A gleaming ornate sword against a black background with the text Be This Kind of Fundraiser and the scripture reference 2 Samuel 23:9-10 in white lettering.

Be This Kind of Fundraisers

by Ron Haas

April 27, 2026

“Next to him was Eleazar… As one of the three mighty warriors, he was with David when they taunted the Philistines gathered at Pas Dammim for battle. Then the Israelites retreated, but Eleazar stood his ground and struck down the Philistines till his hand grew tired and froze to the sword. The Lord brought about a great victory that day. The troops returned to Eleazar, but only to strip the dead.” (2 Samuel 23:9-10 ).

What makes a great fundraiser? It’s someone who finishes what they start. The person who stays until the last guest leaves the gala. The gift officer who keeps making calls even when no one picks up. The one who keeps building relationships when donors seem uninterested, and keeps asking for gifts long after everyone else has given up. This kind of fundraiser is rare. Eleazar shows us what a tenacious fundraiser looks like, the person who keeps going when everyone else quits. Here are four things we can learn from him.

Don’t Run Away
There’s something almost funny about this story. The Israelites trash-talked the Philistines (think of that famous scene in Braveheart), got them all riled up, and then ran away. Sound familiar? It’s like when your board gets excited about a big campaign but disappears when the work gets hard. As one board member joked, “We’re behind you…way, way behind you.” But Eleazar didn’t care. He stayed focused and refused to run.

Keep Going When You’re Exhausted
Picture Eleazar fighting wave after wave of enemies until he’s completely worn out. That’s fundraising, right? You’ve got events to plan, mailings to send, reports to write, and then there’s the actual work of finding donors, building relationships, and asking for money. There’s never enough hours in the week. When you feel like this, remember: “I am weary, God, but I can prevail” (Proverbs 30:1).

Hold Tight to God’s Promises
Here’s the amazing part—Eleazar fought so long and so hard that his hand literally froze to his sword. He couldn’t let go even if he wanted to. That’s how you need to grip God’s Word in your fundraising work. You’ll face conversations and situations you can’t handle in your own understanding. You need God’s wisdom and strength daily. “But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded” (2 Chronicles 15:7).

Let God Do His Part
The passage says, “The Lord brought about a great victory that day.” Yes, Eleazar did something incredible, but God made it possible. You might be the most talented fundraiser around, but your success ultimately comes from God’s strength and blessing. You can do your part, make the calls, write the emails, build the relationships, make the ask. But only God can move people’s hearts to give.

Think About This: When the battle ended, everyone came back, but only to collect the valuables from the dead enemies. All the hard work was already done. Here’s the question: Are you the one doing the heavy lifting, or are you just showing up after someone else has done the work?

Response: Lord, give me the strength to keep asking when everyone else runs away. Help me be a mighty fundraiser for your glory!

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.

Fundraising Verse of the Week

Narcissistic Fundraisers

by Ron Haas

April 13, 2026

“Do not exalt yourself in the king’s presence,
and do not claim a place among his great men;
it is better for him to say to you, “Come up here,”
than for him to humiliate you before his nobles” (Proverbs 25:6-7).

Fundraising attracts two kinds of people: those who want to change lives and those who want to be celebrated for changing lives. Solomon warns against this exact trap, “Do not exalt yourself.” Here’s his application for fundraisers: Stop grabbing the credit. Let others elevate you, or better yet, let your work speak for itself.

Why Fundraising Attracts Egos
Here’s the uncomfortable truth: fundraising is catnip for narcissists. It offers built-in applause when you land a major gift. It provides moral camouflage; you can be grandiose while sounding selfless. Many nonprofits have weak boards and vague metrics, making it easy for a charismatic “rainmaker” to dominate without accountability. Plus, the job itself rewards performance, storytelling, and self-presentation which is exactly what narcissists do naturally. They get admiration from donors, board members, and volunteers. It’s an ego buffet, and nobody questions it because, after all, they’re “saving the world.”

A Bad Example
Jim was a talented major gift officer. The trouble was, he knew it and made sure everyone else knew it too. He loved swooping into key donor meetings to ask for the big gift, then took full credit for the close while ignoring all the donor cultivation by others that actually made it happen. Everything became about Jim. To outsiders, the team looked successful. But inside, his ego created a toxic work culture. He’d actually say things like, “I built this ministry. You didn’t. I did.” Jim’s pride didn’t just make him insufferable, it suffocated everyone around him.

The Humble Alternative
Truly humble fundraisers operate completely differently. They walk into meetings and immediately hand the microphone to others. They stay in the background fixing problems while others take center stage. When they ask for money, they frame it as “This is how you change a life,” not “Help me hit my goal.” They give away all credit, remember every donor’s name and story, and thank the team relentlessly. The result? Donors feel like heroes. Gifts grow steadily year after year, sometimes for decades, because people aren’t investing in a person, they’re investing in a mission.

Questions to Keep Your Ego in Check

Whose name gets heard most, yours or the ministry’s? If you’re the main character in every story, something’s wrong.
Would donors keep giving if you disappeared tomorrow? If not, you’ve built a cult of personality, not a sustainable mission.
Did you thank your staff? Credit shared is trust earned.
Is your ego shrinking or sneaking into every story? Self-awareness is the first step toward humility.

Think About This: Same job, opposite ego. Proverbs 29:23 teaches, “Pride brings a person low, but the lowly in spirit gain honor.” The humble fundraiser always raises more and keeps it coming. Kings don’t like people who grab credit, and neither does anyone else. Focus on lifting your ministry, not yourself.

Response: Lord, please forgive me for taking any credit for the work you are accomplishing in our ministry. Help me serve with humility and give you all the glory.

