Leadership Attributes in Christian Fundraisers

I am pleased to share the thinking of several mature leaders who give us insights into the ways that we live and think in our leadership roles. More can be said about each, but here are a few thoughts to consider:

True Leadership

Giving one's life for the service and well-being of others - following in the steps of Jesus.

Steward Leader

Making the best use of every asset given to us. Using these to accomplish the mission of our school for God's glory, not man's.

Encouraging Giving

Even when we invite others to give. we are not trying to GET from them, but trying to help them GROW into a life of generous giving. That may mean that our school is not the direct or immediate beneficiary.

Growing Today's Young Leaders

Encourage them in their love of service to improve the community. These acts of service will naturally lead to financial generosity.

Communications

Are we spending as much time listening as we are talking? We value and our friends when we make the time to listen and learn.

Acting

While we trust the Spirit to move in hearts, we encourage the young disciples to take the first baby steps to grow in the grace of giving.

Leadership Multiplication

We are called to make disciples who will come after us. These new leaders can be our greatest legacy - are we finding and developing them now?

Christian School Fundraisers - Start Your Engines!!

Today is the beginning of the last summer month. For many of us, it isn't even a whole month to get our plans mapped out and key dates set on the calendar.

As we get ready to greet the students and parents back, now is a good time to look at our overall plans and see if we are ready to hit the school year running.

Here are a few ideas:

1. Are the major dates and plans on the calendar?


2. Have you thought about the major themes you want to convey?


3. Who are some key donors you want to contact before the year begins?


4. Have you thought and prayed about some key volunteers that you want to bring along to help share the load?


5. What books or articles do you need to read to get your mind and heart focused on where the Lord wants you?


6. Have you picked a big goal that, without the Lord's supernatural work, will make a large difference in the life of the school?


7. Who are your prayer and accountability partners?

This also a good time to renew some professional friendships and to run these ideas and plans by.

Who knows, maybe someone has some insight that could help you be more successful.

The Christian Fundraiser - A Conduit of Blessing

The best fundraisers I know don't believe that they actually raise funds. They don't even believe they raise "friends."

The best fundraisers are not really fundraisers at all, but they are very capable messengers for biblical stewardship and conduits of blessing.

As messengers, the fundraiser (or development or stewardship officer) effectively communicates Biblical precepts about the management of time, talent and treasure.

As conduits of blessing, then, we are merely the "catcher" or "receiver" of gifts, only to have those gifts applied to Kingdom work on behalf of the donor who contributed what the Lord gives him first.

This week, the headmaster and I had the privilege of informing a school parent that her daughter was selected to receive a scholarship funded by a donor who was looking for a promising student to sponsor and whose family needed some financial assistance.

The mom was overwhelmed and joyously received the gift. She thanked us profusely. We said, "don't thank us" and we reminded her that we all should thank our Lord for His provisions of such a donor and for motivating the family to give generously.

Being God's ambassadors for generous giving is a good role for us. When, the gifts come in, we need to step aside and let the true Giver be thanked for the gifts we receive.

Endowment Funds for Christian schools

How can you bring up endowment when we can't even raise the Annual Fund to cover the "gap" that is required to make budget? Can't we just discuss endowment when (and if) we get caught up?

I don't think so. Here are a few reasons to begin to think, plan and act in this direction:

1. Prudence - it is good stewardship to plan for lean times. Remember Joseph's planning during the seven years of abundance (Ge 41:46ff).


2. Donors - many donors do not prefer to give to "keep the lights on", but want to build future capacity for the school.


3. Future - schools have longer-term plans that require larger amounts of money. This could be funding annual scholarships (the annual earnings of the endowment could fund scholarship for that year). It could also fund other initiatives not covered in the operating budget.

There are two arguments I have heard against funding endowments:

1. Accumulation - building more storehouses for grain only to have this taken away.


2. Current period starvation - money invested for the future may dissuade donors from giving for current-period needs; they believe they have done their part.

To both of these I say, come to the Lord humbly and ask for direction. He will guide if there is too much accumulation; He will direct the monies to be used for other purposes. We must trust the Lord that He is working in donors' hearts and telling them where He wants them to invest.

