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Close-up of a sturdy brass padlock securing a bright blue metal door. Text overlay reads 'The Major Gift Lockpicking Tool,' suggesting a metaphor for unlocking opportunities. Simple, bold design with a focus on the lock.
Fundraising Verse of the Week

The Major Gift Lockpicking Tool

by Ron Haas
February 6, 2025

“A gift opens the way to the giver and ushers the giver into the presence of the great” (Proverbs 18:16).

The Lockpicking Lawyer, a YouTube content creator who opens “unpickable” locks, received an interesting challenge. A viewer, whose local locksmith had resorted to using an angle grinder to open a lock, sparked a heated debate. The viewer insisted the Lockpicking Lawyer could have picked it, while the locksmith dismissed his videos as fake. The challenge was set: if the Lockpicking Lawyer could pick the lock faster than the time it took to cut it with an angle grinder, the locksmith would refund the viewer $75. While the angle grinder took two minutes and fourteen seconds, the Lockpicking Lawyer needed only 28 seconds to pick the lock.

One frustrating reality for every fundraiser is the inability to open a major donor door. Every attempt to reach a prospect feels more difficult than breaking into Fort Knox. Solomon reveals the key to connecting with any major donor prospect is to offer a gift.

A Personal Gift
Who doesn’t like to receive a gift? When choosing a gift, don’t default to SWAG (Stuff We All Get) you hand out at a conference. Get more creative than pens emblazoned with your logo. Consider your prospect’s interests. What unique gift would your potential donor appreciate that reminds them of your ministry whenever they see it? Perhaps you could share something special from one of your noteworthy alumni.

An Opportunity Gift
Pay attention to your prospective donor’s unique interests and expertise, then create opportunities for them to share their knowledge. Business professionals might appreciate invitations to lead workshops, teach classes, or deliver keynote speeches. A prospective donor with a passion for Revolutionary War history brings history to life in full George Washington attire. A perceptive school principal invites him to captivate elementary students with his presentations. For this donor, the opportunity to share his enthusiasm for history is itself a meaningful gift.

An Honor Gift
Pay attention and acknowledge news about your prospective donor. It could be as simple as sending a note of congratulations about their business success, job promotion, or personal accomplishment like a hole-in-one or being featured in the media. One college invites their prospective donors to a banquet in their honor and presents them with an award acknowledging their contributions to the community.

The Gift of Prayer
One simple way to make a meaningful connection is to offer to pray for your prospective donors. You may never have met that person but offering to pray may open a door for a future conversation. Perhaps they or a family member have experienced a personal tragedy and your offer to pray brings comfort and encouragement. Perhaps they’ve experienced great success and your prayers will remind them to give glory to God. The key is connecting with them spiritually.

Think About This: The greatest gift you could ever give your prospective donor is the gift of the Good News. Perhaps you could share a book, music, or video from your ministry that includes a gospel presentation.

Response: Father, please give me wisdom to choose the best gift that will open major donor doors. Thank you for sharing the greatest gift, your Son, Jesus Christ.

An image featuring a barren, cracked desert landscape under a clear blue sky. The text on the image reads, "Beware of the boasting donor" in large, bold lettering, with "Proverbs 25:14" written below in smaller text. The design conveys a cautionary and reflective
Fundraising Verse of the Week

Beware of the Boasting Donor

by Ron Haas
January 22, 2025

“Like clouds and wind without rain is one who boasts of gifts never given” (Proverbs 25:14).

Occasionally, you meet a major donor who checks all your qualifying boxes. They have a link to your organization. They are interested in your projects and they seem to have the ability and willingness to give. They even talk about how much they love your ministry—yet they never give. Solomon illustrates this person as “a cloud without rain.” This prospect gives you hope for a refreshing gift but never delivers. Texans describe this person as, “All hat but no cattle.” This potential donor is full of big talk but lacks action. Unfortunately, he or she is a pretender.

How can you identify and avoid this non-giver? Following Solomon’s warning about boastful behavior, James describes four distinct ways pride manifests itself in people’s speech (James 4:13-16).