Fundraising Verse of the Week

Bold Fundraising

by Ron Haas

February 23, 2026

“With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people gained confidence from what Hezekiah the king of Judah said” (2 Chronicles 32:8).

Hezekiah’s words transformed lambs into lions. Something similar happened at a recent campaign planning meeting with a pretty significant goal. Everyone walked in wondering if we’d completely lost our minds. Could we actually raise this kind of money?

Then Bill showed up and everything changed. When people introduced themselves, most gave a quick “Hi, I’m so-and-so.” Bill took five minutes telling us about his business wins and dropping names of all the big shots he knew personally. At first, it felt a little much. But the longer he talked, the more we realized this guy wasn’t just talk. He actually did know several major donors on a first-name basis. His “we’ve got this” energy was infectious. Suddenly everyone’s “Can we?” turned into “How will we!”

Start with Confidence in the Lord
Bill radiated confidence, but you could also hear his faith underneath it all. He genuinely believed God had prepared him for exactly this moment. Here’s the question: Do you have a positive mindset about fundraising? If you’re just running on your own steam, you’ll burn out fast. But when you draw strength from God, you can accomplish amazing things you never thought possible. “The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights” (Habakkuk 3:19).

Then Confidence in Your Mission
Your boldness in asking for money grows directly from how much you believe in what you’re doing. Do you really believe in your cause? Do you understand how important this work is? A good salesperson can sell anything to anyone, but a truly great fundraiser must believe deep down what they’re offering genuinely meets people’s needs. You’ve got to be all in on the fact your campaign will make an eternal difference.

Next: Believe in Your Leadership
Bill joined our campaign because he knew the executive director personally and completely trusted his leadership. The Israelites faced a vast army and were scared out of their minds about their situation. How vast is your campaign? The Israelites trusted King Hezekiah because he trusted God. Does your leadership inspire confidence or raise doubts about whether or not God’s got this?

Finally: Don’t Underestimate your Network
Bill dropped names, but he also showed everyone a text he received that morning from the CEO of a Fortune 500 company. Most people won’t volunteer for a campaign team because they think, “I don’t know anybody.” Maybe that feels true. Most of us aren’t hanging out with billionaires at country clubs. But Bill’s enthusiasm got everyone in that room thinking differently. People started remembering, “Wait, I do know someone who…”

Think About This: Your mindset will make or break your fundraising. Henry Ford said it perfectly: “Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t, you’re right.” What do people pick up from your attitude about fundraising?

Prayer: Father, help me trust you for how this campaign turns out. Lead us to the right team members and the right donors.

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.

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 Verse of the Week

Keys to Campaign Success

by Ron Haas

October 13, 2025

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!”

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.

Fundraising Verse of the Week

Little by Little Fundraising

by Ron Haas

June 24, 2025

“But I will not drive them out in a single year, because the land would become desolate and the wild animals too numerous for you. Little by little I will drive them out before you, until you have increased enough to take possession of the land” (Exodus 23:29-30).

Fundraisers live to make things happen right now. A fundraiser’s most thrilling moment is identifying, cultivating, and asking a major donor for a leadership gift to fund an incredible project. Praise God for people he has blessed with significant resources who can give game-changing gifts. As exciting as these moments are, we should be just as thankful for steady progress toward our fundraising goals. As Israel prepared to enter the Promised Land, Moses reminded them success wouldn’t happen overnight. Four truths emerge from this text.

God’s Sovereignty
God had reasons for not conquering the land right away. He is compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in love and wanted to give the people living in the land more time to repent (Gen. 15:16). Israel always got into trouble when they were impatient. “But they soon forgot what he had done and did not wait for his plan to unfold” (Psalm 106:13). God has a perfect plan for your donors. He can change hearts and make them “favorably disposed” to generosity (Ex. 12:36). Don’t rush ahead of the Spirit.

God’s Reasons
The Lord didn’t allow Israel to take immediate possession of the land because they weren’t equipped to manage the resources. Why doesn’t God dump millions of dollars in your lap? Would you even know what to do with a $100 million gift? You’re thinking, “Probably not, but I’d like to try.” Not every organization has the leadership, strategic plan, and ability to wisely manage large gifts. Major donors give to trustworthy ministries who have a track record of good stewardship.

God’s Methods
Joshua didn’t conquer the land in his own ability. He was only successful when he followed the Lord’s instructions—think Jericho. When he ignored the plan, he failed—think Ai. God used Israel but he also used his angel (Ex. 23:23), his terror to throw enemy nations into confusion (Ex. 23:27), and even hornets (Ex. 23:28). We take credit for our fundraising efforts, but God uses many tools to accomplish his purposes. Without God’s blessing, we will accomplish nothing of eternal value.

Our Capacity
How can you prepare to manage a multi-million dollar gift? By faithfully caring for the donors God has given you right now. Jesus taught, “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?” (Luke 16:10-11). If you don’t care for your current donors, why would God give you more?

Think About This: God didn’t drive out Israel’s enemies in a single year, but he did promise to drive them out (Ex. 23:30). Major gifts aren’t instantaneous, but only happen after your donors believe you will make an eternal difference with their gift.

Response: Lord, help me take the next little steps to love my donors and wait for your plans to unfold.

Be This Kind of Fundraisers

The Art of the Bold Ask

Narcissistic Fundraisers

Bold Fundraising

Recognizing Donor Loyalty

Golden Rule Fundraising

Keys to Campaign Success

When Your Donor Says No

Farewell to Fickle Fundraising

Little by Little Fundraising

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2450 44th St SE
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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]