0
0
A peaceful dirt path winds through a lush green forest with soft golden sunlight filtering through the trees. The text on the image reads, “Fundraising is a Journey and a Destination.”
Fundraising Verse of the Week

Fundraising is a Journey and a Destination

by Ron Haas
November 12, 2025

“Here are the stages in the journey of the Israelites when they came out of Egypt by divisions under the leadership of Moses and Aaron. At the Lord’s command Moses recorded the stages in their journey. This is their journey by stages…” (Numbers. 33:1-2).

Did you know? “It takes eleven days to go from Horeb to Kadesh Barnea by the Mount Seir road” (Deut. 1:1). The ETA to the Promised Land was less than two weeks, but the Children of Israel took the not-so-scenic 40-year route. Your journey to a successful capital campaign is rarely a straight line—lots of mountains and valleys stand in your way. Visionary leaders dream big; that’s why people love and follow them. You might fast track your strategic plan and capital campaign, but sometimes reaching your Big Holy Audacious Goals (BHAG) seems more like running a marathon. Like Moses, you may have to realize your dream in phases. What steps should you take to keep moving forward?

Research
At Kadesh Barnea, the Lord instructed Moses to send representatives from each tribe on a vision trip into the Promised Land. They evaluated the land, people, cities, trees, crops, and brought back some incredible evidence—clusters of grapes so huge they had to be carried on a pole between two of them. Before launching your capital campaign, you must do your due diligence. What indications do you have that your dreams are attainable?

Faith
A successful campaign isn’t just about counting the cost; faith is an important element. Twelve men saw the same data—ten focused on the giants and fortified cities but only two focused on what God could accomplish. Unfortunately, the majority ruled and voted against God’s plan. In your situation, the majority also rules. You may have the right vision, but without buy-in from your key supporters you may have to adjust your plan.

Reality Check
The children of Israel were impulsive. One minute they refused to walk by faith into the Promised Land, but when God told them they couldn’t, they decided to do it without his blessing (see Num. 14:35-49). Their efforts resulted in disaster. Sometimes, feasibility studies reveal that your donor base doesn’t have the capacity or the interest to fund your dream. It’s foolish to launch a campaign when your key indicators predict failure.

Perseverance
The Lord wasn’t finished with Israel even though they failed their first test. Moses wrote down every stop along their journey as a record of God’s grace. Forty years later they were prepared for Joshua to lead them into the Promised Land. If your feasibility study reveals that you’re not ready for a campaign, you can still achieve milestones toward your goal. Perhaps you could consider a phased approach. What part of your plan could you accomplish?

Think About This: “Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands” (Deut. 8:2). Is God humbling and testing you in your fundraising journey?

Response: Lord, we want to accomplish something of eternal significance. Please help us walk by faith toward your goals, not ours.

ChatGPT said: A close-up image of three metal keys lying on a smooth brown surface, with the text “Keys to Campaign Success” and a scripture reference displayed in bold letters on the right side. The design has a warm, professional tone suitable for an article about achieving success in fundraising or organizational campaigns.
Fundraising Verse of the Week

Keys to Campaign Success

by Ron Haas
October 13, 2025

Then the Spirit came on Amasai, chief of the Thirty, and he said “We are yours, David! We are with you, son of Jesse! Success, success to you, and success to those who help you, for your God will help you.” (1 Chronicles 12:18).

Non-profit organizations launch capital campaigns to turn their dreams into reality. Unfortunately, some campaigns fall short of the goal. How do you know if you’re ready for a campaign? Should you order confetti and balloons? 1 Chronicles 12:38-40 details seven keys to David’s success that apply to your next capital campaign.

Volunteers
“All these were fighting men who volunteered to serve in the ranks” (v. 38). As David came to power, he was joined by many valiant men who were willing to serve. Fundraising is a team effort. You may think you can tackle a capital campaign all by yourself, but you will be much more successful if you recruit a team of committed volunteers.

Buy-In
“They came to Hebron fully determined to make David king over all Israel” (v. 38). Donor buy-in is critical for your campaign success. Your board and major donors must be fully committed to your campaign. Here’s where many campaigns falter. If your leaders are unsure, your campaign will be in jeopardy.

Alignment
“All the rest of the Israelites were also of one mind to make David king” (v. 38). One key reason for conducting a feasibility study is to test your assumptions. You want to believe that your constituency supports your direction, but you don’t really know until you ask. Test your case for support with your closest supporters and listen to their feedback.

