0
0
The image features a soft pink background with several layered paper-style hearts in various sizes on the left side. On the right, elegant white text reads “Recognizing Donor Loyalty” with the reference “1 Kings 2:7” below it. The overall design conveys warmth, gratitude, and appreciation.
Fundraising Verse of the Week

Recognizing Donor Loyalty

by Ron Haas
November 3, 2025

“But show kindness to the sons of Barzillai of Gilead and let them be among those who eat at your table. They stood by me when I fled from your brother Absalom” (1 Kings 2:7).

David was experiencing the lowest moment of his life. His son, Absalom, rebelled forcing David and his household to escape across the Jordan River. They arrived at the little village of Mahanaim exhausted, hungry, and thirsty. There, a wealthy man named Barzillai the Gileadite appeared with many gifts: wheat, barley, flour, roasted grain, honey, and cheese from cows’ milk (see 2 Sam. 17: 27-29). His generosity and David’s response teach us four important lessons about deepening our donor relationships.

Generosity
Perhaps Barzillai had met David previously or perhaps he just knew his reputation. Either way he developed a deep loyalty for David which resulted in rich generosity. A major donor was asked if he would support a campaign and he responded, “I don’t know much about this project, but I’ve known the president for years and trust his judgment. My wife and I would consider a gift of $500,000.” Generosity springs up from a loyal heart. Barzillai’s gifts gave David strength to fight another day.

Humility
On David’s return to Jerusalem, he didn’t forget who helped him win the battle and invited Barzillai to come live in the palace. Barzillai graciously declined the invitation, “How many more years will I live, that I should go up to Jerusalem with the king? I am now eighty years old. Can I tell the difference between what is enjoyable and what is not? Can your servant taste what he eats and drinks? Can I still hear the voices of male and female singers? Why should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king?” (2 Sam. 19: 34-35). Some donors don’t want recognition, but you should offer anyway.

Sacrifice
Barzillai then made an unusual request and asked David to take his servant, Kimham, to the palace instead of him. David was pleased to respond, “anything you desire from me I will do for you” (2 Sam. 19:38). One important way to honor your major donors for their loyalty is to listen to their ideas and implement them whenever you can. If they ask for a favor, respond with the generosity they have shown to you. This was true friendship. “The king kissed Barzillai and bid him farewell, and Barzillai returned to his home” (2 Sam. 19:39).

Legacy
Every nonprofit wants to know how to reach the next generation of donors. Typically, grandparents and parents have institutional loyalty, but children and grandchildren lose interest. One key way to capture the interest of the next generation is to honor the memory of the previous generation. David told Solomon to honor the descendants of Barzillai because he stood by him when times were tough (see 1 Kings 2:7).

Think About This: Famed L. A. Dodgers’ coach Tommy Lasorda said, “You give loyalty, you’ll get it back. You give love, you’ll get it back.” Sounds like the principle of “sowing and reaping.”

Response: Father, I praise you for our faithful donors who have stood by us in good times and bad times. Help me honor them for their loyalty.

A gold background with a diagonal metallic stripe featuring the text “Golden Rule Fundraising” and “Matthew 7:12” written in a glowing white script font.
Fundraising Verse of the Week

Golden Rule Fundraising

by Ron Haas
October 28, 2025

“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 7:12).

The Golden Rule teaches us to actively treat others the way we ourselves would like to be treated. This principle applies directly to fundraising. You want to be treated with kindness and respect, so do your donors. You appreciate good communication, so will your donors. There’s another unspoken golden rule in fundraising—”He who has the gold makes the rules!” Each major donor has individual giving interests and should be approached in a personal way. However, there are some basic principles that apply to every donor. A foundation director shared these four secrets to a successful grant.

Define the problem.
What problem are you trying to solve? Donors want to make an eternal difference, but they must first understand the need. Are you raising money to help an underprivileged child receive a Christian education? Are you helping a family rise from poverty? Are you facing a budget shortfall that will severely impact your programs? Clarence “Kelly” Johnson, the former lead engineer at Lockheed Skunk Works responsible for the SR-71 Blackbird spy plane, coined the phrase “keep it simple, stupid.” Your job is to communicate a complex problem in a way your donors can grasp.

