3 Principles That Will Increase Your Fundraising
Having a good perspective about fundraising can make your experience, or it can break you. Most people underestimate the power of perspective. It’s like laying a foundation before building a house. Laying a foundation isn’t complicated. You level the ground, create a mold, and pour concrete. Simple but important, right? (I may be oversimplifying this; I’m not a contractor. And it’s really all about the illustration.) How you view your relationship with money can be one of the biggest factors in your success in fundraising. So let’s lay a good foundation. Shall we?
First, God owns everything.
This seems obvious. But to some, it’s not. And even if it is, it has bigger implications than you think. Psalm 50:9-12 says: “For every beast of the forest is Mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird of the mountains, and everything that moves in the field is Mine. If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is Mine, and all it contains.” When we are asking people to give, we can know that we’re not asking them to give something they own. Those are God’s resources. Not theirs. Not yours.
Second, we are managers of God’s wealth, not owners.
If we don’t actually own the resources at our disposal, what is our role? Well, God has entrusted us to manage His resources for His Glory. Remember the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25:14-30? There was a master who went on a journey. Before he departed, he gave each of his servants a specific portion of his wealth to manage. When he returned, he had the expectation that those resources would have been invested and multiplied. So it is with us and those whom we ask to give. We’re asking them to invest God’s resources to further His Kingdom work.
Third, there is more joy in giving than receiving.
Jesus actually said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” It’s not a cliché. It’s an eternal truth. That means it’s true whether you believe it or not. It also means that when you invite someone to give, you’re offering them joy. You’re offering them a joy that is unlike anything else.
When you understand and internalize these 3 principles, you can fundraise with confidence.
Russell Cooper, Co-Founder and CEO
As co-founder of Tailored, I am dedicated to developing generosity in the Body of Christ. This is why I'm passionate about creating strategic partnerships with disciple-making organizations, as well as coaching leaders. When I have free time, I'm watching America’s Test Kitchen and trying out new recipes on my wife, my most dependable food critic.