Here’s an interesting fundraising application. You might be so deep in the mud just one donor can’t solve your problem. Fundraising is a team sport. Motivated donors ask their friends to partner with them on projects close to their hearts.

To Pull You Out…
Ebed-Melek and his friends grabbed some ropes and old rags, went to the cistern, and pulled Jeremiah up out of the mud. As Chase and Michelle raised missionary support, they challenged individuals to “hold the rope as we go over the cliff!” You need some key donors on the other end of the rope pulling for you.

And Restore Your Voice.
Jeremiah’s cistern experience didn’t silence him. Interestingly, the first person to seek his counsel was King Zedekiah himself. Jeremiah was skeptical the king would listen, but he spoke truth anyway. If the king obeyed God, things would go well for him; if he disobeyed, he would be the one sinking in mud. (Jer. 38:20-23). Learn from Jeremiah’s courage. Always speak God’s truth—no matter the cost.

Think About This: When the Babylonians breeched the wall, they seized the city officials who had thrown Jeremiah in the cistern, but God enabled Ebed-Melek to escape (Jer. 39:18). You never forget those who helped you when the chips were down. Neither does God (Heb. 6:10)!

Response: Father, I’m discouraged about our current situation. Please give me courage to speak truth and faith to trust your plan. Please prompt some generous donors to throw us a rope!

Have a Spirit-led Fundraising Week!

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.

Caleb gave his daughter Aksah to him (Othniel) in marriage.

One day when she came to Othniel, she urged him to ask her father for a field. When she got off her donkey, Caleb asked her, “What can I do for you?”

She replied, “Do me a special favor. Since you have given me land in the Negev, give me also springs of water.” So Caleb gave her the upper and lower springs. (Joshua 15:17-19)

Aksah was Caleb’s only daughter whom he gave in marriage to Othniel as a reward for conquering the city of Kiriath Sepher. Her dowry was a tract of land in the Negev, but she wanted more. So, she urged her husband to ask her dad for water to irrigate her land. Scripture doesn’t record Othniel’s response. Perhaps he felt it would seem ungracious or presumptuous to ask for another gift, but that didn’t stop Aksah. She went to Caleb and boldly asked for more! Aksah teaches us four lessons about asking!

Overcome Reluctance
Othniel was a brave warrior, but when it came to asking, His wife Aksah felt he needed a little push. Sometimes we struggle asking major donors for additional gifts. We question if we should ask again or whether the donor would even consider a second gift. Here’s an important fundraising rule: Don’t decide for your donors, let them make up their own minds about giving to your project.

Ask Personally
This request was so important to Aksah she was determined to ask for herself. She didn’t wait for Othniel or task a servant to deliver the message. She saddled up her donkey and made a donor visit. Modern technology is wonderful, but don’t rely on mail, email, texts, or even Zoom. When asking for a big gift, demonstrate how serious you are by making every effort to visit your donor face to face.

Be Proactive
When Caleb asked, “What can I do for you?”, Aksah was prepared with an answer. She thanked him for giving her land and then asked for a special favor, “Give me also springs of water.” You must have clear outcomes in mind for your major donor calls. What do you hope to accomplish in your meeting? Not every meeting is an ask, but when it’s time to ask, be clear about what you want your donor to do.

Understand Relationships
Aksah certainly had an advantage in this solicitation: she was Caleb’s only daughter, her husband was a respected leader who would become Israel’s first judge, Caleb had already given a generous first gift, and then there’s the granddad factor. She was the right person to make the ask. In your major donor relationships, you must earn the right to ask. Big requests shouldn’t be a surprise. How have you strengthened your key donor relationships, so they are ready to give?

Think About This: When you make solicitation assignments for your team, always choose the person who has the strongest relationship with the donor. Make it easy for your donor to say “Yes,” and difficult for them to say, “No.”

Response: Father, forgive me for my reluctance to ask for a second gift. Help me cultivate strong donor relationships. Give me boldness to ask. Prompt my donors to be generous!Have a Spirit-led Fundraising Week!

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.

Elisha said, “Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few.” (2 Kings 4:3)

Many ministries face great financial needs, but have few donor leads. Whom can you turn to find the resources you need? A widow approached Elisha with a great need. Her husband, who was enrolled in the school of prophets, passed away leaving her with a sizable debt. It was so insurmountable her creditors threatened to take her two sons as slaves. Grief-stricken, she cried out to Elisha for help. His answer can help you solve your desperate need.

Assess Your Situation
Elisha replied to her, “How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?” “Your servant has nothing there at all,” she said, “except a small jar of olive oil” (vs. 2). Many times, we view ourselves as having absolutely nothing to work with. Look closely at your database. Namestorm with your board members. Can you identify anyone who could give $100,000 to your ministry? How about $50,000… $25,000… $10,000… $5,000? Work down your list until you find a lead. Everyone knows someone who could give $1,000.

