An illustrated scene of an adult and child fishing together on a rocky shoreline at sunset with gentle waves and a warm glowing sky, with the text Fishing for Donors and the scripture reference John 21:5-6 in white lettering.

Fishing for Donors

by Ron Haas

July 20, 2026

He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered. He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some” (John 21:5-6).

Every fisherman knows the long night with nothing to show for it. The disciples lived that night twice, once in Luke 5 when Jesus first called them, and again in John 21 after the resurrection. Both times they fished through the night to exhaustion, caught nothing, and then watched Jesus turn an empty net into an overwhelming haul. That pattern holds a lesson for every fundraiser who has ever come home empty-handed.

We all go through “no fish” seasons

These men had fished these waters their whole lives. Lack of experience was not their problem. Some of your most frustrating seasons come when everything looks right on paper. Good team. Strong database. Compelling ministry story. All the right pieces in place. The calls are made, the visits are scheduled, your story is ready. And still…nothing.

We must be honest about our situation

Jesus asked the one question they didn’t want to answer. We don’t like to see reality. We would rather sugarcoat our results by focusing on our activity. Simon didn’t dodge it. He said what most of us only think: “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything.” You might say something similar: “I didn’t reach my fundraising target, but I’ve met my goals of how many calls, how many personal visits, how many asks.” Activity is worth tracking, but you must be productive.

We must listen to advice

What did this stranger know about fishing? You might have the same attitude. After all, you are in the trenches every day. You know your donors, your ministry, and your strategies. But sometimes we lose our perspective because we are so close to the situation. Listen to a colleague with an idea, a board member with a suggestion, a donor with a lead, or a trusted outside voice. Fresh eyes often see what familiarity hides.

We must act boldly

“No fish” seasons are not the time to quit. It’s the time for a new strategy and renewed resolve. Jesus told them to throw their nets on the right side of the boat. Peter’s response in Luke captures the same spirit of reluctant obedience: “But because you say so, I will let down the nets” (Luke 5:5). Our most important counsel comes from the Spirit who promised through Isaiah: “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'” (Isaiah 30:21). Are you asking the Lord to reveal who you should call, visit, and ask?

Think About This: When the Lord got involved, “they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink” (Luke 5:6-7). God can take your simple acts of faith and pour out blessing you cannot contain.

Response: Lord, give me direction in my “no fish” moments. Help me work faithfully and trust you for net-breaking results.

Fundraising Verse of the Week

Too Many Fundraisers

by Ron Haas

July 6, 2026

“The Lord said to Gideon, ‘You have too many men. I cannot deliver Midian into their hands, or Israel would boast against me, My own strength has saved me'” (Judges 7:2).

A key question in any capital campaign is, “Do we have the right people to lead this effort?” Jesus taught a parable about planning: “Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand?” (Luke 14:31) Good counsel. Know your team. Plan carefully.

But God told Gideon the opposite: you have too many men. The tension between those two ideas is where Christian fundraising actually lives. God reduced Gideon’s army from 32,000 to 300 to make clear that Israel’s victory would come from His power, not human strength.

Finding 300 Men
God first released those who were afraid, leaving 10,000 volunteers. Then He tested and chose those who scooped water to their mouths. Those men stayed alert with their eyes up and hands ready while others knelt down and lost sight of what was happening around them. In a campaign, that distinction matters just as much. The most effective volunteers know why the work matters, read the room, listen carefully to donors, and stay spiritually and relationally aware. The right people who are engaged, discerning, and mission-aware can carry extraordinary impact even when your team is small.

Staff Size or God
Like Gideon’s army, our campaign teams can become a source of false confidence or unnecessary fear. We count staff, consultants, and volunteers, then feel confident or discouraged based on what we see. But are we trusting our team size or trusting God? He tends to show up most powerfully when our resources look insufficient. When the key volunteer steps back and a better one steps forward. When someone who never seemed engaged becomes the most effective advocate in the room because the Holy Spirit moved them. Don’t let a small team become an excuse. Let it become an invitation.