Our job is to make our schools worthy of investment, communicate with donors and trust them to follow the Lord's leading. We cannot and should not attempt to engineer the giving.

If endowments are in your future, what should you do today?

1. Ask the Lord to assemble some people to help you think about the future needs of the school.


2. Pray for a vision for the school's future that balances current and future needs.


3. Remember that donors want to see us continue in our mission. That means that they may be more forward-looking than we are.

The Generous Fundraiser

In the world of fundraising, it is presumed that we ourselves are generous with the blessings we have from God. After all, doesn't it make sense that we cannot ask for what we are not giving?

So, what does generosity look like in our lives? Here is a quick test that you get to grade and score yourself.

1. How am I doing with my financial giving? Am I giving in the same proportions of my income that I ask our donors to do?
2. How am doing in giving my talent? Have I offered to help another development or stewardship person any assistance, encouragement, or prayer?
3. What am doing with my time? Is my schedule so full that I cannot be "interrupted" with the needs or concerns of another? Do I take my precious time and think about who might need a good word?
4. Would others describe me as a generous person? Would they say I am effective and efficient, but not particularly loving?
5. Am I sharing my journey of becoming a generous giving in a way that invites others to join or does it come across like I have "arrived" and my donors just need to catch up?

I write this as I come under conviction for holding back. The Lord is gracious to forgive, but He also puts generous saints in my path who remind me that I have far to go.

Thank you Lord for your patience with me.

Easy Fundraising with Discount Cards

"We just need something that raises a lot of money without having to take possession of boxes of candy or wrapping paper!" is the exclaim of many school administrators. "Something that people don't hate to see coming; maybe it could even be something they like!" continues the conversation.

Enter: the discount, or "value" card. Basically, the card issuer has negotiated discounts at retailers. By using the card, the consumers can save many times the amount they paid for the card, typically $20 to $40 each for the annual fee.

The math is straightforward. The issuer, or broker, gets 50% of the sale price and the school gets the other 50%. So, a school of 200 students sells 2,000 (10 each) with a "clear profit" of $20,000 to $40,000. Nice money, right? What could be easier; plus it helps endear the purchasers to the school because we've done them a "service" by helping them save money on things they were going to buy anyway.

Selling discount cards is not wrong or evil per se. It's what it substitutes for that concerns me. When presented with this opportunity last week, I was reminded that this transactional method will divert us from the relational or stewardship approach that marks our school. We would have to set aside biblical discipleship in order to develop a whole new type of relationship.

Some questions to ask when we find ourselves wrestling with our urgent financial needs:

1. Why do we have these needs at all? Is there a more fundamental issue that should be addressed?
2. Are our needs so urgent and desperate that we must grab the next, nearest, easiest technique? Where does this path lead us?
3. How does this transaction develop generous giving?
4. How does this approach reflect Christ to the community?
5. Is this the best we can do to honor the Lord and to build up a community? If not, will the tyranny of the urgent always prevail?
6. How or why do we expect the Lord to bless these plans?

Nothing is free, except the grace we received on the cross. Everything else has a cost. Please evaluate it before you make the next decision.

Generosity as a Good Word

We have a new parent at Tall Oaks who is very happy with the education her son is receiving at Tall Oaks Classical School and the partnership between school and family.

While they do not have much to give financially, this parent understands that tuition does not cover one hundred percent of the cost and wants to help do her part to provide financial aid.

So, armed with a letter describing the school's scholarship needs, she presented the case to her employer who, in turn, contributed $150 to help needy families. This parent used her good relationship with her employer to present us to someone who we would not have reached out to.

Armed with this success, she is now embarking on coordinating an all-school cookbook fundraiser like she has done in another venue.

Our work as stewardship officers is to help others see that they have something to contribute, time, talent, treasure, and a Good Word. God has been and is generous to distribute these. Our work is to help unearth them and to encourage generous living.

This week we remember the ultimate giving act - when the God of the universe deployed His Son, Jesus, to live among us and to experience the greatest gift of all , eternal life.

Merry Christmas!

Thanking the Lord for Fundraising

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Be joyful always, pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus

Too many people have told me that raising resources is a "necessary evil" in the administration of the school.

I think these folks have their theology and history wrong. Raising resources to advance the Kingdom to win others to Jesus has always been part of the fabric of the Christian life.