Ask Your Friends
Elisha helped her realize she had more resources beyond what she had in her house—she had a network of neighbors and friends. You have relationships with those you serve and those who love those your serve. Our minds always jump to millionaires and billionaires we’ve never met and will probably never meet. Instead, focus your efforts on those in your immediate circle.

Ask for a Gift they can Give
Elisha gave her curious instructions. “Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few” (vs. 3). Can you imagine the scene? “Mary, could I borrow as many empty jars as you can spare?” She gathered jars of all sizes. Sometimes, we look for one mega donor who can give a mega gift to solve all our problems. It’s easy for a donor to say no to a large request. Ask them for a gift they can say yes to!

Exercise faith
The woman filled her house with empty jars, went inside, and shut the door. Then she and her sons witnessed God’s miracle of provision. One by one she filled each jar from her little jar of oil. When the last jar was filled, the oil stopped. She must have wished she had asked a few more neighbors for a few more jars. Don’t stop reaching out. Don’t stop telling your ministry story. Don’t stop asking for gifts no matter how small. The minute you stop asking, the gifts stop coming.

Think About This: A master bonsai gardener took an overgrown, partially dead juniper tree and transformed it into a work of art. He commented about his finished product, “You have to use what you’ve got to get what you want.” Use what you have and let God transform it into something beautiful for his glory.

Response: Father, I feel like this desperate widow. Open my eyes to relationships I have and give me the courage to ask for help. Give me faith to trust you for your provision.

Have a Spirit-led Fundraising Week!

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 servant hurried to meet her and said, “Please give me a little water from your jar.”

“Drink, my lord,” she said, and quickly lowered the jar to her hands and gave him a drink.

After she had given him a drink, she said, “I’ll draw water for your camels too, until they have had enough to drink.” So she quickly emptied her jar into the trough, ran back to the well to draw more water, and drew enough for all his camels. (Genesis 24:17-20)

Abraham gave his servant detailed instructions about finding a bride for Isaac. He was not to look among the daughters of the Canaanites but travel back to his homeland and search among his relatives (see Gen. 24:1-4). Abraham’s servant prayed God would reveal the right young woman by prompting her to give him a drink and water his camels. God answered immediately in an incredible way.

Rebekah’s over and above response teaches us four important truths about donor endurance. Sometimes we are reluctant to ask a major donor repeatedly for support for fear they will tire of us and stop giving altogether. Donor fatigue seems real, but is it?

Start Small
Abraham’s servant prayed specifically the woman would give him a drink and then offer to water his camels (Gen. 24:14). He didn’t overwhelm her with a big ask, but wisely started small, “Please give me a little drink from your jar.” Most million-dollar gifts start with a small entry gift. Don’t shock your key prospects with a huge first gift. Ask for a gift which makes it easy for them to say “yes.”

Notice Enthusiasm
Watering camels is a huge job. A thirsty camel can drink more than 30 gallons of water in 15 minutes. If Abraham’s servant had an entourage with ten camels, we can understand why Rebekah ran so quickly back and forth from the well. Rebekah’s eager response wasn’t just because she had a good work ethic. Her generosity was a sign of God’s answer. God can bring special donors to you who have the gift of giving enthusiastically.

Deepen Your Relationship
When Rebekah finished her task, Abraham’s servant gave her a gold nose ring and two gold bracelets. It wasn’t just a generous tip for doing a great job, it was a proposal for marriage to Isaac. Develop a lifelong relationship with your key ministry partners. As your friendship deepens over the years, so will their financial commitment to your success. God rewards those who are generous by giving them more opportunities. “You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion” (2 Cor. 9:11).

Think About This: Jesus promised “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap” (Luke 6:38). This doesn’t sound like donor fatigue. Don’t view generous donors as a well that could run dry. See them as rivers of living water God abundantly supplies to refresh others (see John 7:38).

Response: Father, lead me to donors you have selected to partner with our ministry. Grant them the energy and resources to give generously until the job is finished.

Have a Spirit-led Fundraising Week!

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.

“For the king of Babylon stands at the parting of the road, at the fork of the two roads, to use divination: he shakes the arrows, he consults the images, he looks at the liver.” (Ezekiel 21:21)

19^th century philosopher William James penned this witty word play, “Is life worth living? It all depends on the liver.” A healthy liver is key to living a healthy life. Your liver performs approximately 500 functions including synthesizing amino acids and cholesterol; metabolizing carbohydrates, proteins, and fats; and producing bile which assists digestion in the small intestine. The Babylonians believed they could read a liver like a compass. Should they turn right or left?

