So Tell Me Again Why I’m Doing This?

Prior to engaging with a new client I ask them to spend 90 minutes reading A Spirituality of Fundraising by Henri Nouwen (from here forward I’ll refer to it as aSoF). This text has been a transformational guide in my fundraising work for more than 20 years. Its fingerprints are woven throughout my online courses and in my consulting. I encourage you to take time to read it. If you’re like me you’ll be coming back for a refresher time and again. aSoF is a great starting point for our conversations and helps us think deeply about why we are doing fundraising.  Recently I made a happy discovery. A workbook edition has been released by Nathan Ball, an aSoF collaborator. He has divided the book into a 4-week how-to guide for putting Henri Nouwen’s fundraising vision into practice.

Here are a handful of questions that Nathan Ball puts forth for consideration before diving into aSoF:

• Why do I want to learn more about fundraising?
• What do I want to achieve through studying Henri’s book?
• Who or what is calling me to deepen my understanding of fundraising?
• Am I prepared to do the inner work that is needed, or am I merely a curious observer?
• Am I ready to explore the idea of fundraising as a ministry?

Early in my consultations with major gift fundraisers I aim to help them discover the value of moving their approach from the head to the heart.  It’s tempting to get right into the systems, tactics, strategies, etc.  But first we need to tell each other stories about why we’re in this strange and sacred occupation (one that many people would admittedly never attempt).

Here’s my friend and colleague, Kyle Dickinson, telling us why he does it.

The truth is that I didn’t start off my career thinking I would be in major donor fundraising.  I started out in ministry to university students and I thought I was headed to be a senior pastor in an urban center somewhere.  One of the things I loved about being a pastor was learning about someone’s gifting and then inviting them to take on new challenges that were aligned with that gifting.  

Ironically, I ended up leaving that ministry for one primary reason:  I didn’t want to do fundraising.  

God clearly had different plans.  Since 2012, I’ve been involved in major donor fundraising both on the frontlines and as a coach to others.  Why?  It’s highly relational and that’s how I’m wired.  Once I was able to see it as a ministry because of works like Spirituality of Fundraising and Third Conversion (Scott Rodin), that became a strong motivating factor.  It’s also good business to be able to do fundraising well and to rally resources for the missions of great causes.  So I guess it’s a two-fer:  My love for it is geared toward the individual and the organization.

What are some key elements of your “why”?  I would love to hear about it.

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Depending on your day to day needs in major donor fundraising, I have three options you can choose from to energize your efforts:

• ‍The Catalyst Course - a major donor fundraising course for those who are new to the task.‍
• The High-Performance Course (coming soon) - a major donor fundraising course for experienced professionals.‍
• The Flywheel Package - a customized six month consultation for people who are leading teams of major donor fundraisers.

The Catalyst and High-Performance courses are affordable at a cost of $500 and can be done in a schedule that fits best for you, taking anywhere from six weeks to three months to complete.  Everything I have learned, successes and failures, is packed into these courses for your benefit and enjoyment. I have taken hundreds of folks through this content, helping them with fundraising strategies to empower causes all over the world.   

Now is the time to take advantage of these resources!  

I look forward to hearing about your good work.

Blessings,