Share your solution.
Your problem needs to be solvable. Donors respond when you present a problem that can be solved today. Reaching the remaining five billion unreached people is an incredible vision but a complex problem. A donor will see their gift as just a drop in the bucket that won’t make a meaningful difference. If you frame your solution in small achievable steps, their gift becomes relevant. Both your problem and your solution must be easy to understand.

Show data to prove your plan works.
Great storytelling creates donor empathy, but storytelling is not enough, you must share relevant data to support your plan. Foundations are particularly interested in outcomes. Like your high school algebra teacher, they want you to “prove your work.” A major donor responded to a feasibility study by saying, “I don’t know what you accomplished with my last gift.” He was not interested in the new facility but wanted to know how many lives were impacted by the programs because of the new facility.

Ask for a specific gift.
Your donors don’t know as much about the problem as you do because you’ve been studying it for years. Don’t make the mistake of saying, “How much would you like to give to solve this problem?” A foundation board chair shared, “You are the expert, not me. Don’t make me guess what my gift should be to help solve your problem. We may or may not give that amount, but we want a number.” Asking for a specific gift is a kindness because it lets your donor know what level of support they should consider.

Think About This: Ask yourself how you would like to be asked and apply those standards to your fundraising. Share the problem, your solution, the supporting data, and a specific gift amount.

Response: Father, please show me how to improve my storytelling with compelling data that will inspire generosity in my ministry partners.

fundraising, humility, leadership, pride, generosity, ministry growth, donor relationships, mentorship, spiritual lessons, nonprofit leadership, success and failure, faith-based fundraising
Fundraising Verse of the Week

Weak Fundraising

by Ron Haas
October 20, 2025

“His fame spread far and wide, for he was greatly helped until he became powerful. But after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall” (2 Chronicles 26:15-16).

At 16 years of age, Uzziah was crowned king. Pretty heady stuff for a teenager. He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and God gave him success. He fortified Jerusalem, built towers in the wilderness to protect the people, and assembled more than 300,000 troops. Uzziah was a genius in designing war machines. “In Jerusalem he made devices invented for use on the towers and on the corner defenses so that soldiers could shoot arrows and hurl large stones from the walls” (2 Chron. 26:15). God blessed him with victories over all the surrounding nations. Uzziah was living the life, but he got too big for his britches and God taught him humility. “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall” (Prov. 16:18). Pride embeds itself deep in our hearts but eventually rises to the surface. Ironically, fundraising success can derail you and your ministry. You begin to trust your own human efforts instead of God’s provision. Uzziah made three crucial mistakes.

No Mentor
Uzziah was successful at the beginning of his reign because he listened to godly counsel. “He sought God during the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God. As long as he sought the Lord, God gave him success” (2 Chron. 26:5). Zechariah died and Uzziah took a tragic turn to the dark side of pride. Who are the “Zechariahs” in your life? How often do you seek their advice? Do you have a leadership coach to mentor you? Who keeps you grounded?

Stubbornness
Uzziah desired to burn incense on the altar of incense. Eighty-one godly priests warned him against it, but he wouldn’t listen. Some executive directors who have a little fundraising success think they know everything they need to know and stop listening to those around them. They don’t take advice from their team and push forward with their own agenda. Before you ask your key major donor for a gift, ask your team for their insights for the right project and the right amount. How willing are you to submit to their counsel when it goes against what you think?

Overconfidence
It’s great to have confidence in your fundraising abilities, but overconfidence is a trap. You become tone deaf to what your donor wants to accomplish with their giving and only pitch your ministry objectives. Some leaders develop an arrogant attitude believing the donor serves their ministry instead of the other way around. Uzziah charged right into the Temple and the Lord struck him with leprosy. He left immediately and spent the remainder of his days in a separate house banned from the temple (2 Chron. 26:21). Pride is an ugly attitude that will isolate you from your team and even your major donors.

Think About This: In the Christian walk, weakness is strength. You can attempt to fundraise in your own strength, but you will miss the power of Christ (see 2 Cor. 12:9-10). Boldly fundraise with humility.

Response: Lord, give me genuine humility and grace as I encourage our ministry partners to give generously.

