Those of us who are fundraisers are amazingly blessed. We get to follow in the footsteps of some incredible people of faith. We get to be part of a process saturated with God’s hand. And the natural result of our doing our job well is people bursting out in praise and thanksgiving and abundantly supplying the need.

The following is a brief review of points that we can draw from the examples we’ve looked at. The list is always growing so please let me know of your own additions. I can be reached at marc@givingcoach.com.

• Ask God for His perspective on the need
• Relay that perspective faithfully
• Seek gifts only from those giving with a willing heart
• Use your own giving and giving of donors as public examples
• Make sure God is the center of all of your fundraising efforts
• Fast and pray and ask for His favor
• Be ready for the incredible release of joy and praise at the outpouring from God’s people when they’re asked God’s way
• Ask boldly from believers and nonbelievers alike
• There’s no shame involved in accepting donor support, even Jesus did
• It’s appropriate to use a mix of solicitation methods including face-to-face visits and solicitation letters
• Encourage people to set up some form of systematic giving
• Talk about the tithe—it’s no longer a Temple tax but it is still a helpful measure of giving
• Give praise to God for His faithfulness

Recommended Reading

Financial Stewardship (Christian and not)

• Alcorn, Randy. Money, Possessions & Eternity. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale, 1989.

• Kiyosaki, Robert and Sharon Lechter. Rich Dad, Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money—That the Poor and Middle Class do Not. Paradise, Arizona: TechPress, 1998.
• Kiyosaki, Robert and Sharon Lechter. The CASHFLOW Quadrant: Rich Dad’s Guide to Financial Freedom. Paradise, Arizona: TechPress, 1998.
• Schneider, John. Godly Materialism: Rethinking Money and Possessions. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1994.
• Willmore, Wesley K. God and Your Stuff: The Vital Link Between Your Possessions and Your Soul. Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2002.

Fundraising in the Bible

• Bivin, David. “Oral Torah: Tithing.” found on the web at: http://jerusalemperspective.com/ [Premium membership may be required but is well worth it!]
• Kuniholm, Whitney. The Ministry of Fund Raising. Washington, DC: Prison Fellowship Ministries, 1990
• Bassler, Jouette M. God and Mammon: Asking for Money in the New Testament. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 1991.
• Bassinger, Rebekah Burch & Thomas H. Jeavons. Growing Givers Hearts: Treating Fundraising as a Ministry. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2000.

Scripture references are from The New English Translation, the NET Bible. Copyright ©1997-2004 Biblical Studies Press. This material is provided for personal study or for use in preparation of sermons, Sunday school classes, or other oral communication. This material may be quoted in written form but give credit where credit is due (author’s name and web site address: www.bible.org). It may not be reprinted for commercial publication. It may be copied or reprinted for distribution as long as it is given away and no charge is made for copies, shipping or handling.