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

Weak Fundraising

by Ron Haas
October 20, 2025

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

ChatGPT said: A close-up image of three metal keys lying on a smooth brown surface, with the text “Keys to Campaign Success” and a scripture reference displayed in bold letters on the right side. The design has a warm, professional tone suitable for an article about achieving success in fundraising or organizational campaigns.
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.

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

Say You, Not Me!

by Ron Haas
August 6, 2025

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Silhouette of a person fishing from a small boat at sunset, with the sun low over calm ocean waters and a golden reflection across the sea. The text reads: "Vision Casting and Catching – 2 Samuel 23:15."
Fundraising Verse of the Week

Vision Casting and Catching

by Ron Haas
July 17, 2025

David longed for water and said, “Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!” (2 Samuel 23:15).

The Philistines were a constant thorn in David’s side. To add insult to injury, they set up shop in his hometown, Bethlehem (1 Sam. 16:1). David dreamed of a different future and commented how wonderful it would be to again enjoy a cool drink from the well by the city gate. He didn’t have to say it twice. His three mighty men heard his desire and executed a flawless extraction mission to retrieve a skin of water from behind enemy lines. When they presented the water to David, he realized the risk they took to fulfill his dream and poured it out to the Lord as a drink offering. How can you cast a compelling vision to inspire your ministry partners to action? Consider these four principles.

Leadership
In his book Start with Why, Simon Sinek shares the story of two stonecutters. One hates his job and complains about lifting stones every day in the hot sun. Another replies, “I love my job! Sure, it’s backbreaking work but I’m building a cathedral!” Why do these two men with the exact same job have opposite perspectives? One caught the vision, one didn’t. David inspired his followers to a higher cause. Are you inspiring your donors to accomplish something that will last beyond their lifetimes?

Relationship
David didn’t release a statement to the press; this was quiet conversation with his close friends. Have you ever had a dream conversation with your close major donors to let them know what God is laying on your heart? Don’t take your ideas to your major donors wrapped up nicely in a bow. Invite your key friends into the conversation while you’re still formulating your ideas. Let them imagine the future with you.

Stewardship
David had proven himself on the battlefield and earned the respect of his followers. Trust is a critical component of leadership and followership. People must believe that you will do what you say you will do. Leadership is influencing others. As Spider-Man learned, “With great power comes great responsibility.” As a leader you have great influence over your donors’ giving priorities. Make sure your vision is worthy of their sacrificial giving.

Worship
These men risked their lives to bless David with a remarkable gift. The only thing David could do was to reflect the glory back to God. This is exactly how we should respond when people give sacrificially. “Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else” (2 Cor. 9:13).

Think About This: John Quincy Adams said, “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” Inspire your donors to dream more, learn more about God’s vision for your ministry, give more, and become a vital part of your future.

Response: Lord, please help me understand your vision for what you want us to accomplish. Help me share it effectively with my ministry partners.

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.

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