We recognize that every good gift came from God, that these are merely on loan to us, that good stewardship was an obligation and (when done with a right spirit) a joy. The apostle Paul commended believers for their generous giving as they responded to God's mercy and forgiveness (see the Macedonians).

Nowadays we think, "If someone would die and leave the school with this giant estate, then all our troubles would go away." No, they wouldn't. Lack of funds is not the problem anyway; lack of funds is a symptom of another problem. We'll talk about that another day.

Plus, why should our "problems" go away? In Paul's letter to the church at Thessalonica (as in other letters), he addressed persecution of the faithful. He told us to persevere and continue to worship and, yes, to give thanks - in all circumstances.

No, I don't want fundraising to be easy or fast. Here is why:

1. It keeps me listening and looking for the Lord's leading in my work
2. It reminds me that raising funds is not technique-dependent; while it does require that I do everything with excellence as our Lord deserves.
3. It keeps me praying and causes me to praise as friends become generous givers
4. It makes me grateful for each gift as it comes in - I can celebrate the details of God's blessing
5. It allows me to look back and see how the Lord provided for our needs and gave exactly what we needed

So, on this Thanksgiving Day, let's thank the Lord for the good work He has called us to and to remember that we are only a small part of a larger whole.

Please pass the gravy....

The Purpose-Driven Fundraiser

Malachi 3:10

Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.

In the development world we are always connecting with people and explaining our work. When asked, many of us would answer "I am the development officer for ...." or "I am the fundraiser for ....". True enough, that describes our specific function, but it falls short of the wonderful purpose God has given us to be catalysts for biblical stewardship.

If we see our purpose as larger (dare I say global?) then we may begin to approach our work as more than fulfilling a role in the organizational chart or raising a certain sum of money.

What if you answered the "what do you do" question with "My role is to encourage people to unleash resources from their wealth and plow them into the Kingdom". To which, they would reply (after they chuckled in amusement), "That's a tall order".

Indeed it is and that is why it requires the very word of God and the moving of the Holy Spirit.

However, if we let the Spirit do the "heavy lifting" of changing hearts, then our work is one of being an aid to and a messenger of the One who owns all of the resources and our very lives in the palm of His hand. And, according to Scripture, we are to test God in this and see if He does not throw open the floodgates of heaven.

When we look at our work with this bigger view we are better positioned to be a help to the donor. Even if we are part of an effort that causes the donor to give to a ministry other than our own, we can rejoice because the donor was blessed in the act of giving.

"Raising our gaze" gives our work the high calling that it should have.

Planting and Harvesting - hard work and waiting

Luke 8:5-7

"A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up.

Some fell on rock, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture.

Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants.

Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown." When he said this, he called out, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

Here is the parable from the Development Officer's perspective:

There was a moderately successful fundraiser who came to the town of Muchville to raise funds for his school. He printed some beautiful literature and prepared his story to tell the residents.

The first group he came to had no interest in his appeal; they took his literature and threw it away.

Then he came to some donors who contributed a little bit of money to get him off their back and to keep from feeling guilty. This giving did not last and he moved on.

The next group was very wealthy. The folks started to give, but before long they remembered their very comfortable life and the god of materialism choked out the giving they had begun.

The last group had been blessed with the grace of giving and they appreciated the opportunity to show their love for and obedience to God. They responded in a large way and gave great amounts and were privileged to do so.

The development officer exclaimed, "The Lord has visited His people and spoken to their hearts - the joy of generous giving is evident here".

This parable reminds us that we will encounter many adverse situations, but we must keep sowing and planting because the Great Farmer has gone before us, prepared the soil, and brings the harvest.

Let us keep persevering for the good of the Kingdom.

"Re-planning" your events for the year

1 Corinthians 10:23-31

"Everything is permissible"--but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible"--but not everything is constructive.

Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.

Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, for, "The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it."

If some unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you without raising questions of conscience.

But if anyone says to you, "This has been offered in sacrifice," then do not eat it, both for the sake of the man who told you and for conscience' sake--the other man's conscience, I mean, not yours. For why should my freedom be judged by another's conscience?

If I take part in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for?