A person’s hand giving a thumbs-down gesture in front of a dark chalkboard background with large white text that reads “When Your Donor Says No” and a smaller Bible reference “Luke 14:16–18.”
Fundraising Verse of the Week

When Your Donor Says No

by Ron Haas
October 6, 2025

Jesus replied: A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, “Come, for everything is now ready.” But they all alike began to make excuses (Luke 14:16-18).

Stanley Weinstein opined, “Successful fundraising is the right person asking the right prospect for the right amount for the right project at the right time in the right way.” When donors reject your invitation to partner with you, something is off in the fundraising equation. You need to discover the underlying reasons. Consider these giving variables:

Wrong Asker
The number one reason people give is because of who asks. Assign the right person to solicit your prospect. Choose someone your prospect is comfortable with and will have the greatest likelihood for success. Be humble and realize that you might not be the best choice.

Wrong Prospect
Some nonprofit organizations have broad donor appeal because they serve a wide constituency. Ask yourself why would someone consider giving to your ministry? Your prospective donor must have some connection—the closer the better. However, any solicitation is a nonstarter if your mission doesn’t align with your prospective donor’s values.

Wrong Project
Everyone has giving motivations and interests. Some love education. Some have compassion to care for the poor and needy. Some only give to international missions. Donors reject our proposals because we haven’t listened. Gifts grow in size and frequency when you align with your donors’ hearts.

Wrong Time
A donor might support your mission and your specific project, but still not give because of timing issues. Be flexible and offer giving options. Could they give a small gift now to show their support for the project, and give the balance of their pledge later?

Wrong Amount
A large request should never be a surprise. Active listening will help you identify the right gift range. There is no exact science for determining what to ask. What has your donor given in the past? If you are asking for an annual gift, you can ask 2 to 10 times over their previous gift. If you are asking for a capital campaign commitment, you can stretch them 10 to 25 times their annual gift.

Wrong Way
A major donor shared that in the past few years she has been getting phone calls, letters, and personal visits from ministry directors and development staff who literally demand that she give a gift to their organization. They don’t ask, “Would you consider a gift of $50,000?” or “Would you pray about giving a gift of $100,000?” Their actual words are, “You must give a gift of $250,000 to this project.” That’s not biblical boldness; it’s just plain rude.

Think About This: The man in the parable of the banquet wasn’t deterred by those who rejected his invitation. Instead, he instructed his servant to, “Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full” (Luke 14:23). When your prospects say no, keep asking until others say yes!

Response: Father, forgive me for being discouraged when donors reject my ask. Help me discern what went wrong so I can hear a “yes!”

Person participating in an ice bucket challenge, dumping a bucket of water over their head outdoors, with the words 'Fad Fundraising' and 'Acts 17:21' on a blue background.
Fundraising Verse of the Week

Fad Fundraising

by Ron Haas
September 29, 2025

“All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas” (Acts 17:21).

Joseph Bayly wrote The Gospel Blimp as a satire to poke fun at Christian ministries that build elaborate systems but neglect the real work of evangelism. The plot focuses on George and Ethel, a friendly Christian couple who was concerned about their next-door neighbors but didn’t know how to share the good news of Jesus Christ. One night during a gathering at their home with some Christian friends, a blimp flew overhead. Their friend Herm came up with a brilliant idea: Why not use a blimp to proclaim the Christian message to the unchurched citizens of Middletown? Herm’s vision spawned a new non-profit organization with an exciting new strategy to buy a used blimp, hire a pilot, and evangelize their hometown by towing Bible-verse banners, broadcasting Christian music and programs over loudspeakers, and “carpet bombing” folks with gospel tracts. It’s a great farce, if only it didn’t hit so close to home. We will do anything in the name of evangelism—except talk to people about Christ. This same attitude infects fundraising. Consider these four questions as you evaluate your next fundraising event.

Time
Fundraising events take massive amounts of time to plan, execute, and follow-up. Know your purpose before investing the time. What are the key performance indicators for your event? Is your goal volunteer engagement, donor cultivation, generating fundraising income, goodwill and peer relationship building, memorable experiences, networking, milestone, or mission-affirming celebrations, etc.? Identify two or more specific outcomes for your next event.

