Experiencing God

by Ron Haas

July 20, 2026

“Then Moses went up, also Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and they saw the God of Israel. And there was under His feet as it were a paved work of sapphire stone, and it was like the very heavens in its clarity. But on the nobles of the children of Israel He did not lay His hand. So they saw God, and they ate and drank” (Exodus 24:9-10).

Imagine receiving a personal invitation to experience God. Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy elders were called specifically to the mountain to eat and drink in God’s presence. This was no ordinary dinner. It was the most exclusive event you could imagine. This encounter offers four applications as you plan your major donor events.

Special Invitation

“Nobles” means “corner pegs,” the structural supports holding everything together. Your ministry has corner pegs. You may have twenty of them. You may have five. These are the donors who anchor your mission. They deserve a personal invitation to an insider event. The ask begins long before the ask. The ask begins with the invitation itself.

Special Place

The setting God chose was breathtaking. Under His feet was what appeared to be a pavement of sapphire, clear as the heavens themselves. Your major donors can go to the finest restaurants and the most exclusive resorts. You probably can’t outspend their personal standards. What you can offer is something money cannot buy: a front-row seat to what God is doing through your ministry. Find an appropriate venue, even if modest. What happens inside the room matters far more than the room itself.

Special Speaker

The elders saw a glimpse of God. Your event does not need to produce a complete picture of your ministry. It needs to move hearts. Outside speakers can draw a crowd, but showcasing changed lives is much more effective. One Christian high school asked three graduating seniors to deliver the main address together, each taking ten minutes. They were well-scripted and well-rehearsed, and no guest speaker could have matched what they communicated. Your ministry’s stories, told well, are your greatest platform.

Special Outcome

The elders did not see God face to face, but they saw enough of His glory to strengthen their confidence in His leadership through Moses. What outcomes are you planning for your next major donor event? Identification? Cultivation? A campaign solicitation? Each of these requires a different design. A cultivation event that accidentally feels like a solicitation can set a relationship back months. Know your purpose before you plan a single detail.

Do not overlook this: God wanted them to eat and drink in His presence. Fellowship was part of the agenda. Some of your most important conversations will happen around the table, not from the podium. Build time for it.

Think About This: The elders went back as eyewitnesses. Imagine their conversations around the campfire: “I cannot fully describe it. But I was there. And it was real.” Your most faithful donors, when moved and inspired, become your most credible advocates. Design your event to create witnesses, not just attendees.

Response: Lord, help us create gatherings where our donors see You moving in the lives of those we serve. Make our events less about us and more about You. Amen.

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.

Fundraising Verse of the Week

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.

A dramatic wide-angle view of a packed basketball arena with bright overhead lights and two visible hoops, with the text Love the Fundraising Game and the scripture reference 1 Peter 5:2 in white lettering.

Fundraising Verse of the Week

Love the Fundraising Game

by Ron Haas

June 1, 2026

“Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them, not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve” (1 Peter 5:2)

Maybe the reason Michael Jordan was the G.O.A.T. (greatest of all time) is that basketball wasn’t just a game to him. He loved it so much he had a “love of the game” clause written into his contract. It meant he could jump into a pickup game anytime he wanted, and even if he got hurt, his contract was still guaranteed. That’s what it looks like when you love what you do. Peter describes that same kind of passion in his instructions to elders. Here are four lessons to keep your fundraising fervor alive.

Care for Your Donors
We talk about knowing our donors, but it goes beyond that. It means caring for them as people. Scott called Bill to find out why he hadn’t responded to his emails or voicemails. When they finally connected, Bill shared that he had been caring for his wife Marilyn, who had fallen and undergone back surgery. Thankfully, she was on the mend. Scott offered encouragement and prayed with them right there on the phone. That call had nothing to do with a gift. It had everything to do with shepherding. And their relationship is stronger today because of it.

Not Because You Must
Fundraising can feel like a grind. You’ve got a full to-do list with donors calls and visits every week. Your activity matters and will transform your results. But here’s the key. When we start viewing each conversation as a chance to help someone experience the joy of generosity, our whole perspective shifts. It goes from “I have to make this ask” to “I get to invite this person into something meaningful.” That’s the difference between obligation and calling.

