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Campfire burning brightly by a lake at sunset with the words “Fired Up Donors” and “2 Timothy 1:6” written on the left side.
Fundraising Verse of the Week

Fired Up Donors

by Ron Haas
September 22, 2025

“For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God” (2 Timothy 1:6).

Starting a fire by rubbing two sticks together takes dry wood, incredible patience, and high pain tolerance. First, gather some small twigs for tinder, some slightly larger sticks for kindling, and some bigger chunks of wood. Rotate a spindle stick between your hands repeatedly on a piece of wood until the friction makes embers at the base of the stick. Once there’s a glowing ember transfer it to your tinder nest. Blow gently on the ember to ignite a flame. Slowly build your fire with kindling then add some fuelwood and marshmallows.

Every believer has a spiritual gift to kindle into a raging fire for the glory of God. The privilege of sharing is one of them, “if it is giving, then give generously” (Rom 12:8). Consider these four ways to spark a fire in your heart so you can ignite generous giving in the hearts of your ministry partners, “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline” (2 Tim. 1:7).

Not Timid
Paul admonished Timothy to not fear man but to boldly proclaim the word of God. Fear is a major hindrance to successful fundraising. We worry about how a prospective donor might respond to our proposal. Will they be offended? Will they get angry? Will asking for a gift harm our friendship? Some respond to this fear by talking around a gift instead of clearly asking what you want your donor to consider. Don’t heavenly hint, boldly ask!

Power
The phrase, “do not be afraid” is mentioned 365 times in the Bible. As a fundraiser you should take this promise to heart, “The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” (Psa. 118:6). What’s the worst that could happen when you ask for a gift? The donor might refuse. However, a “no” is empowering because it gives you important feedback. Did they say no to the project? the gift amount? or the timing? Discover the underlying reason for their response and address their concerns.

Love
“Perfect love drives out fear” (1 John 4:18). Where is the love in fundraising? First, your love for the Lord as you seek to serve him. Then, your love for the people your ministry serves. Finally, your love for your ministry partner as you help fan their flame to lay up treasures in heaven and take hold of the life that is truly life (1 Tim. 6:19). Focus on how your donor benefits.

Self-discipline
What does self-discipline have to do with fundraising? Brian Tracy author of No Excuses says, “Your ability to discipline yourself, to set clear goals, and then to work toward them every day, will do more to guarantee your success than any other single factor.”  You need self-discipline to keep asking!

Think About This: Fundraising isn’t manipulating your donor to do something they will regret. Fund Raising School Founding Director Hank Rosso defined fundraising as “the gentle art of teaching people the joy of giving.”

Response: Father, please help me “spur (donors) toward love and good deeds” (Heb. 10:24) so they experience the joy of generosity.

An image featuring a majestic eagle in flight against a vibrant sunrise or sunset sky, symbolizing strength and guidance. The text overlay reads "TRAINING YOUR TEAM TO ASK" in bold, elegant font, with "Deuteronomy 32:11" below it, emphasizing the theme of leadership and nurturing development.
Fundraising Verse of the Week

Training Your Team to Ask

by Ron Haas
January 15, 2025

“Like an eagle that stirs up its nest
and hovers over its young,
that spreads its wings to catch them
and carries them aloft” (Deuteronomy 32:11).

Mother eagles have a fascinating method for teaching their offspring to fly. Around 8-11 weeks after the eaglets hatch, she tears up their cozy nest to force her juveniles out of bed. She then flutters over them to show them what to do. The young eagles venture out to the ends of the branches and begin flapping their wings. Finally, they take a leap of faith but when their unsteady wings cause them to fall, their attentive mother will dart underneath at the last moment to save them from a crash landing. Before they can catch their breath, she flies them higher for a second attempt. Eventually, the fledgling gets the hang of it and will spend the next 35 years soaring through life. Her example teaches us four lessons about training new fundraisers.

Stirs up its nest
Some fundraisers spend a lot of time in their cozy offices. Certainly, there are lots of things to do in your office. You have reports to run, brochures to design, donors to research, and important meetings to attend but major donor fundraising happens face to face with your ministry partners. If you are the leader, stir up your team and kick them out of the nest.

Hovers over its young
The mother eagle demonstrates to her young how to fly. The wise executive leads by example. Don’t be like the Pharisees, who “load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them” (Luke 11:46). As the president or executive director of your ministry, you should be a player-coach when it comes to raising money.

Spreads its wings to catch them
Making your first ask can be traumatic for a rookie asker. Don’t send your inexperienced fundraiser to a major donor meeting by themselves. Jesus sent out his disciples in pairs. One could talk while the other one prayed. As the experienced fundraiser, you can swoop in and save the conversation by answering a difficult question, explaining your ministry’s position on a key issue, or making the ask crystal clear.

Carries them aloft
Not every major donor meeting ends with a “yes;” sometimes you fall flat on your face. Fundraising is a journey, not a destination. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “if you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.” Don’t allow your team to give up. Give them another opportunity to ask and eventually, they will succeed.

Think About This: What if you’re the experienced fundraiser and your boss is not? Learn how to lead up. Show them by your example how to ask. Set them up for success by inviting them on donor calls and giving them an easy first ask. Build their confidence and pray that God will give them a love for the ministry of fundraising.

Response: Father, give me wisdom to teach others what you’ve taught me about asking. Please give our team new strength to soar high “on wings like eagles” (Isa. 40:31).

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