Same Vision, Smaller Army
God didn’t reduce the goal. He reduced Gideon’s army. Brother Andrew founded Open Doors and spent decades smuggling Bibles into communist countries during the Cold War. He knew something about stepping forward with inadequate resources. He once said, “If your vision doesn’t scare you, then both your vision and your God are too small.”

Gideon’s 300 men didn’t know what would happen when they broke those clay jars and raised those torches. They only knew they had been called to step forward in obedience. Your job in fundraising is the same: be faithful, prepared, and obedient. Make the calls. Write the proposals. Cultivate relationships. But hold all of it loosely, because God reserves the right to thin the army when He wants the glory.

Think About This: The goal of your campaign isn’t just to hit a number. It’s to tell a God story. Make sure you’re leaving room for Him to do something you can’t explain.

Response: Lord, forgive us for when we’ve trusted more in our plans than in Your provision. Give us the courage to trust that You will do what only You can do. Amen.

Fundraising Verse of the Week

Fundraising Paralysis

by Ron Haas

May 26, 2026

When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?” (John 5:6 NIV)

Jesus went to the pool of Bethesda where dozens of blind, lame, and paralyzed people were waiting to be healed. He saw one man who had been lying there for 38 years and asked a probing question, “Do you want to get well?” The man shared reasons for his hopeless situation, to which Jesus commanded, “Get up! Take up your mat and walk.” Immediately, the man was healed and began to walk. This miracle teaches four truths about fundraising.

The Question
Why would Jesus ask the man if he really wanted to be well? It seems obvious. Of course he did. But the same question can apply to you and your ministry. Do you really want fundraising success? All ministry leaders and boards want the results of fundraising, but few are willing to take the time to identify, cultivate, and solicit major donors. How many of your top 25 donors have you visited in the last 90 days?

It Requires Humility
The invalid was helpless because he had no one to carry him to the pool. In one sense, your ministry is helpless unless others help you. You must rely on the generosity of others. Being a successful fundraiser starts with humility. Many ministry leaders will do events, write letters, and send emails, but they won’t sit across from a donor and make a direct ask because that requires vulnerability. That’s where humility really lives.

Take the First Step
Jesus simply commanded, “Get up! Take up your mat and walk.” Many organizations lie around waiting for the Lord to open the windows of heaven and pour out his blessing. Thankfully, the Lord does provide, but he also asks us to get up and get going. If you never pick up the phone and call your donors, they will never answer you. Sometimes ministries are stuck in fundraising complacency. Write down the name of one donor you’ve been avoiding and put a call on your calendar for this week.”

Don’t Turn Back
Later, Jesus saw the newly healed man in the temple and gave him this ominous warning, “Stop sinning or something worse will happen to you” (John 5:14). Spiritually, we all have a tendency to fall back into our old ways. Jesus prompts him to keep walking by faith. In fundraising, the most effective strategy is to schedule face-to-face donor visits, cultivate a relationship with your donor, and ask for a specific gift. It’s too easy to fall back into a let’s-just-send-a-letter mentality.

Think About This: When Jesus asked, “Do you want to get well?” the man could have responded, “No, I’m good.” Are you passive or active in your fundraising efforts? Many ministry leaders are just lying around waiting for someone to help them. The best fundraisers get up and go talk with donors. Be proactive and schedule that donor meeting today.

Response: Lord, forgive me for depending on others more than I depend on you. Thank you for giving me a new lease on my fundraising life. Help me move forward with your power and purpose. Amen.

Uncategorized

Joyful Fundraising

by Ron Haas

May 18, 2026

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds” (James 1:2).

