“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.
