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A fundraising strategy that can work for you

August 24, 2020

A fundraising strategy that can work for you

You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully” 1 Corinthians 9:7

A fundraising plan is an organized plan for your fundraising efforts.

A good fundraising plan will keep you from thinking too little or too much about the funding side. Make the plan, follow the plan and leave the results up to God!

Here is a simple process to follow when thinking through your fundraising strategy.

PRAY

First we pray. In 1 Chronicles 29 one of the richest men of his time confesses to God that everything we have is God’s and is from God. It is so important in any fundraising to remember, first and foremost that your provision comes from God Almighty. God has reminded me of this time and time again as a church leader and nonprofit director. So, the first, and most important, step in any fundraising strategy is to seek God and His daily bread.

I highly recommend building this into a routine. One way that I have done this is by taking the firs month of the year off from any personal fundraising asks. Instead, I take the entire month to pray to the Lord for His provision and direction for His work.

ASK

This sounds so simple but it is often the hardest part for people to do. Raising funds for ministry is not about dollars, it is about hearts. And it starts with your heart. Many people struggle to raise funds because they feel like they are asking for themselves. However, “the ask” should never be about you, it is about accomplishing a holy and God-given purpose. One that not only you, but your donors are called to as well.

It is important to ask, and it is important to think about your ask before making it. We are asking people to be a part of a Kingdom movement. Something that they can be proud to be a part of.

When people are financially invested, they want a return.
When people are emotionally invested, they want to contribute.
Simon Simenk

Here is a simple 3 step process to follow.

Make a list of people you might ask
Think through where you mission and their passion align (if they do)
And if they do, honor the Kingdom need by taking the time to actually ask

Here’s a worksheet to help you process your ask in more detail.

THANK

Genuine gratitude makes a huge difference. This can be done in a thousand different ways, but please do not neglect to share your appreciation for the generosity of others. A true heart of gratitude comes from seeing that every single gift, no matter how big or small, is truly a blessing from God. Taking the time to recognize the person this has come from should not feel like work but a genuine joy!

Say thank you early and often!

REPORT

The number one reason people stop giving is because they don’t know how their gift is being used.

Let people know the impact their gift is making. Let them know the general impact and as much as possible, let them know the specific impact. Lives are being changed, and it could not happen without them.

Check out our resources page for more great helps on your ministry plan!

We’re with you every step of the way!

A fundraising strategy that can work for you