Internal Support
“…their families had supplied provisions for them” (v. 39). Leadership gifts start everything moving. Those closest to David believed in his leadership and those closest to your ministry must believe in your direction. You know your donors’ hearts by how they invest their treasure (see Matt. 6:21). Don’t start your campaign without support from your key donors. The top ten gifts will set the pace for your whole campaign.

External Support
“Also, their neighbors from as far away as Issachar, Zebulun, and Naphtali came bringing food…” (v. 40). News about David’s coronation spread like wildfire. People came from near and far to join the celebration. A capital campaign gives you the opportunity to rally your constituency to accomplish something of eternal significance.

Generosity
“There were plentiful supplies of flour, fig cakes, raisin cakes, wine, olive oil, cattle, and sheep…” (v. 40). The people emptied their storehouses to bring their abundance. Be prepared to receive gifts of cash, multi-year pledges, gifts of appreciated assets, estate gifts, and even grain if you live in ag country.

Joy
“…there was joy in Israel” (v.40). One of the great outcomes of a successful campaign is the joy it brings to everyone in your constituency especially to those who participate. Generous people find great joy in giving because “God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Cor. 9:7).

Think About This: You can make all the right preparations but don’t forget—success comes when “God helps you” (1 Chron. 12:18).

Response: Father, please give me wisdom to prepare well for our next capital campaign. Help us succeed for your glory.

A variety of hand tools including a hammer, pliers, paintbrush, and screwdriver are arranged on a wooden surface. The text 'DIY Fundraising' is centered in bold white letters, with a scripture reference below.
Fundraising Verse of the Week

DIY Fundraising

by Ron Haas
June 18, 2025

The company of the prophets said to Elisha, “Look, the place where we meet with you is too small for us. Let us go to the Jordan, where each of us can get a pole; and let us build a place there for us to meet” (2 Kings 6:1-2).

Occasionally, a board member or major donor will suggest that a ministry could attempt a capital campaign without seeking outside counsel. Perhaps this person had negative experiences with consultants and doesn’t see the value. Perhaps he or she plans to make a significant lead gift and wants all the funds to go for the project. Elisha experienced this do-it-yourself mentality. His school of prophets was bursting at the seams. Their solution was to design-build a new seminary building on the banks of the Jordan River. Four truths emerge from this experience.

Successful Fundraising requires…

Involvement
This plan didn’t come from the top-down, the prophets brought the plan to Elisha. Grassroots ideas can be successful because donors feel ownership. It’s a blessing to have enthusiastic participation from core supporters. The prophets took a hands-on approach and became architects and general contractors. Some projects might be manageable, but today’s building codes and permit requirements put most construction projects beyond the average volunteer. The logical question is, “If you use a professional to design and build the building, why wouldn’t you also use a professional to help you raise the money?”

Leadership
Even though the prophets thought of the idea, they sought Elisha’s blessing before moving forward.
“Then one of them said, ‘Won’t you please come with your servants?’ ‘I will,’ Elisha replied. And he went with them” (2 Kings 6:3-4). Your CEO is your chief fundraiser and must be 100 percent behind your project. His or her leadership will make the difference between your success or failure. Major donors want to believe in your leader—that they will do what they say they will do.

Asking
The seminary volunteers were budding theologians, not professional lumberjacks. One of them had a workplace accident and lost the iron ax head he was swinging. “Oh no, my lord!” he cried out. “It was borrowed!” (2 Kings 6:4-5). This seminarian had asked someone if he could borrow the ax head to work on this project. Your campaign depends on people asking others to participate in your project. If your key leaders are willing to ask, you can be successful; if they are unwilling, your success is uncertain.

Divine Intervention
The seminarian stopped working and ran to Elisha for help. Elisha asked where it fell into the water and miraculously caused the iron to float. This wonderful scene reinforces that all our labors are futile without the Lord’s help. Fundraising is a divine-human endeavor. You might think you can accomplish your project in your own strength but, “Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain” (Psalm 127:1).

Think About This: Your board member and/or major donor might insist on a Do-It-Yourself Fundraising campaign. The key to your success is their involvement—they must step up and “Do-It!” with you.

Response: Lord, please give us wisdom to plan and implement a successful campaign. Help us work as hard as we can and trust you for your results.

Recent Posts

Recent Comments

No comments to show.
[email protected]
123-456-7890
Cart Overview