9 God-honoring Principles of a Fundraising Ministry By Wesley K. Willmer

How people use their possessions is a testimony to others—a trademark that shows people who a person is and what they believe.

There’s an eternal link between our possessions and soul—and we must help people realize that connection.

We can embrace fundraising as a ministry only as we understand the relationship between spiritual growth and faithful stewardship. Instead of being based in techniques that are designed to solicit higher donations, a fundraising ministry is based on God-honoring principles, including the following:

1. Focus on your supporter’s relationship with God and son meeting your organization’s financial needs
2. See your primary job as helping people become generous by assisting them to grow in the understanding that God owns everything.
3. View your role as a shepherd or the steward of God’s possessions by designing programs that move believers to disciples.
4.  Support givers through a consistent program of prayer and personal interaction, accepting that the Holy Spirit, not your personality, influences people’s lives.
5.  Use language and behavior that reinforces a single Kingdom worldview. For example, ask a person to give because of what God has blessed them rather than what you need. If someone wants to give to another area of God’s work, praise God for that decision instead of expressing disappointment.
6. Create a written statement that explains your organization’s approach to givers as God’s stewards, and state your commitment to complete integrity.
7. Embrace an integrated approach to the organization’s program goals and the acquisition process. Fundraising goals must be consistent with how you see God working in people’s hearts.
8. Believe there are eternal consequences for how people use their possessions and accept you have a responsibility for the spiritual formation of your supporters.
9. See your role as a calling to advance and facilitate the worship of God through biblically centered giving rather than a job.

People will only start giving at that level if they have a transformed heart. It won’t come from better techniques—it will have to come from a change in their life priorities

This process begins as we take the focus off effective fundraising techniques and place our highest priority on promoting a biblical understanding of possessions.

What principles are central to your fundraising ministry?

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Adapted from a presentation at a Christian Management Association conference by Wesley K. Willmer, Ph.D.,  then Vice-President, University Advancement, at Biola University.