What guides your ministry direction? How do you decide what programs to pursue or eliminate? What factors do you examine to determine if you need new facilities to accomplish your mission? Your non-profit is too sophisticated to look at a liver—instead, you’ve developed a strategic plan! Consider these four perspectives.

Top Down
Autocratic leaders desire to control every aspect of their organization, especially direction. This type of leader makes all the decisions with little to no input from followers. Many non-profits started from the vision of one individual who saw a need, took the risk to create a solution, and it worked. Top-down decisions are made quickly, but they can also demoralize followers who don’t feel their voice is heard.

Bottom Up
This approach to strategic planning believes the best innovative ideas come from the frontline staff who serve every day. Bottom-up planning is more democratic and can lead to small, incremental changes. While it is imperative to achieve buy-in from key staff, a bottom-up approach sometimes lacks support from leadership or trustees.

Inside Out
An inside-out strategic plan suggests everyone in the organization knows more about how to help than everyone outside the organization. One challenge with this perspective is organizations can become insulated and focus more on internal issues. Always remember Peter Drucker’s wise admonition, “Organizations exist to serve people outside the organization.”

Outside In
It’s healthy to make decisions with information from your community and constituency. What do your customers want and expect from your organization? Carefully listening those you serve helps you respond more effectively to their needs. However, if you chase the demands of people who don’t align with your mission you could possibly drift off course.

Ahead Behind
Effective strategic planning employs elements from all four approaches, but the best ministry blueprint seeks God’s direction and doesn’t rely on mere human understanding. Moses experienced a wonderful promise, “See, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared” Exodus 23:20. God has a perfect future for your ministry and will guide you along the right path, if you ask.

Think About This: Make Isaiah 30:21 a key strategy when mapping your direction. “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’”

Response: Father, please forgive us for leaning on our own understanding when developing our strategic plans.

Have a Spirit-led Fundraising Week!

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 in order not to weary you further, I would request that you be kind enough to hear us briefly.” (Acts 24:4)

Ananias, the high priest, and some elders appeared before Felix, the Roman governor, to condemn Paul for being a troublemaker. They brought along their lawyer, Tertullus, who spent some time flattering Felix. When he realized he might be losing his audience, he quickly jumped to his closing argument. Perhaps, William Shakespeare was inspired by Tertullus when he wrote “brevity is the soul of wit.” Intelligent writing and speech should use as few words as possible. This principle is especially true in fundraising. Here are five applications:

Writing
News flash—donors aren’t waiting eagerly at inbox to open your newsletters, fundraising appeals, and emails. You must grab and keep their attention within the first sentence. Share encouraging stories of how your ministry is making an eternal difference and ask. Be ruthless with your red editing pen and cut out all needless words. Get to the point.

Speaking
TEDtalks are 18 minutes. It doesn’t matter how famous, wealthy, or influential you are; you have 18 minutes to make your point. Set a time limit for your featured gala/banquet speaker. The longer they run into overtime, the less generous your donors will be. Coach them to get to the point.

Watching
Six second funny cat videos can get millions of views. Most YouTube videos are 7-15 minutes. Marketing videos should be two minutes or less. The quality of your content is more important than length. Your video should be as long as it takes you to tell your compelling story—not a second more or a second less. Get to the point.

Visiting
Don’t overstay your welcome during a donor visit. Plan on 45 minutes to an hour. You can stay longer if your host keeps the conversation going, but don’t dawdle. Before your meeting, determine what outcomes you hope to accomplish and guide the conversation toward that end. Implement the 3 Bs: Be Good, Be Brief, and Be Gone. Get to the point.

Asking
The most critical moment of your donor visit is the “ask.” Instead of asking, some ministry leaders hint and talk around the ask. Some nervously ask for a gift but keep on talking after they ask. If you keep talking, you risk talking your donor out of the gift. Stop talking; listen for their answer. Get to the point.

Tertullus was wrong about Paul, but right about Felix’s attention span. He wisely said, “I don’t want to keep you too long. Please listen to us. We will be brief” (Acts 24:4, GW). Know your audience and share your compelling story with as few words as possible.

Think About This: Tertullus had just one audience before Governor Felix and did his best to make a strong case. Consider carefully what to share with your key donor prospect—you may only get one chance! Pray you will say just enough to be invited back for a second meeting!

Response: Father, please increase my awareness to know when to listen, when to talk, and when to ask. May your Spirit give me the words I need to say and nothing more.