Every fundraiser should be humming:
I still got joy in chaos
I’ve got peace that makes no sense
And I won’t be going under
I’m not held by my own strength
‘Cause I’ve built my life on Jesus
He’s never let me down
He’s faithful through every season
So why would He fail now?
He won’t

Do you have joy in your fundraising chaos and peace that makes no sense? Fundraising is a stressful job with sometimes impossible expectations. James encourages us to approach every situation with joy because God is in control.

Testing Produces Perseverance
Remember Murphy’s Law? “If anything can go wrong, it will.” You’ve heard war stories: the banquet where the keynote speaker canceled two hours before start time, the direct mail appeal with a catastrophic typo no one caught until 10,000 pieces went out, or the awkward moment your executive director asked your million-dollar donor a question that was a little too personal. You can give up and walk away, or you can lean in and learn endurance. Each challenge builds your fundraising muscles and deepens your trust in God’s provision.

Perseverance Makes You Mature and Complete
Stick-to-it-iveness brings maturity. You learn that the donor who said “no” three times might say “yes” the fourth. You discover that God’s timing rarely matches your campaign calendar, but His timing is always perfect. Perseverance grows your faith. You stop trusting in your efforts and start depending on the Spirit to prompt your donors to be generous. Billy Graham observed, “It is the regular exercise of patience and long-suffering in the small day-to-day frustrations and irritations which prepares us to endure when the great battles come.”

If You Don’t Know What to Do, Ask for Wisdom
We all have a tendency “to lean on our own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5) but we’re not smart enough to succeed in fundraising by ourselves. That’s why James says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God” (James 1:5). Wondering what fundraising events to plan or eliminate? Ask for wisdom. Preparing a proposal for a major donor meeting. Ask for wisdom. Trying to decide how to use AI? Ask for wisdom. Discerning how to engage a lapsed donor? Ask for wisdom. God promises to give generously without finding fault.

Don’t Be Double-Minded
Fundraisers make dozens of decisions every day. Should we approve this email? Change the event venue? Order different swag for the golf tournament? Push back the campaign launch date? Decision fatigue is exhausting. James warns against wavering between two opinions. Ask the Lord for direction even in minor situations, make your decision, and move forward with confidence. Good decision-making brings clarity to your entire team and momentum to your mission.

Think About This: Put your fundraising situation in perspective. You have the best job in the world because you have the privilege of inviting people to invest in something that will last for eternity.

Response: Lord, forgive me for reacting with worry, doubt, or anger when I struggle to reach my fundraising goals. Please help me respond with joy no matter the circumstances. Amen.

Holy Drill. “Joy in Chaos.” Joy in Chaos (Extended), 2023. Spotify.

Fundraising Verse of the Week

God’s Role in Your Fundraising Challenge

by Ron Haas

April 27, 2026

“You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you” (2 Chronicles 20:17).

A vast army was knocking on Jerusalem’s door. Instead of panicking, King Jehoshaphat gathered the people to fast and seek the Lord. He confessed: “We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you” (2 Chronicles 20:12). Jahaziel prophesied, “The battle is not yours but God’s… You will not have to fight.” They needed only to take their positions, stand firm, and watch God’s deliverance unfold. From Jehoshaphat’s crisis response, we discover four fundraising principles.

Pray Up
When Martin Luther had much to do, he would spend the first three hours in prayer. How important is prayer in your fundraising efforts? Do you spend more time planning or praying? Do you pray for your major donors by name? Do you pray that God will bless their families, their health, their businesses? Jehoshaphat invited all Israel to pray for their deliverance. You should invite your board, staff, and volunteers to pray for God’s blessing on your fundraising efforts.

Suit Up
Israel was commanded to “take up your positions; stand firm.” Fundraising is spiritual warfare. Satan doesn’t want your ministry partners to give generously because he doesn’t want your ministry to succeed. He will oppose you in every way possible. You’ll schedule the meeting, and your donor will get called away on emergency business. Paul instructs us to “put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes” (Ephesians 6:11). Your shield of faith reminds you this isn’t about your effort but God’s provision.

