In my first job for a Christian ministry, I wanted more than anything, to find new ideas and gimmicks for raising big bucks.  The funds needed to come in now.  Too often, I was looking over my shoulder to find out what appeal worked for someone else, so I could try the same approach.

            I certainly believed in the ministry and the need for money was obvious.  The goal was to find out what worked and try it myself.  It took too many years for me to discover there was no depth or permanency in my work.

            Here are seven things I wish someone had told me when I started raising ministry funds.  My approach would have been different and there would have been greater effectiveness--and certainly more depth and permanency to all my efforts.

1.         The ministry is God's work, not mine. Too often we act as though it is our ministry.  We even develop programs for "our" partners, and too often, there is no real partnership in the relationship only another program that is designed to get more money from people.   What a relief it is when we can develop true partners and are willing for the Lord to speak through our partners.  We should allow God to tell us "No" to a new idea or opportunity through our partners.

2.         In fundraising, we do not take money away form people.  Rather, people’s gifts carry out what they believe God is leading them to do through the ministry.  This may mean that not all donors will sense they should automatically give to every appeal.  That's okay.   If we are communicating adequately and have the right kind of trust relationship, we can trust our donors' decisions.  In this sense, we are true stewards of God's resources.  This gets us free from trying to talk someone into giving when they do not want to give.

3.         People enjoy giving away money to causes they believe in. This is true.  Just think of the circumstances around a gift you have made during the past few years.  Why did you give?  What happened after you gave the gifts?  Did you regret it?  If so, the wrong tactics were used in persuading you to give.

4.         The exchange takes place when what people give is more spiritual than material.  In fundraising, we know that every appeal needs to have an offer.  "This is what we offer you and this what you give to us."  The offer can be for a set number of dollars:  we will reach X numbers of people, feed X number of hungry children, etc.  Too many of the appeals move immediately from the ministry opportunity to the premium, as if the spiritual reward were not enough.  We can make the intangible offer more compelling if we can produce evidence that the opportunity to touch lives is real and what we claim happens, really happens.  Don't sell the intangible offer short.

5.         Giving is an act of worship.  The offering on Sunday morning is not a disruption of the worship service because someone needs to pay the bills.  As believers, we need to give more than God needs our money.  Where you and I spend money is a reflection of our beliefs and values.  Too often this fact is ignored in appeals for support.

6.         Guilt is a poor motivator to give.  Research and experience shows us that people do not give out of guilt.  Yet many of the appeals I see draw on guilt.  This is usually related to wealth and a comparison of other people’s poverty.

7.         The most important step in building relationships happen after the gift is made--not before.  Certainly we thank our donors for the gift, but we often ignore their motivation for giving and do not report on the results of their gift.  The reporting is a completely separate step from the thank you. If done properly, it closes the books on one gift and opens the door for the donor to make a new gift to the ministry.  A ministry must help the donor  realize that what "I wanted to happen, did happen."

            If you take the time to consider and reflect on these truths, you will become a productive Christian leader with a long list of completed projects and meaningful relationships.

Source: Dr. Norm Edwards, Resource Development.  Adapted for a book by Brian Kluth, "Out of the Woods: Funding Christian Camps and Conference Centers".