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 driving is like that of Jehu son of Nimshi—he drives like a maniac.” (2 Kings 9:20)

“He (Jehu) came upon Jehonadab son of Rekab, who was on his way to meet him. Jehu greeted him and said, ‘Are you in accord with me, as I am with you?’ “I am,” Jehonadab answered. “If so,” said Jehu, “give me your hand.” So he did, and Jehu helped him up into the chariot. ¹⁶ Jehu said, “Come with me and see my zeal for the Lord.” Then he had him ride along in his chariot. (2 Kings 10:15-16)

If Jehu lived today, he would drive a Tesla so he could accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 2.8 seconds. Jehu’s crazy driving habits illustrate how driven he was to accomplish God’s mission – to kill Jezebel, Ahab’s descendants, and the prophets of Baal. Perhaps you have experienced a hard-driving donor who lives to get things done and challenges you to move at his or her pace. Look for zeal as you recruit donors to serve on your board or capital campaign committee.

Driven Donors…

Attract Followers
People love to follow strong leaders. King Joram sent messengers to offer Jehu peace, but Jehu answered, “What do you know about peace? Fall in behind me” (2 Kings 9:18-19). The soldiers recognized Jehu’s leadership and immediately switched sides. Your ministry needs strong volunteer leaders who will help you build a strong team.

Shoot Straight
Driven donors are often very direct. King Joram met Jehu who bluntly said, “How can there be peace as long as the idolatry and witchcraft of your mother, Jezebel, are all around us?” (2 Kings 9:22). As King Joram turned his chariot around to flee, Jehu shot him between the shoulders (v. 24). Jehu was a straight shooter in more ways than one. Value donors who speak truth.

See Reality
Jehu’s mission was to assassinate Jezebel. When she knew he had arrived in Jezreel “she painted her eyelids, and fixed her hair, and sat at a window” (2 Kings 10:30). It didn’t help. Jehu saw through her facade and ordered she be defenestrated (thrown out the window). Driven donors can look at your budget and see the bottom line. They know if your numbers work or if you are trying to sugar coat something.

Think Strategically
Jehu was a cunning military leader. He killed everyone in Ahab’s family and devised a plan to invite all the prophets of Baal to a worship service. He gave them robes so they would stand out in the crowd, then had his soldiers kill them. Jehu destroyed every trace of Baal worship from Israel and God rewarded him.

Need Accountability
“But Jehu did not obey the Law of the Lord, the God of Israel, with all his heart” (2 Kings 10:31). God used Jehu, but he was a flawed human being. God can use your driven donor, but they need your spiritual guidance to be truly successful.

Think About This: God brought you driven donors not just for their wealth, but also for their work and wisdom. Climb in the chariot and hang on!

Response: Lord, please help me recognize and recruit key donors gifted with leadership.

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.

“One of the servants told Abigail, Nabal’s wife, ‘David sent messengers from the wilderness to give our master his greetings, but he hurled insults at them.’” (1 Samuel 25:14)

Abigail faced a crisis. David was ticked, rallied his bill collectors, and was fixin’ to make a house call. When Abigail discovered Nabal’s faux pas she jumped into action, gathered many gifts, and rushed to cut off David at the pass before he could cut off Nabal’s head.

This exhilarating story directly applies to ministries who fumble their major donor relationships. “An offended friend is harder to win back than a fortified city” (Prov. 18:19 NLT). More than one ministry has exasperated a key donor. Sometimes the issues are minor; sometimes they are epic. In either case, you don’t want major donors shaking the dust off their feet and walking away. Consider these six recovery strategies.

Go Immediately
Abigail lost no time because every minute she delayed put her family at risk. “Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court” (Matt. 5:25). Don’t lull yourself to sleep by thinking “time will heal all wounds.” When someone is offended you must quickly schedule a face-to-face meeting. Be open and transparent about what happened and how you intend to solve the problem.

Express Humility
Abigail bowed down before David and said, “Pardon your servant, my lord” (1 Sam. 25:24). Genuine humility and repentance promote reconciliation. Abigail wasn’t the one who offended David, but she was the one who took responsibility. You may not have been the one who offended your donor, but as the ministry representative, you must take responsibility.

Speak Truthfully
Donors value truth. Abigail was brutally honest, “Please pay no attention, my lord, to that wicked man Nabal. He is just like his name—his name means Fool, and folly goes with him.” Don’t use this as a proof text for calling your boss a fool, but if someone in your ministry said or did something inappropriate, face it head on.

Resolve the Conflict
Abigail didn’t just speak words, she acted. All the gifts she brought paid David’s bill for guarding Nabal’s flocks (1 Sam. 25:27). When you have an opportunity to right a wrong, do it even when it costs something. Your ministry will benefit in the long run.

See Your Donor’s Viewpoint
Abigail was shrewd in her comments and reminded David he would regret avenging himself. You can also reason with your offended donor. “A soft answer turns away wrath” (Prov. 15:1). Help them see how God can use this situation for his glory.

Seek Reconciliation
Abigail accomplished her mission. David said, “Go home in peace. I have heard your words and granted your request” (1 Sam. 25:35). Abigail wisely reconciled with this future major donor. Take every donor relationship seriously.

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.