Christian Leadership Alliance
I have always been drawn to the book of Ecclesiastes. For me, it has always carried with it the smell of the grease covered men in overalls with orange rags hanging out of their pockets at the corner gas station. When read aloud, the words of this book carry the muted sound of the baled baffles of … Continue reading Fundraising Wisdom from Ecclesiastes
We live in a society full of rushed, impersonal transactions. It is not hard to see how diametrically opposed this is to building authentic relationships with our donors. I want to share six principles that empower ministries to connect with donors on a soulful level. These principles are rooted in biblically-based values. Gratitude is the … Continue reading Gratitude for Givers
Many years ago, a mentor convinced me that fundraising is ministry. That changed everything. I no longer viewed asking for money as uncomfortable, awkward, or saw development work as “a necessary evil,” as some would term it. His view of donors as those who need ministry transformed how I approached this work. It has forever … Continue reading Capturing Hearts and Minds
How many times have you heard “let’s not reinvent the wheel”? Dozens? Hundreds? Perhaps you’ve even said it a few times. (We have too.) Surely, sometimes this is terrible advice. After all, no one drives around in a car with four medieval wooden cart wheels hugging the road. Similarly, “let’s not reinvent the wheel” is … Continue reading Reinventing the Wheel
I’m sure you know people with the capacity to make a transformational gift. They’re current donors, community leaders, or major contributors to a similar ministry. But they aren’t making those gifts to your ministry. And you wonder why. People want to achieve their own vision. Long ago, I came to the realization that nobody wants … Continue reading The Million-Dollar Question
For many nonprofits, 2020 and 2021 were exceptional years in fundraising. However, current economic conditions represent an existential threat for nonprofit organizations. That’s not hyperbole. There are no guarantees in what the short-term future looks like. If a global economic slowdown begins for several years, nonprofit organizations will face funding challenges like never before. Short-term … Continue reading Innovating to New Donors
Our world is changing at an incredibly rapid pace: can your fundraising keep up? Changing economies, demographics, and interests all have significant influences on fundraising. So how do we innovate our practices to keep up with the pace of change while maintaining our biblically-centered convictions about generosity and fundraising? To future-proof your fundraising efforts, embrace … Continue reading Future-Proof Your Fundraising
In my book The Courage Factor, I share a Bible passage that changed my life – the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25:14: “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants, and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to … Continue reading Courageous Vision
“For every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills.” (Psalm 50:10) In resource development, whenever I find myself dreading budget deadlines and wringing my hands about where the money’s going to come from, I’ve learned to stop and take inventory. When I’m tempted to resent donors who’ve given in the past … Continue reading Thriving in Resource Development
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,” said no one in 2020. It has been the worst year for many of us. Unprecedented It began with such promise. The economy was expanding. Nonprofits were thriving. Business was booming. And then…not so much: COVID-19, shutdowns, protests, isolation, and racial tension. Then … Continue reading Generosity in Uncertain Times