Show Up
“Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you” (2 Chronicles 20:17). Fundraising isn’t passive, it’s active. You’ve got to pick up the phone and call your donors. You might need to call fifteen times before you finally connect. You’ve got to go see your donors face-to-face and share your vision. You’ve got to listen to their hearts and learn what matters to them. Woody Allen said, “80% of success is showing up.” You cannot merely “phone it in” you have to show up.

Look Up
God places you in situations that seem overwhelming so you will learn to rely on him. In this battle, Israel didn’t fight at all. They worshiped their way to victory. When you’ve prayed up, suited up, and shown up, your job is to trust God for the outcome. Judah spent three days collecting abundant plunder. You can’t manufacture generosity. Only the Holy Spirit can move someone’s heart to give sacrificially.

Think About This: Spirit-led fundraising is knowing when to listen and when to speak. Sometimes it’s asking for the gift. Sometimes it’s simply showing up to collect the check God has already prepared.

Response: Lord, help me faithfully pray for my donors. Give me courage to suit up spiritually before every meeting. Help me show up consistently, even when it’s hard. Remind me to look up, trusting you to fight my battles.

Fundraising Verse of the Week

The Art of the Bold Ask

by Ron Haas

April 20, 2026

“What is it you want?” he asked. She said, “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom” (Matthew 20:21).

Every fundraiser faces the moment: it’s time to make the ask. The mother of James and John shows us how, and teaches us what to avoid.

Talk to the Right Person
Mom got the most important thing right. She went directly to Jesus, the only one who could give the final answer. She didn’t ask Peter to put in a good word, that would have been a conflict of interest, and Peter couldn’t give the final word anyway. Don’t take a no from someone who can’t give you a yes. Are you pitching the daughter when her mom controls the purse strings? In fundraising, we sometimes waste months cultivating the wrong person. Make sure you’re talking with the right donor.

Ask Boldly
Mom was fearlessly bold. Why? She believed in her sons! Jesus had already honored them among the inner circle of Peter, James, and John. In her mind, it was the logical next step. When you believe deeply in your cause, boldness comes naturally. If you question your ministry direction or doubt your project’s impact, you’ll struggle to ask with confidence. But when you know your mission inside and out, when you’ve seen lives transformed, when you believe God is in this, you can ask without apology.

Get to the Point
Mom didn’t list her sons’ credentials or justify her request. She just asked. Ian, a successful investor, learned this lesson after 30 years. Every pitch deck he made was 90% wasted effort. He discovered that family offices make investment decisions in three minutes, not from 47 slides but from one page answering three questions: What you’ve done (track record), what you’ll do (clear plan), and what they’ll make (their return). Ian says, “If you can’t explain your deal on one page, you don’t understand it yourself.”

You’re presenting an eternal investment. Can you answer on one page: What have you accomplished? What will you do with this gift? What eternal return will donors see?

Ask for the Right Things
Here’s where mom missed the mark. Jesus answered, “You don’t know what you’re asking.” Her enthusiasm was genuine, but she completely misunderstood what she was requesting. We make the same mistake. We get excited about our project and boldly approach a donor, asking the wrong person, at the wrong time, for the wrong amount, for the wrong project. A college president once asked a local bank for a $50 million lead gift. Shocked, they questioned why he thought they had that capacity or interest.

Before you ask, do your research. Understand the donor’s capacity, passions, and giving history. Learn what truly matters to them. Match your request to their interests and capabilities.

Think About This: “Desire without knowledge is not good, how much more will hasty feet miss the way!” (Proverbs 19:2) This week, research one prospect’s capacity and interests thoroughly. Then answer three questions on one page: what you’ve done, what you’ll do, and what eternal impact their gift will create.

Response: Lord, give me wisdom to know what to ask, from whom, and when.

Two open hands lifted upward in a gesture of offering or prayer against a warm, softly blurred outdoor background, with the text “Urgent Generosity” and 2 Corinthians 8:4 displayed on the left side.