Volunteers
Your volunteers are a precious resource. Invest their time wisely. Will the volunteer opportunities for your event be meaningful and life-giving for volunteers? Will they be energized by serving or just dutifully helping because this is what we/they have always done? If you accounted for all your volunteer time, would you break even?

Constituents
Can the time and energy invested in your event achieve significant outcomes in moving forward donor relationships through goodwill, networking, or raising funds? Events can effectively encourage greater community support, promote your mission, start new relationships, and build donor and volunteer loyalty. Sometimes we think we must take every donor down the same path. How will you reach the major donors who don’t attend your events?

Priorities
Stephen Covey said, “The enemy of the best is often the good.” Events can be positive experiences or black holes that compress and stretch you at the same time through a phenomenon called ‘spaghettification.’ At the end of the year, you will be graded on how much money you raised, not how many events you planned. You only have so many hours in your week to raise money. Manage your time wisely. Any activity that is not directly connected to identifying, cultivating, or soliciting major donors should be secondary on your to-do list.

Think About This: Fundraising events might bring you closer to your major donors, but like George and Ethel learned—it’s more effective to meet your friend face to face.

Response: Father, help me not rely too much on events to tell our story. Give me courage to visit my major donors personally and ask for their support.

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.

White lettered dice spelling 'YES OR NO' on a bright surface with the text 'Farewell to Fickle Fundraising' and '2 Corinthians 1:15-17' above.
Fundraising Verse of the Week

Farewell to Fickle Fundraising

by Ron Haas
September 8, 2025

I wanted to visit you first so that you might benefit twice. I wanted to visit you on my way to Macedonia and to come back to you from Macedonia, and then to have you send me on my way to Judea. Was I fickle when I intended to do this? Or do I make my plans in a worldly manner so that in the same breath I say both “Yes, yes” and “No, no”? (2 Corinthians 1:15-17).

Have you ever been misunderstood? Paul planned to visit Corinth on his way to Macedonia and return to Corinth before traveling to Jerusalem (see 1 Cor. 16:5-9), but his plans changed. The Corinthians were upset Paul didn’t show up and accused him of being fickle. The Cambridge English Dictionary defines fickle as “likely to change your opinion or your feelings suddenly and without a good reason.” Donors can also become disgruntled with us when they perceive we say one thing and do another. Consider these principles to avoid sending mixed messages.

Tell Them What You’re Going to Tell Them.
Paul asked the Corinthians to “send me on my way to Judea.” Earlier, Paul had asked all the churches in Macedonia and Achaia to take up a collection for the believers in Judea (1 Cor. 16:1-4). On this trip he was planning to receive their gifts and take them to Jerusalem. If you intend to ask a donor for a gift, let them know why you are coming. Be forthright and say something like, “I would love to tell you about our project and share a proposal of how you could partner with us financially.”

Tell Them.
The essence of fundraising is asking. Cultivation is a key part of the donor experience, but all your relationship-building efforts must lead to solicitation. If you want them to pray, ask for prayer. If you want their time, ask them to volunteer. If you want a gift, ask for a specific amount. If you are unsure of what amount to ask, ask if they would consider a gift in the range of $10,000, or $100,000, etc. Another strategy is to show them your gift chart and ask, “Would you prayerfully consider making a leadership gift?” You could also ask an open-ended question like, “Where do you see yourself fitting into our campaign?”

Tell Them What You Told Them.
Your donors should know exactly what you asked them to consider. When you suggest a number, you both know what you asked. Your ask might be too high or low, but stating a specific amount starts the conversation. A camp director asked a donor for a $75,000 gift for a capital campaign. The donor responded, “That’s more than I was thinking, but I like what you did. I will remember that number and ask my friends to help me raise that amount.”

Think About This: Paul was not fickle. He said what he meant and meant what he said. Just as we must speak with integrity, we want our donors to give us a clear “Yes or No.” Ask boldly and let God prompt them to give generously.

Response: Lord, help me ask clearly so my donors know exactly how they can partner with us to advance your kingdom.

Silhouette of a person kneeling in prayer at sunset by the ocean, with the words 'James 5:16 P.U.S.H. Fundraising' overlaid on the image.
Fundraising Verse of the Week

P.U.S.H. Fundraising

by Ron Haas
September 4, 2025

“The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” (James 5:16).