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

The summer is a time to look forward to the multitude of activities and events for the upcoming year. For many schools, these are the major milestones that must be completed to make the year a success (we'll talk what "success" is separately).

Hopefully, before we plan the events we have taken some time to reflect on the past year to see if they had the impact we thought they would.

As we get ready for the next year and the many things we do to promote the school and to raise awareness and funds for the school, I would suggest putting all of the events through a rigorous evaluation. This type of "re-planning" could help to focus and refine, or it could raise the question, "should we even do this again"?

Journalists have to answer the questions: who, what, when, why and how? It might be a good place to start with asking a few of these.

Who? What is the primary audience for the event? Who do we want to hear from afterwards that this was a wonderful experience?

Why? Is it for fund-raising, friend-raising, awareness-raising, or for fun? This is probably the most important question to answer because everything flows from the event's purpose. Work hard to clarify this. The clearer the goal, the more likely you will hit it.

What? Here we must keep in mind the admonition of scripture. To paraphrase Ro. 12:2 Do not conform any longer to the ways (event types) of this world, but be transformed (and transformational) by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will. This means that we must remember that the Lord cares deeply about what we do to raise funds; don't fixate on what someone else did just because "it worked".

How? Our Lord deserves excellence in all things. While we have limited budgets, we should not do anything in a shoddy way that might confuse the beauty of the Gospel that is central to our work. It is better to do something small, but very well, than to have a large event that is poorly done, but gets the numbers.

When we ask these hard questions, God is pleased to re-focus our efforts and lead into paths (events) that honor Him while blessing donors and providing for the needs of the school.

I will not fear

The Helper of Israel - Isaiah 41:1-10

"Be silent before me, you islands! Let the nations renew their strength! Let them come forward and speak; let us meet together at the place of judgment.
"Who has stirred up one from the east, calling him in righteousness to his service ? He hands nations over to him and subdues kings before him. He turns them to dust with his sword, to windblown chaff with his bow.
He pursues them and moves on unscathed, by a path his feet have not traveled before.
Who has done this and carried it through, calling forth the generations from the beginning? I, the LORD--with the first of them and with the last--I am he."
The islands have seen it and fear; the ends of the earth tremble. They approach and come forward; each helps the other and says to his brother, "Be strong!"
The craftsman encourages the goldsmith, and he who smooths with the hammer spurs on him who strikes the anvil. He says of the welding, "It is good." He nails down the idol so it will not topple.
"But you, O Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, you descendants of Abraham my friend, I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you. I said, 'You are my servant'; I have chosen you and have not rejected you.
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Many schools and other ministries suffer from a "fear factor" syndrome. It looks like this.
- Our enrollment is shrinking; the income is going to dry up
- People will stop giving to the school in this economy
- Other sources of support could go away, too
- We could be forced by the government to hire people who don't share our values

God is not impressed or daunted by current situations; He has a much bigger picture in mind. He reminds His people Israel that they are the chosen; they are not rejected - they are upheld with God's righteous right hand - isn't that where Jesus reigns, too?

The opposite of fear is not blind or reckless courage; it is confidence in the Lord and the boldness to stay on the course He has laid out.

Here is an example: The fund raising dinner or event did not bring (at that moment) the desired goal. We could conclude that this type of event "does not work" and abandon the idea altogether. But, what if there were 10 new friends of the school that came to a new understanding of the education mission and are seeking to get involved? It seems that God was willing to spare Sodom for 10, wasn't He?

Don't fear. Easy to say - hard to do, especially when our measuring sticks are so tangible and near term.

Here are a few suggestions:

1. Remember who you are; remember whose you are
2. Look for the "things" that the Lord cares about
3. Take the embers of excitement that the Spirit ignited and gently blow them into flames

Lastly, don't forget who gave you the breath to blow!

Sowing and reaping - doing good

Galatians 6:7-10

"Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially those who belong to the family of believers."

There are (at least) two frustrating dimensions in development:

1. Having so many rejections when you are in the middle of doing so much to raise funds - planting seeds.

2. Having those you report to get frustrated because the money is not coming fast enough - this is the "long germination" syndrome.

There is always a delay between sowing and reaping. Farmers and gardeners will experience a lot of anxiety, watching over the dormant seeds for weeks and weeks.
But, it always comes up. We will see the fruit and benefits "come up". Paul is reminding us not to lose heart - we are called to persevere even when the odds or conditions are stacked against us.