Fundraising Verse of the Week

Urgent Generosity

by Ron Haas

March 2, 2026

“They urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people” (2 Corinthians 8:4).

The believers in Macedonia are a stunning example of generous giving. Paul was collecting funds to support the Jerusalem church, which was struggling with persecution and poverty. When the Macedonians learned about the situation, they begged Paul to let them give. Think about that. These people were broke and going through their own crisis, yet they pleaded for the chance to help someone else.

Paul was stunned by their response (see 2 Corinthians 8:5). What made them so eager? They saw a real need connected to real people at a specific moment. That combination creates urgent generosity. Here’s how to inspire the same response in your donors.

Shouting “Fire”
If you don’t have a fire, don’t yell fire. Artificial urgency trains donors to ignore you. “We need your gift right now” without context is just noise. And desperation messaging backfires. Donors who care will worry. Donors who don’t will leave. If you face a genuine crisis, say so. But choose carefully. You get one, maybe two, emergency appeals before people stop believing you.

Tell the Story Behind the Need
The Macedonians didn’t give to a budget line. They gave to people in Jerusalem who were hungry. Your donors need the same clarity. “Your gift this week means Maria gets her textbooks before midterms” creates urgency because donors see the consequence of delay. Generic deadlines don’t move people. Specific outcomes do. When you connect the timing to a person or result, urgency stops being about your cash flow and starts being about the people you serve.

Create Natural Milestones
Match your deadlines to events that already matter. “Give before summer camp starts so we can cover scholarships for kids already registered” makes sense because the date matters to the mission, not just your budget. The Macedonians understood why their timing mattered. Paul was leaving soon. The Jerusalem church needed help now. Your donors respond when they understand why the calendar matters to the people you serve.

Use Positive Language
Frame urgency as opportunity, not crisis. “Your gift this month doubles through our matching grant” or “Would you give a lead gift we can announce at the banquet to inspire others?” invites participation instead of demanding rescue. The Macedonians saw giving as a privilege. They wanted in on something significant. Give your donors that same sense of opportunity.

The Opposite of Urgency
The opposite of urgency isn’t calm. It’s complacency. If your team isn’t fired up about the work, your donors won’t be either. Sometimes the problem isn’t your messaging. It’s that you’ve lost touch with why this work matters right now. Get out of the office. Visit the people your ministry serves. Reconnect with the mission. When Paul shared what was happening in Jerusalem, the Macedonians caught his urgency because they saw his passion.

Think About This: Your passion for the mission sets the tone for donor response. If you’re going through the motions, they will too.

Response: Lord, forgive me when I forget why this work matters. Fill me with genuine passion for the people we serve, so my excitement becomes contagious to the donors you’ve entrusted to us.

Wide banner image of a sunlit vineyard with rows of grapevines heavy with dark purple grapes, green leaves filling the foreground, and the text “A Fundraising Pruning Guide” and “John 15:1–2” overlaid on the image.

Fundraising Verse of the Week

A Fundraising Pruning Guide

by Ron Haas

February 9, 2026

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful” (John 15:1-2).

Pruning your apple tree makes everything better. More air and sunlight get into the tree, which means the apples end up sweeter, prettier, and actually ripen properly instead of staying small and sour. It’s like the tree gets to focus its energy on making fewer but way better apples. Jesus used this same principle when talking about spiritual growth, and it applies perfectly to fundraising. Sometimes the best thing you can do for your organization is not to add more programs or events, it’s to cut away what’s not working.

When Events Become Energy Drains
That annual silent auction your board started five years ago? The one that now requires six months of planning, exhausts your volunteers, and barely breaks even after expenses? It might be time for some pruning. Just because something worked once doesn’t mean it deserves to live forever. Good fundraising events should energize your mission, not drain it. If an event isn’t pulling its weight financially or building meaningful relationships with donors, it’s stealing resources from activities that could actually bear fruit.

