Three-time Grammy award winning singer-songwriter Bill Withers passed away on March 30, 2020. One of his greatest hits, “Lean on Me,” speaks of the power of supportive friendship.
Sometimes in our lives we all have pain
We all have sorrow
But if we are wise
We know that there’s always tomorrow
Lean on me, when you’re not strong
And I’ll be your friend
I’ll help you carry on
For it won’t be long
‘Til I’m gonna need
Somebody to lean on
These words echo Solomon’s teaching “two are better than one.” This is especially true when it comes to fundraising. You need a friend for mutual encouragement. When he or she is down, you can help them up; when you are discouraged, they can lift your spirits. Not everyone understands your challenges and pressures.
Here are 3 friends to lean on:
An Inside Friend
Do you have a supportive friend within your organization? Someone who can be your sounding board. Someone who gets your culture and gives you honest feedback about your ideas, challenges, and performance.
An Outside Friend
This person knows and loves you and your organization but is one step removed from the palace intrigue to give an unbiased perspective. Outside friends can be your personal mentors, other development professionals, or fundraising consultants.
A Fundraising Friend
The best friend you can have is a fundraising friend. This person stands shoulder to shoulder with you in your efforts. They actively identify, cultivate, and solicit their friends to partner with you. They accompany you on donor calls and share why they believe in your ministry. These friends make ideal board members.
You need all three friends because “a cord of three strands is not quickly broken” (Ecclesiastes 4:12). We all need somebody to help us carry on. Will you be that somebody to lean on?
Have a Spirit-led fundraising week!
Ron
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 two books: Ask for a Fish – Bold Faith-Based Fundraising and Simply Share – Bold, Grace-Based Giving. He regularly presents fundraising workshops at ministry conferences and has written fundraising articles for At the Center magazine and Christian Leadership Alliance’s Outcomes magazine.