What is "doing good" sowing? In verse 10 we are told to "do good" to all people, but especially Christians. This phrase is very sweeping and comprehensive. It means that we are not confined to evangelism and discipling; loving is larger than that. It means seeing a need and meeting it, as it is in our power to do so. Alleviating pain and comforting are examples.

How does this help me in my development goals? Paul does not tell us; he leaves us to guess. Maybe we are to "discover" the benefits of such a lifestyle. In the short run, such a life entails a tremendous number of sacrifices. You bind your heart up emotionally to people who may have no intention or ability to respond in kind. You may miss other "more profitable" relationships where the giving ground is more fertile.

Here are some benefits. Lives are changed, and we may even be thanked. Second, we may have been used to be a soothing balm in a family. Third, we may see those who burdens we have carried become burden bearers.

If we do not only measure our sowing by outward success, we will find our own character changed deeply through ministry. Our consciences will be clear and hearts happy since we are less self-indulgent. We develop a less selfish and more faithful character which serves us well under pressure.

Even under the pressure of raising funds.

Who is being served?

Joshua 24:15
"But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord."

Luke 16:13
"No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money."

There are at least four participants in the development world and they all vie for primary importance in our minds as we set about our task of raising funds. All are critical, but only one can be preeminent.

The school is the beneficiary of generous giving and we should vigorously promote the work going on. The school is also the "translator" of the funds into the Kingdom purposes in this particular ministry. The school is not the primary participant.

The fundraiser who makes the case for the school is very important. To many people, he or she is the face of the school, the one who is seen most often and the "message-bearer". We solicit the gifts and acknowledge them, too. The fundraiser is also not the primary participant.

The donors who share their wealth are vital to the school. Not only is their giving important, but they also help carry the message to others, thereby amplifying the message so it can be heard by others who might be led to give to the school. The donor is critical but also not the reason for our work in Christian ministry.

Then there is Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. To paraphrase Ford, "Jesus is job one". In every facet of our work we must see our Lord as the object of our work. We are to reflect Christ is every aspect. The Lord himself is the one who gives the gifts and the Holy Spirit is the one who motivates the giver.

Yes, Jesus is the one who is to be served.

"Teacher, be teachable"

Proverbs 11:2 "When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom."

Ph. 2:3 "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves."

One of the problems that I have observed is that many of us operate as Lone Rangers in the fund raising world. We reason that:

"I'm paid to do this, so it's my job"

"No one else knows how the development function works (in my unique situation), so there is no one who can really help."

"I have volunteers who help with mailings and things - isn't this asking?"

It seems that we administrators have a strange sense of pride when it comes to asking for real help and wisdom. Some of us have the need to "go it alone" in our work believing this is our calling or burden. Or, maybe we are already overloaded. I have been told that "I don't have time for advice; I can't get everything done as it is!"

The foolish person does not know what they do not know and, hence, plunges ahead without the benefit of wisdom from others.

The wise person knows what they don't know and and he or she has great respect for the wisdom and insight of others.

Are you known for being teachable? Do you seek advice from others? A wise friend once reminded me that Jesus taught in parables or stories and that our communications should include stories of how God has blessed families through our school. That was great advice; ever since we try to tell stories of the consequences of a Christian education and to dwell less on our particular need. Our donors, like us, relate to stories.

Whether you seek advice from someone within the school, or a donor, or a peer, make sure you are doing so with a humble heart and that you are earnestly seeking advice, not just using the conversation as a pretense for some other objective. God knows and sees the condition of our hearts.

As we teach others about stewardship we need to be seeking the Lord's wisdom in every aspect of our work. It may mean putting down the mailing and picking up the phone.

God is the fund rasier - Rich Haynie

Part 2 from the article "The Road Less Travelled"

There is a second principle that distinguishes the two roads, again by the agents involved. On the wide road, the world's road, the burden for raising the funds is on us. On the road less traveled, God is the fund raiser. This principle is vital to understanding our role. Misunderstand it, and we can greatly misdirect the biblical precedent for raising money.