Success
“Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money’” (James 4:13). Boasters have big ideas and big plans. They think they control their calendars, travels, businesses, and profits but they fail to realize that they don’t control anything. The Lord blesses a person with “the ability to produce wealth” (Deut. 8:18).

Strength
Arrogant people think they will live forever. “Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes” (James 4:14). The rich farmer decided to build bigger barns to store his surplus grain. Giving some of his bounty to others didn’t even cross his mind. Little did he realize that his life would be demanded from him that night (Luke 12:17-20). “Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?” (Luke 12:20).

Self
“Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that” (James 4:15). People who are filled with pride don’t have room in their vocabulary for God or his will. They are too focused on their plans and never ask the Lord what he would have them do. Jesus himself said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).

Schemes
“As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil” (James 4:16). Jim was a very successful entrepreneur who talked of giving “big.” He was always chasing the next deal and needed all his cash to make it happen. He made several promises to give even more when the next deal closed but he never gave. Paul taught, “For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have” (2 Cor. 8:12).

Think About This: James makes a sobering conclusion, “If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them” (James 4:17). The person who boasts of a gift never given is sinning.

Response: Lord, please give me insight to hear if my donor’s heart is focused on your will or their own. Give me wisdom to challenge this type of donor in truth and love about their gift commitment.

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

Training Your Team to Ask

by Ron Haas
January 15, 2025

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Fundraising Verse of the Week

Opinionated Major Donors

by Ron Haas
November 6, 2024

But Naaman went away angry and said, “I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy.” (2 Kings 5:11)

As commander of the army of the King of Aram, Naaman was a proud man and by human standards he had every reason to be. “He was a great man in the sight of his master and highly-regarded” (2 Kings 5:1). He was rich, famous, and accustomed to telling people what to do. Only one thing held him back—he had leprosy. A servant girl he had captured told his wife Elisha would heal him. So, he made a pilgrimage to see the prophet.

When Naaman’s entourage arrived. Elisha didn’t even come to the door but sent his servant to instruct Naaman to go wash in the Jordan seven times and be healed. Naaman stomped off in a huff and told his servant Elisha should have at least come out to meet him, pray to his God, wave his hands over the leprosy, and cure him. He was convinced he knew more than Elisha about how to heal his leprosy.

Major Opinion
Naaman’s attitude toward Elisha’s instructions is like some major donors who think you are doing ministry all wrong. No doubt you’ve listened patiently to someone who doesn’t understand why you did or did not do something a certain way. You should be eager to listen, learn, and respond, but don’t change something just because a wealthy donor says you should. Stay on mission.

Major Change
A courageous servant spoke truth and changed Naaman’s mind. He went to the Jordon, washed seven times, and was healed physically and spiritually. It may not happen often but occasionally a major donor who has opposed you, may come to their senses, see things differently, and apologize. (see 2 Tim. 2:24-26).

Major Gift
Naaman rushed back to Elisha and offered him extravagant gifts of gold, silver, and clothing. But Elisha did something most ministry leaders would never consider—he refused his gifts. In contrast to false teachers who use religion for financial gain, Elisha wanted Naaman to understand the free gift of salvation. Are you more concerned about a gift or your prospective donor’s spiritual health?

Major Lesson
Naaman asked permission to take some dirt home so he could sacrifice burnt offerings to the Lord. Then he asked if God would forgive him for accompanying his king to the pagan temple as part of his job. Elisha granted both requests told him to go in peace. Elisha showed grace and kindness to this new believer because he knew spiritual growth takes time.

Think About This: Some donors may be tempted to influence your decisions by wielding their checkbooks. It’s easier to refuse a gift when it comes with strings that might pull you off mission. Don’t sacrifice your core values for a short-term gain. Stand for biblical truth. God will bring you like-minded partners who will appreciate your courage.

Response: Father, please help me care more about my donor’s relationship to you than anything else. Please give me discernment to know when I should refuse a gift.