Not Pursuing Dishonest Gain
Peter warns against dishonest gain, and that should hit close to home for every fundraiser. This is one reason why fundraising is not commissioned-based. When your paycheck depends on how much money you bring in, it creates a conflict of interest. Instead of doing what’s right for the donor, you might focus only on getting the biggest check possible right now. A shepherd of generosity does the opposite. You’re stewarding the relationship, not just closing the deal.

Eager to Serve
Eagerness to serve means doing your homework. Learn your donor’s giving history, what they care about, and why. Eagerness shows up when you make a thank you call and send a handwritten note. But the truest sign of eagerness is listening more than talking. An eager servant pays attention to what God is doing in that person’s life and looking for where the mission intersects with the donor’s calling.

Think About This: You’re not a solicitor. You’re a shepherd of generosity. When you see it that way, fundraising stops being something you have to do and becomes something you get to do.

Response: Father, thank you for calling me into the ministry of fundraising. Give me a shepherd’s heart for every donor you’ve entrusted to my care. Help me love this work the way you love your people. 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

The Coffee Club

by Ron Haas

April 28, 2026

“Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my co-workers in Christ Jesus” (Romans 16:3).

In 1948, Bob Arrol bought a small-town drugstore. Every morning, he made coffee for his friend Horace Clark. To save on dishwashing, Bob wrote Horace’s name on a cup. Word spread fast. Soon, everyone in town wanted their name on a cup too. Bob set a rule: drink 100 cups of coffee first. At a nickel per cup, that’s five bucks and a lot of mornings showing up. Eventually, 162 named cups filled a cabinet Bob built himself. The coffee club became so popular that the only way to join was if someone moved away or died.

Bob Arrol’s drugstore became the beating heart of Arcola. Twenty people packed into 13 stools and surrounding booths every morning. They read newspapers, discussed community news, and caught up on life. Bob and his wife Betty “fostered a sense of belonging.” People didn’t come just for coffee. They came because they had a place where somebody knew their name.

Know Your Donors’ Names
In Romans 16, Paul mentions at least 26 people by name. Phoebe, the letter carrier. Priscilla and Aquila, who risked their necks for him. Mary, who worked hard. Andronicus and Junia, outstanding among the apostles. Urbanus, his fellow worker. Stachys, his dear friend. Apelles, who stood the test. Paul named individuals and highlighted what made each person special. Why? Because people aren’t interchangeable. Because names matter. Because belonging matters. Because when someone takes the time to know you specifically, it transforms everything.

Use Your Donors’ Names
Bob Arrol stumbled onto brilliant marketing, but that wasn’t his goal. It wasn’t just the downtown destination of the store. It was the people you’d see and visit with, the conversations you’d have and the welcoming atmosphere. That’s exactly what Paul created in his letters. And it’s exactly what we’re called to create in our fundraising work.

Donors aren’t ATM machines. They’re Horace Clark waiting for someone to know their name. They’re Mary who works hard. They’re Apelles who stands the test. They’re real people who long to belong somewhere that matters. When we send mass emails addressed to “Dear Friend,” we’re missing the point. When we thank “our generous supporters” instead of thanking Jennifer, Michael, and the Thompson family, we’re washing the cup instead of putting a name on it.

Remember Your Donors’ Names
Paul’s list is revolutionary. In a world where most people were nameless slaves or faceless crowds, Paul said: You matter enough for me to write your name. You’re not just “the church.” You’re Phoebe, Priscilla, and Urbanus. Bob Arrol’s coffee club ended when he closed the drugstore in 1984. But the cups that remain at the Arcola Chamber of Commerce tell a story that’s good to the last drop: People will show up, stick around, and invest deeply in something when they know they belong, when someone knows their name.

Think About This: Here’s your assignment this week: Pick up your donor list. Pray their names out loud. Remember they’re not just giving, they’re longing to belong to something bigger than themselves. Just like Paul knew. Just like Bob knew.

Response: Lord, thank you for remembering my name. Help me know, use, and remember the names of our ministry partners.

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.

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.

Fundraising Verse of the Week

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.

Experiencing God

Fishing for Donors

Too Many Fundraisers

Love the Fundraising Game

Fundraising Paralysis

Joyful Fundraising

The Coffee Club

God’s Role in Your Fundraising Challenge

Be This Kind of Fundraisers

The Art of the Bold Ask

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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]