We see this clearly marked out for us in I Chronicles 29:9; Exodus 35:2 1; and II Corinthians 8 and 9 (esp. 9:7). I Chronicles 29:9 tells us, "The people rejoiced ... for they made their offering to the Lord with a whole heart." Exodus 35:21 says, "And everyone whose heart stirred him and everyone whose spirit moved him came and brought the Lord's contribution.....”. And 2 Corinthians 9:7 says, "Let each one do just as he has purposed in his heart.....”.

Notice that the response of the people in each instance is a heart response. A need was shared and hearts were stirred and spirits moved, resulting in giving. Only one person can perform such a feat: God Himself. Proverbs 2 1:1 says, "The king's heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever He wishes." In other words, God is the fund raiser.

So then, what is our job? To find that answer we need to notice what preceded these events of generous giving:

I Chronicles 29:9 - David presented the need in obedience to God's issuing of the vision in I Chronicles 28:6.

Exodus 35:21 - Moses presented the need based upon God's command from Mt. Sinai in Exodus 34:32.

II Corinthians 8 and 9 - Paul presented the need (as seen in chapter 8) and even received the liberty to "follow up" (chapter 9) based on his calling as an apostle in Romans 1: I and stated many other places.

Our job is to present the need. We understand this responsibility clearly in witnessing. We are told that our job is to be ambassadors for Christ. We are to deliver the message of the King. As we plant the seed of the gospel, God reveals the truth of His Word. Oswald Chambers wrote, "We are not commissioned to save souls, but to disciple them." When Simon Peter confessed Jesus as "...the Christ, the Son of the Living God," Jesus said to him, "...flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven." God makes Himself known to unsaved men as believers faithfully deliver His message.

The same is true in fundraising. We are simply called to present the need and allow God to reveal to each donor his or her financial participation. This is an extremely liberating concept from the messenger's standpoint. As we are led to present the need, we need not worry about the results, since they do not depend upon us. "Rejection" does not exist. We should keep our eyes squarely focused on the role of giving the message or presenting the need.

Walking along this road less traveled is only possible because of a tremendous assurance in Scripture: God's provision. Philippians 4:19 tells us, "My God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus." If a legitimate (God-initiated) ministry exists, then God has already provided for its financial need. We are not required to "create" funding or to convince others that they "need" to participate financially. God has already appropriated the funding; our job is to share the need and allow God to identify those to whom He has given the resources.

God Owns it all - Rich Haynie (OC International)

Part 1 from the article "The Road Lass Travelled in Fundraising"

One group looks at fundraising in a very pragmatic, horizontal way. "People control the resources we need to fund our program. Therefore, we need to find those people so we can access those funds." Simple. Direct. To the point. These are the pragmatic doers who make things happen, whether God might want them to or not. Theirs is the road that "guarantees" programs and techniques, promising "X" returns for "Y" efforts. But the principle underlying the approach is the giveaway that this road is a dead end. People are the source of the funds. People are the secret to obtaining the funds.

The principle underlying the other road is so very different. This is the acknowledgment that God owns it all. It is the recognition that we don't own any of what we call "our" resources. It is all His.

In the context of fundraising, I Chronicles 29 depicts the fundamental concept. David expresses this principle. beginning in verse 10: "Thine, O Lord, is everything that is in the heavens and the earth... Both riches and honor come from Thee, and it lies in Thy hand to make it great.” Further on he prays, "O Lord our God, all this abundance that we have provided to build Thee a house for Thy holy name, it is from Thy hand, and all is Thine."

Certainly David understood that God is the source. If God owns it all, spending God's money is a spiritual decision. Whether we spend one penny on a piece of bubble gum or $30,000 on a sports car, we are trustees, if you will, of God's money. Therefore we should be well aware of how He wants that money spent. This fact can be difficult for many people. Most of us would feel capable, with very little guidance, of making a one-cent spending decision. But we should remember John 15:5, which reminds us that "...apart from Me, you can do nothing."

Open Doors in the Face of Economic Downturn

From Rob Spykstra, Veritas Academy, Lancaster, PA

If you were hoping for the secret door to development success in raising funds during economic downturn, then you might be disappointed in my thoughts, disappointed that is, if you define development success solely on money raised. However, if development success in fundraising is defined differently, then you might be greatly encouraged.