Elijah prayed and it did not rain for three and a half years. Imagine forty-two months without rain—rivers dwindle to a trickle, lakes evaporate, crops fail, livestock die of thirst, and hope slowly fades. Elijah prayed again and “the heaven gave rain and the earth produced its crops” (James 5:18).  It wasn’t a quick “bless the missionaries” prayer. Seven times he prayed and asked his servant to look to the sky for answers. Six times the servant saw nothing, but the seventh time he saw “a cloud as small as a man’s hand rising from the sea” (1 Kings 18:44). God opened the windows of heaven because of Elijah’s persistent prayer.

Are you experiencing a budget drought? You need P.U.S.H. Fundraising—Pray Until Something Happens. Often, we stop praying after one or two anemic prayers, but God answers when we persevere. Sure, you pray to meet your budget, but do you pray for the individuals who can help you meet your budget? If you only know your donors by their I.D. numbers, you can only pray in generalities. But if you know your donors intimately, you can pray with understanding. Paul prayed these requests for the Colossian believers (see Col. 1:9-10).

Know God’s will. “We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives” (v. 9).
Knowing and doing God’s will is top of mind for every believer who wants to wholeheartedly serve the Lord. Your ministry partners need knowledge, wisdom, and understanding to make good stewardship decisions.

Live worthy. “Live a life worthy of the Lord” (v.10).
To walk worthy means our actions match our words. Sincere believers don’t say one thing and do another. Wealth comes with many temptations. Unfortunately, many “have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs” (1 Tim. 6:10). Pray for your ministry partners to live their faith, not merely profess it.

Please God. “Please him in every way” (v. 10).
In the last days, people will be “lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God” (2 Tim. 3:4). Pray your donors will not be swayed by “the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things” (Mark 4:19). Your donors need wisdom to please the Lord in their money management, especially their giving.

Bear fruit. “Bearing fruit in every good work” (v. 10).
Jesus taught, “If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). Pray your ministry partners will remain in Christ and bear fruit that lasts. Hudson Taylor said, “The Lord’s work done in the Lord’s way will never fail to have the Lord’s provision.” In response Francis Shaefer observed, “The Lord’s work done in human energy is not the Lord’s work any longer. It is something, but it is not the Lord’s work.”

Think About This: If God answered all your prayers, would it change the world and your ministry partners, or just your budget?

Response: Father, please help me pray specifically for our donors to seek your will and bear much fruit through their generosity.

Image of six copper pans hanging neatly on wooden pegs against a white wall, with text overlay reading “Firm Peg Donors Isaiah 22:23-24.”
Fundraising Verse of the Week

Firm Peg Donors

by Ron Haas
August 18, 2025

“I will drive him like a peg into a firm place; he will become a seat of honor for the house of his father. All the glory of his family will hang on him: its offspring and offshoots—all its lesser vessels, from the bowls to all the jars” (Isaiah 22:23-24).

Eliakim son of Hilkiah was a servant of King Hezekiah whom the Lord promoted to the throne. Isaiah described Eliakim as a peg driven into a firm place. Householders hung their kitchen utensils on pegs in the wall. Something on its peg was in its proper place ready to be used. This unusual image illustrates the importance of preparing major donors who are firmly in place to support your ministry.

Open/Shut
Isaiah gave Eliakim the keys of David meaning “what he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open” (Isa. 22:22). John used the same description for Jesus Christ (Rev. 3:8). When the Lord opens a door for your ministry, no one can shut it—yet many will try to stand in your way (1 Cor. 16:9). Major donors can help you unlock opportunities that others can’t. Share your passions for what you believe God is prompting you to solve. Help them see how they can lay up treasures in heaven by partnering with you.

Hang On
Firm pegs illustrate security. Eliakim was a strong leader on which Israel could rely. Having trusted major donors by your side gives you confidence to tackle new opportunities. If your key supporters endorse your direction, then you will succeed. Who will stand with you to open your next ministry door? Identify those major donors in a feasibility study as you consider a capital campaign.

