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A gold trophy on a wooden surface against an orange background, with the text “Run for the Fundraising Prize” and “1 Corinthians 9:24” displayed beside it.
Fundraising Verse of the Week

Run for the Fundraising Prize

by Ron Haas
March 18, 2026

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize” (1 Corinthians 9:24).

Olympic gold medalist Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is a perfect picture of what Paul meant in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27. With three Olympic golds and six world records in the 400-meter hurdles, she’s one of the most celebrated track stars in American history. But here’s what makes her story relevant to fundraisers: “You work all year to get here, but what you’ve done is what keeps you here. So it’s just about executing that, trusting the process, trusting the plan, and ultimately, trusting God.”1 That’s fundraising in a nutshell.

Executing the Work
Paul writes that “everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training” (1 Cor. 9:25). Sydney doesn’t just show up on race day hoping for the best. She trains every single day, year after year. The same is true in fundraising. Everyone wants the big gift, but few are willing to put in the hard work of building relationships with donors over time. There are no shortcuts to genuine cultivation. It takes discipline, consistency, and plain old hard work.

Trusting the Process
Paul continues, “I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air” (1 Cor. 9:26). Fundraising isn’t random—it has a clear process: identification, cultivation, and solicitation. You can’t skip steps. You can’t identify a donor on Monday and ask for a major gift on Tuesday. Just like an athlete can’t skip training and expect to medal, you can’t rush the relationship-building process and expect donors to give generously. Each step matters and builds on the one before it.

Trusting the Plan
Consistency is everything. Day in and day out, you need to be sharing your organization’s story, connecting with donors, and keeping your mission front and center. One good conversation isn’t enough. One compelling newsletter isn’t enough. It’s the steady, faithful work over months and years that builds a sustainable fundraising program.

Trusting God
Here’s the truth that keeps us humble: fundraising is about asking the right person for the right amount at the right time in the right way. You can do everything correctly—execute flawlessly, follow the process perfectly, stick to your plan faithfully—but ultimately, God is the one who prompts donors to give generously. We work hard, but we trust God for the results.

Think About This: Athletes compete “to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever” (1 Cor. 9:25). The gifts you ask your donors for solve problems right now and lay up treasures in heaven.

Response: Lord, give me the discipline, consistency, and hard work to run the fundraising race to win the prize for your glory.

1Mercer, K. (2024, August 8). Christ-follower Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone claims another Olympic gold, world record. Sports Spectrum. https://sportsspectrum.com/sport/olympics/2024/08/08/christ-sydney-mclaughlin-levrone-gold-record/

Image of a group of light wooden figurines standing in rows, with one bright green figurine standing out in the center. Above the group is the title "Fundraising Employee of the Month" in bold green and blue text, with the Bible reference "Ruth 2:7" in smaller text.
Fundraising Verse of the Week

Fundraising Employee of the Month

by Ron Haas
April 30, 2025

“She came into the field and has remained here from morning till now, except for a short rest in the shelter” (Ruth 2:7).

Ruth the Moabite faced a new season of life. Her husband, brother-in-law, and father-in-law died so she and Naomi traveled back to Bethlehem hoping to start over. When they arrived, Ruth didn’t waste time sitting around feeling sorry for herself. Instead, she got right to work. Fundraisers can learn much from Ruth’s work ethic.

Initiative
“And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, ‘Let me go to the fields and pick up the leftover grain behind anyone in whose eyes I find favor’” (Ruth 2:2). Ruth could have listed dozens of reasons of why she couldn’t be successful. She didn’t wait for something to happen but looked for opportunities to make something happen. The same attitude works in fundraising. The secret of getting ahead is getting started.

Humility
“She said, ‘Please let me glean and gather among the sheaves behind the harvesters’” (Ruth 2:7). Ruth wasn’t too proud for manual labor. She was willing to do any job that needed to be done. Apply her attitude to your work. Will you set up tables for events, make countless phone calls, or even lick envelopes? It’s wise to delegate tasks to others so you can focus on things only you can do, but “humility comes before honor” (Prov.18:12).

Stick-to-itiveness
“She came into the field and has remained here from morning till now, except for a short rest in the shelter” (Ruth 2:7). Ruth was a Proverbs 31 woman who worked dawn to dusk to provide for her family. Fundraising is hard work and requires long hours. Some fundraisers are good at starting projects but tire quickly and move on to the next new idea.

Appreciation
“At this, she bowed down with her face to the ground. She asked him, ‘Why have I found such favor in your eyes’” (Ruth 2:10). Ruth was grateful for Boaz’ kindness. As fundraisers we must express our genuine appreciation for our ministry partners. Never take your donors for granted. Go out of your way to thank them for their generosity.

Results
“So Ruth gleaned in the field until evening. Then she threshed the barley she had gathered, and it amounted to about an ephah” (Ruth 2:17). The joy of fundraising is reaping the harvest of each gift – large or small. If you’re not seeing results, perhaps you’re not working hard enough or smart enough. Give your team realistic goals and hold them accountable.

Reputation
“Her mother-in-law asked her, ‘Where did you glean today? Where did you work? Blessed be the man who took notice of you!’” (Ruth 2:19) Others notice if you’re lazy or a hardworking fundraiser. What’s your fundraising reputation? Are you a worker or a shirker? Ultimately, you’re not raising money for your organization, you’re raising it for the Lord.

Think About This: “May the Lord repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge” (Ruth 2:12). Ruth worked hard and trusted God for the results.

Response: Lord, give me strength to keep working in your fields to gather the harvest.