As Christian development directors we are to define our success in fundraising, not merely by dollars raised, but more importantly by hearts ministered. And I am finding great success, that is, open doors like never before.

Just today I spoke with a businessman who I had never met. As I shared with him the possibility of his company taking tax credits for the benefit of our school he simply said, “I don’t need tax credits. I don’t have any taxes because we’re not making any money.” Then he began to share his concerns. By the tone of his voice he was asking for some hope.

This became my open door.

Perhaps God will give you open doors. Here are some thoughts we can share. Here is some hope we can give.

We can share about God’s purposes. God graciously gives us economic downturn to reveal our hearts and sweep away our trust in the uncertainty of riches. Riches have always been uncertain and unreliable for true joy. The writer of Proverbs reminds us to stop toiling after wealth, “When your eyes light on it, it is gone, for suddenly it sprouts wings, flying like an eagle toward heaven.”(Proverbs 23:5). Rather we are to trust “in God who graciously gives us all things to enjoy.”(1 Timothy 6:17) God is after our joy, and he knows it is not found in wealth.

We can share about God’s resources. I found that if hope in my abilities or in others’ abilities my joy always wanes. This economy certainly causes me to shudder at my and others’ abilities. But I am not without resource. Our hope is in God who owns all things, “all that is in the heavens and the earth is yours.”(1 Chronicles 29:11) Our hope is in God who strengthens us in the face of great difficulties, “In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all.”(1 Chronicles 29:12) There is plenty of resource.

Finally, we can share about sound investments. Paul says, “Be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share.” Why? “Thus storing up treasure for yourself as a good foundation for the future.”(1 Timothy 6:19) What future? Eternity. In the face of economic uncertainty we can offer up our ministries as a sound investment, one where those who receive will benefit, but also one where those who give will benefit . . . both not only now, but for all eternity.

Give God thanks today for this economic downturn, there is some real open doors for success.

How evangelism explains fundraising

When we go out on Evangelism Explosion visits, our team's prayer is that the Holy Spirit goes before us and has done the heart preparation in the person to whom we will speak. Believing and depending on the Holy Spirit puts us where God wants us - that is, merely His hands and feet in His work of redemption. Then, if we are privileged to see someone accept the free gift of eternal life, we can know that it was not because our of persuasive words that this blessing occurred.

Similarly, when we embark on raising money for our schools, I think it is critical to remember that:

1. All resources are God's resources - they are not the donor's nor are the resources ours

2. Our work is to represent Christ - the donor should see Him in us even as we encourage the donor to link their faith to their possessions, as Christ does

3. Our work is to testify about our school and the consequences of Christian education

4. Our work is to be grateful receivers of the blessings God is releasing into our schools

5. Our work is to bow in gratitude for allowing us to play a small, but important, role in advancing the Kingdom as more children get to meet Jesus in our school

When we adopt this attitude, it gives us "professionals" great freedom to be passionate about our wonderful call to see God's resources unleashed for Kingdom growth.

Are Development Directors Mis-named?

John 21:17

Our first call as Development Directors or Advancement Officers is to be ministers. Ministry means to serve, and with that consideration it is possible that we may be inappropriately titled.

Actually there is a pastoral hue upon those of us called to help find the financial resources to sustain a given ministry. Such a repositioning of our calling may cause us to reconsider the priorities in our present role.

In a real sense we are Stewardship Shepherds. Our mission is to nurture souls, not necessarily to negotiate gift giving. In the mandate of the Lord to Peter, He said, “Feed my sheep,” not fleece the flock! That ‘feeding’ includes prayer for the potential donors, passion for God’s will in their lives, and a pursuing of the Word of God and the parceling out of it to the sheep (donors).

We must be careful to shed the robe of being seen as money mongers. Rather we should clothe ourselves in the garment of His righteousness. Doing so does not diminish “the ask,” but rather prioritizes our approach.

Our mantle should be that it is far better to feed the flocks than forage the donor in the name of fundraising.

May the Lord give us great discernment and sensitivity as we reconsider our titled positions. Let us consider being recalled, retooled and renewed so that we are seen as Stewardship Shepherds.

From Sandy Outlar, Headmaster of Lancaster Christian School, Lancaster, PA