Coach Your Champions by Eric Foley is a great book on fundraising. I work for a ministry in which I have to raise my own support, so finding ways that build a partner base is crucial for me. This book helped me to see that people don't want to just be ATM machines but want to feel a part of the ministry. This book is not just great for missionaries, not-for-profits and fundraisers but also for churches and their leaders. I highly recommend this book.
The first thing that I learned (actually relearned) and I think Christianity needs to be reminded of is that Giving is learned, not latent (Loc 85 in Kindle). I have become more and more aware of this as I have talked with younger adults who have no concept that God's Word speaks to the invitation that every follower of Jesus is called to give of their time, money, possessions and talents. The church has spoken well of the talents part but we have lost the rest. Scripture shows us that we need to disciple people into the joy of giving and teach them what Scriptures teaches on the subject.
As the book unfolds in a parable, it helps shows that more and more people don't want to sit in the stands and cheer. As well, people don't give so that we can run our ministries/organizations (i.e. pay the bills and get paychecks which they know that is what the money may go to) but to reach the people or solve the problems our ministries/organizations were created to do. People want to be a part of the ministry.
To help understand that last part more the author sets out to show that fundraising is more than just raising funds but raising up and equipping others to be apart/catch the vision of the ministry/organization. It is our job to stop seeing people only for their money but to see how each potential donor can bring something to the ministry/organization. Instead of using the word donor is better to see people as partners. The author asks this question on page 63 (Kindle), "What if donors are categorized by their involvement and ownership of the ministry, rather than the number of zeros on their check?" The answer to this question could revolutionize the way we think about funding our ministry.
The last striking thing I want to share from this book is that "Raising money God's way is about growing the donor, not the bank account." (page 104, Kindle version) God wants us in ministry and He will provide. We need to believe that!
I encourage you to read this book as it will definitely challenge you about how you raise up partners and may even challenge you in your own giving.
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