Large/Small
Everything was held by a peg—from the large pans and pots to the small bowls and cups. Don’t think that just because you’re not a big ministry major donors won’t be interested in what you do. Major donors have room for more than one ministry on their giving list. Giving is based on relationships. Concentrate on identifying, cultivating, and soliciting major donors already in your constituency.

Go Away
Eliakim was a “peg in a firm place” for a season. Eventually, he was broken off when Judah was finally sent into captivity (Isa. 22:25). Sometimes, when a major donor adopts a ministry, the ministry relies too heavily on that single donor. After more than ten years of giving $600,000 annually to a Christian school, a major donor decided to shift his giving priorities to other interests forcing the school to scramble to make up the lost revenue. Find more than one firm peg to hang onto.

Think About This: Robert Pierpont, from the Fund Raising School at the Indiana University Center on Philanthropy, observes that in a capital campaign the ten largest gifts set the pace for success. If you don’t secure key leadership gifts, you can’t find enough small gifts to fill the gap. Pierpont remarked, “Once the big-gift-first sequence has been seriously violated, the entire program is in jeopardy.1” Focus your efforts on finding firm peg donors and hang your capital campaign on them.

Response: Father, please bring us key supporters who will partner with us to fulfill your mission.

1Pierpont, R. (2002). Capital Campaigns. Retrieved from The Fundraising School: http://www.philanthropy.iupui.edu/files/course_resources/capital_campaigns_pierpont.pdf

A man in a suit pointing directly at the camera with a serious expression, set against a soft beige background; bold text on the right reads “SAY YOU, NOT ME! 2 Thessalonians 1:11.
Fundraising Verse of the Week

Say You, Not Me!

by Ron Haas
August 6, 2025

“We constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith” (2 Thessalonians 1:11).

Thessalonica was a short, but productive stop on Paul’s second missionary journey (Acts 17:1-8). The unbelieving Jews were so jealous of the gospel’s success, they ran Paul and Silas out of town. Though he left abruptly, he kept thinking about and praying for these friends and sent Timothy back to check on them (1 Thess. 3:1-2). We can learn much about our donor relationships from Paul’s relationship with the Thessalonians.

Donor-Focused
We can hear Paul’s heart for these believers in the language he used. In 2 Thessalonians 1, he emphasized “you” and “your” seventeen times to express his love. He thanked God for them (vs. 3), boasted about their faith (vs. 4), gave them hope in God’s justice (vs. 5-10), and “constantly prayed for them” (vs. 11). Paul’s writing style should prompt us to incorporate more “you” phrases in our writing and conversations. Consider these phrases, “Your help is needed now more than ever,” or “You can fan the flames of revival,” or “We know you want to make a difference,” or “Your gift will last beyond your lifetime.” As you design marketing materials, focus on your donor—not you.

God-Focused
The Thessalonian believers were suffering under great persecution. Twice Paul asked God to make them “worthy of his calling” (vs. 5, 11). What an incredible encouragement it must have been to know that the Apostle Paul was constantly praying for them. Your donors are also experiencing trials of many kinds and you have the privilege of praying for them. Point them to the cross. Pray that God will bring relief and glorify himself (vs. 6, 12).

Donor Success
Paul prayed for God’s favor for his friends. Your donors desire to be good stewards of the resources God has given them. Paul prayed that their every good desire and every deed prompted by faith would become a reality. Know your donors well enough so you can pray effectively for their concerns. Pray for their businesses to thrive, their investments to yield amazing returns, and God’s blessing for a bountiful harvest. As they succeed, they will have more capacity to be generous.

Your Success
When Paul collected money for the poor in Jerusalem, he was reluctant to ask the Thessalonians because they were experiencing extreme persecution and poverty (2 Cor. 8:2). They surprised him and insisted that he receive their gifts so they could join him in serving others (2 Cor. 8:1-4). Generosity is not connected to a person’s net worth, but their heart. Cheerful givers want to make an eternal difference with their gifts (2 Cor. 9:7).

Think About This: Henry Blackaby wrote in Experiencing God, “Find out where God is at work and join him there.” When your donors see God working in your ministry, they will want to join you. Invite them to give, even if they are going through tough times.

Response: Lord, please teach me how to use more “you” language in our materials. May our donors experience the joy of giving through our ministry.

1 2 3

Recent Posts

Recent Comments

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