The SYBUNT Problem
Every nonprofit has donors who gave “Some Year But Unfortunately Not This Year.” They clutter your database like dead branches on a tree, and you keep sending them expensive mailings hoping they’ll give again. But here’s the tough truth: if someone hasn’t given in three years, they’re probably not coming back through your regular appeals. Instead of letting these dormant donors drain your mailing budget, try one targeted re-engagement campaign. If that doesn’t work, move them to an inactive list. Your active donors deserve your full attention and resources.

Pruning Your Team
Not every development staff member is going to thrive in fundraising. You can measure activity all day long: phone calls made, emails sent, events attended, but at the end of the year, the question is simple: did they raise money? Great fundraisers don’t just maintain existing donors; they bring in new ones. If someone consistently struggles to build relationships and secure gifts, they might be better suited for a different role. It’s not mean – it’s honest stewardship.

Your Most Precious Resource: Time
As a leader, your calendar is like a garden plot. Every plant competes for the same limited space. That weekly report that takes three hours to compile? The committee meeting that goes in circles? The administrative tasks that keep you from actually talking to donors? Prune ruthlessly. Your highest and best use of time is identifying, cultivating, and asking major donors. Everything else should be delegated, streamlined, or eliminated.

Think About This: Remember, pruning isn’t punishment – it’s preparation for growth. When you cut away what’s not working, you create space for what could flourish. Your remaining programs become stronger. Your staff becomes more focused. Your donors receive better attention. Sometimes the most loving thing a gardener can do is make the hard cuts that allow for new growth.

Response: Lord, please give me wisdom to prune everything (and everyone) that’s not working to make us more effective.

Fundraising Verse of the Week

Honest Fundraising

by Ron Haas

January 26, 2026

“Titus not only welcomed our appeal, but he is coming to you with much enthusiasm and on his own initiative… Therefore show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our pride in you, so that the churches can see it” (2 Corinthians 8:17, 24 ).

Have you ever avoided telling a donor you’re coming to ask for money when you set up a meeting? Paul didn’t beat around the bush. He told the Corinthians straight up Titus was coming to collect the money they had promised to give. Whether you’re setting up a meeting to ask for a donation or following up on a pledge, tell your donor exactly why you want to meet. Honesty gets great results:

Builds Respect and Trust
When you’re upfront about what you want, you’re treating people like smart adults who can make their own choices. Honesty becomes your strongest tool—one sneaky conversation can mess up relationships for years, but being straight with people builds trust that lasts. Be clear right from your first phone call: “I’d love to meet with you to share what we’re doing and see if you might want to help support us.”

Lets People Get Ready
When donors know why you’re coming, they can think of good questions, figure out what they might be able to give, and maybe bring their spouse or financial advisor into the conversation. This shows you respect their time and see them as partners, not just people with money. Being clear about what you want keeps the relationship strong no matter what they decide about giving.

Creates Real Partnership
Giving benefits the ministry and the donor. Think long-term friendship, not a one-time deal. You’re not just asking for money—you’re giving people a chance to be part of something eternal while helping them reach their giving goals. Focus on what’s important to them: what they care about, what interests them, and their desire to make a difference. This changes how you think about conversations from “I need something from you” to “I’ve got something exciting to share with you.”

Gets Rid of Stress and Works Better
Being honest makes fundraising way less stressful for everyone. You don’t have to worry about finding the “perfect moment” to bring up money. Donors like knowing what to expect, which means they don’t have their guard up and you can have more natural, helpful conversations. This honest approach often leads to bigger gifts because people feel respected and informed instead of tricked. People are more likely to say yes when they’ve had time to think about your request; even when they can’t give, they appreciate the approach.

Think About This: One fundraiser schedules meetings this way: “The best part of my job is meeting with people who care about what we’re doing. I’d love to share the exciting things God is doing through our work and ask if you’d like to join us through prayer and giving. When would be a good time to get together?” This honest, excited approach sets the right tone from the beginning.