Ron Haas has served the Lord as a pastor, the vice president of advancement of a Bible college, a Christian foundation director, a board member and a fundraising consultant. He’s authored three books: Ask for a Fish – Bold Faith-Based Fundraising, Simply Share – Bold, Grace-Based Giving, and Keep on Asking – Bold, Spirit-Led Fundraising. He regularly presents fundraising

Donor Relations, Fundraising Verse of the Week, Major Donors

Not Just Donors, Friends!

by Ron Haas
October 7, 2020

“I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you” (John 15:15).

Do you treat your donors as servants or friends? Do you only care about your donors for what they have and what they can do for you instead of who they are and what you can do for them? Jesus makes an amazing statement to his disciples, “I have called you friends.” Yes, we are Christ’s servants, but he has elevated our relationship status to friend and desires to be your close friend. You should elevate your donors to friends.

Terminology. How we refer to our supporters reveals how we view them. Sometimes we identify them by a number we’ve assigned them in our software. Sometimes we categorize them by their giving history or capacity. We refer to LYBUNTS (meaning they gave last year but not this year) or SYBUNTS (meaning they gave some year but not this year). Subconsciously or consciously we often view our donors as dollar signs. Make a significant shift in your vocabulary and start referring to your donors as ministry partners.

Trust. How does a servant become a friend? The answer is by building trust. Joseph was a faithful servant who eventually rose to second in command because he could be trusted. The trust we develop with our ministry partners is built over years of keeping our word. Do what you say you will do. If you promise to follow up with an answer to their question, follow up promptly. If you indicate you will use their gift for a certain project, don’t shift their funds to something else without asking their permission. It’s difficult to repair the damage caused by broken trust.

Transparency. Jesus treats us as friends by communicating fully with us. “A servant doesn’t know his master’s business.” Servants are kept in the dark about their master’s full intentions. Sometimes we keep our donors in the dark about our ministry plans. Jesus is completely transparent; everything he learned from his father he has shared with us. Treating your donors as friends means you genuinely care for them and communicate openly and honestly about your needs. Your transparency will earn you the opportunity to ask for their help.

Henri Nouwen made this insightful statement about a fundraiser’s relationship with donors, “Once we are prayerfully committed to placing our whole trust in God, and have become clear that we are concerned only for the Kingdom; once we have learned to love the rich for who they are rather than what they have; and once we believe that we have something of great value to give them, then we will have no trouble at all in asking someone for a large sum of money.”

If we love the rich for who they are we will view them as friends, even close friends. If we love the rich for what they have we will see them only as a means to an end – their means to support our end. Let Nouwen’s phrase sink into your heart, “Love the rich for who they are rather than what they have.” What will you do this week to build trust with your ministry partners?

Have a Spirit-led fundraising week,

Ron

Ron Haas has served the Lord as a pastor, the vice president of advancement of a Bible college, a Christian foundation director, a board member and a fundraising consultant. He’s authored two books: Ask for a Fish – Bold Faith-Based Fundraising and Simply Share – Bold, Grace-Based Giving. He regularly presents fundraising workshops at ministry conferences and has written fundraising articles for At the Center magazine and Christian Leadership Alliance’s Outcomes magazine.

Fundraising, Major Donors, Stewardship

Who Makes It Rain?

by The Timothy Group
August 23, 2020

I have never once caused it to rain in my nearly 40 years of stewardship practice here at TTG. I know who sends the rain and it is not me. However I do know what to do with the rain once God sends it. I have been in the irrigation business all these years. I also admit to an occasional attempt at “cloud seeding.” Yes, I’m trying to help God out a bit! This reveals the need to pause and ask myself the following question.

BHAQ (Big Harry Audacious Question):

DOES GOD REALLY NEED US TO ACCOMPLISH HIS TASKS HERE ON EARTH?

Major Donors

Command Those Who Are Rich

by The Timothy Group
September 26, 2014

Paul instructed Timothy to “Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction” (2 Tim. 4:2). Timothy was to constantly share the word—when it was convenient and when it wasn’t. Paul challenged him to “correct, rebuke, and encourage” those whom God had placed in his care.

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