A peaceful rural landscape featuring a vast field with golden-brown grass, bordered by a dense tree line under a partly cloudy sky. The text "More Fundraising Lessons from Farming" is prominently displayed in a bold, earthy font, with a reference to James 5:7 underneath. The image conveys themes of patience, growth, and stewardship, drawing a parallel between farming and fundraising principles.
Fundraising Verse of the Week

More Fundraising Lessons from Farming

by Ron Haas
March 26, 2025

“See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains” (James 5:7).

Fundraisers can learn valuable lessons from farmers. Both occupations require hard work to prepare the ground, sow seed, and wait patiently for the harvest. Consider these applications:

Patience
Robert Louis Stevenson wrote, “Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant.” Sowing and reaping take time. Fundraisers have urgency because of the great ministry needs or budget pressures, but a wise fundraiser is patient and realizes that it takes time for donors to consider your gift request. Fundraising is like a marriage between your ministry partner and your mission. Most people don’t propose to their future spouse on the first date. Likewise, you shouldn’t ask for a six or seven figure gift on your first visit. Slow down and build a strong relationship. Be faithful to sow the seeds of how your ministry is making an eternal difference.

Hard Work
Paul encouraged Timothy to learn ministry work ethic from the “the hardworking farmer” (2 Tim. 2:6). Farmers work from sunrise to sunset in all kinds of weather. Lazy farmers don’t last long. Solomon observed, “A farmer too lazy to plant in the spring has nothing to harvest in the fall” (Prov. 20:4 MSG). Farming is not a 9 to 5 job and neither is fundraising. It takes discipline to keep calling donors who don’t return your calls. It’s much easier to make excuses than to invest in the hard work of identifying, cultivating, and soliciting donors. All too often, we give up too soon. Keep sowing the seed if you hope to reap a harvest.

First to Receive
Paul continues his lesson to Timothy, “The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops” (2 Tim. 2:6). The farmer works for the benefit of everyone else, and he should reap some of the benefits first. If he is not strong and healthy from the food he produces, he will be unable to share future harvests with others. This has an interesting application to fundraising. Your ministry should make the development department a budget priority, not an afterthought. If you don’t provide your fundraising team with the tools and resources to be successful, your entire ministry will suffer.

Faith
Farmers plant and trust God for the results. You are not just trusting God for the right moment to ask your prospective donor; you are also trusting him for the autumn and spring rains that soften hearts. When you wait on the Lord for his harvest, he promises abundance. “The time will come,” says the Lord, “when the grain and grapes will grow faster than they can be harvested” (Amos 9:13 NLT). Pray that the Lord will bless you with more gifts that you can handle!

Think About This: “For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations” (Isa. 61:11). As fundraisers we must work hard, but ultimately it is the Lord who produces the harvest.

Response: Lord, help me sow faithfully and wait patiently for your harvest.

A group of people stands together at sunset, silhouetted against the sky with their arms raised in celebration. The warm colors of the setting sun create a vibrant and uplifting atmosphere. The text "Fundraise at the Speed of Relationships" is prominently displayed at the top, with a reference to 1 Thessalonians 2:1. This image conveys themes of teamwork, unity, and the power of relationships in fundraising.
Fundraising Verse of the Week

Fundraise at the Speed of Relationships

by Ron Haas
March 12, 2025

“You know, brothers and sisters, that our visit to you was not without results” (1 Thess. 2:1).

Paul spent three weeks in Thessalonica proving why Jesus had to suffer and rise from the dead. Some Jews believed, along with some God-fearing Greeks, and several prominent women. The Jewish leaders were jealous of Paul’s success and recruited some bad dudes from the marketplace to start a riot which forced Paul and Silas to escape during the night (see Acts 17:1-9). Paul was only in town for a brief time, but he developed some deep friendships and successfully planted a church.

Cultivating friendships is a vital step in fundraising, yet it doesn’t have to take years and years or even months to establish meaningful relationships with major donors. Let’s apply five fundraising principles from Paul’s experience.

Love
Sincere friendships are built on love. Paul expressed, “Because we loved you so much, we are delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God, but our lives as well” (1 Thess. 2:8). Paul didn’t just talk about love, he lived it. You can feel it when you’re the presence of a ministry leader who really loves you. Be that person. You can also tell if someone is insincere.

Genuineness
The believers in Thessalonica knew Paul was the real deal. His motives were pure, he never tricked them, never used flattery, never put on a mask to cover up greed, or sought praise from anyone (1 Thess. 2:3-4). Unfortunately, Christian ministries are full of posers. Be transparent in your finances, relationships, board decisions, and plans.

Hard Work
Paul had a reputation for diligence. “Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone” (1 Thess. 2:9). Your donors have worked hard for what they have, and they appreciate ministry leaders who also work hard. Ministry partners notice whether you have a reputation of sticking with the job until it’s done or taking extended sabbaticals.

Prayer
Imagine how encouraged you would be if Paul wrote this note to you, “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 Thess. 1:11). Do you pray for the success of your donors’ business endeavors? Have you encouraged them recently?

Answers
In 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12, Paul answered some deep eschatological questions about the antichrist. How amazing that Paul’s discipleship curriculum included a section on prophecy. “Don’t you remember that when I was with you, I used to tell you these things?” (2 Thess. 2:5). This should encourage you to have deep conversations about your ministry’s mission and vision. Don’t shy away from difficult topics. Iron sharpens iron and your key donors look to you for answers to tough questions.

Think About This: Everyone wants their major donor relationships to move fast, but few are willing to invest in the hard work of building trust. Be intentional about every major donor move.

Response: Father, thank you for our faithful donors—old and new. Give me wisdom to identify, cultivate, and solicit new ministry partners.

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