Response: Father, help me always be honest when I talk to people about our work. Give me wisdom as I invite people to pray and give generously.

Top-down view of a diverse group of professionals in business attire stacking their hands together, with text reading Fundraising Takes a Team Effort.

Fundraising Verse of the Week

Fundraising Takes a Team Effort

by Ron Haas

December 15, 2025

“I also told them about the gracious hand of my God on me and what the king had said to me. They replied, ‘Let us start rebuilding.’ So they began this good work” (Nehemiah 2:18).

One of the fastest paths to fundraising burnout is the dangerous assumption that you must shoulder every responsibility alone. Perhaps you’re a one-person shop with seemingly no available help. Maybe you believe that delegating means compromising quality or speed. This mindset undermines your personal well-being and organizational effectiveness.

We credit Nehemiah for rebuilding Jerusalem’s walls, yet success required the entire community working together. Nehemiah 3 lists every family, their specific responsibilities, and the exact sections they rebuilt. Successful fundraising happens when everyone in your ministry identifies, cultivates, and solicits donors.

Everyone Has a Role
From priests and temple gatekeepers to goldsmiths and perfume-makers, from government officials to ordinary merchants, everyone got involved. No role was insignificant. Fundraising is not just the executive director or development professionals’ job. Every team member can and should share your organization’s story. Similarly, every donor matters regardless of giving capacity. Whether someone contributes $100 or $100,000, each gift represents personal sacrifice and builds momentum toward your fundraising goals.

Work Where You Are
Families specifically “repaired the section opposite his house” or adjacent to their neighborhoods (Neh. 3:10,23,28,29,30). They assumed responsibility for areas closest to them. Focus your personal fundraising efforts within your sphere of influence. Coaches should prioritize relationships with dedicated fans and alumni athletes. Professors should cultivate connections with scholarship donors who support their specific programs. Youth workers should engage families whose children have benefited from their ministry. Genuine relationships always outperform generic, impersonal fundraising appeals.

Lead by Example
Eliashib the high priest and his fellow leaders demonstrated servant leadership by getting their hands dirty to build their section rather than merely telling others what to do. Leaders must be committed to fundraising, not just delegating tasks to staff members. When leaders demonstrate genuine enthusiasm for sharing your ministry’s story and personally asking for gifts, others are inspired and confident to get involved.

The Cost of Non-Participation
Nehemiah included an uncomfortable detail: certain nobles “would not put their shoulders to the work” (Neh. 3:5). Are there people in your ministry who sit and watch you do all the work? Pride, apathy, or fear often prevents people from engaging in fundraising. Unfortunately, their lack of participation forces others to pick up the slack.

Complete the Task
Nehemiah’s builders understood that leaving any gaps in their defensive wall would compromise the entire city. Your ministry also needs to fill in all the gaps on your donor giving pyramid: major donors, recurring donors, mid-level donors, first-time donors, foundations, churches, and legacy donors. Employ strategies to reach each segment.

Think About This: “So the wall was completed… in fifty-two days” (Neh. 6:15). The wall wasn’t built by one person working alone for years—it was completed by everyone working together for weeks. Imagine the transformative impact if every person in your organization committed to personally introducing just ten people to your ministry this year.

Response: Lord, forgive me for attempting to accomplish our mission by myself. Give me wisdom to effectively engage others in this significant work.

Fishing for Donors

Too Many Fundraisers

Fundraising Paralysis

Joyful Fundraising

God’s Role in Your Fundraising Challenge

The Art of the Bold Ask

Urgent Generosity

A Fundraising Pruning Guide

Honest Fundraising

Fundraising Takes a Team Effort

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2450 44th St SESte 106Grand Rapids, MI 49512

Phone (616) 224-4060Email [email protected]

Quick Link

Social Media

2450 44th St SE
Ste 106
Grand Rapids, MI 49512

Phone (616) 224-4060
Email [email protected]