This has made the rounds, but I've always enjoyed this lecture from Henri Nouwen. It is such a fresh way of looking at fundraising. If you are feeling a little weary on the FR front or just enjoy his writings in general, take a few minutes to read this. I hope you are encouraged:

The Spirituality of Fundraising

Notes Taken From A Lecture By Henri Nouwen 09/92

From the perspective of the Gospel, fund raising is not simply a response to crisis, it is first a form of ministry, a way of announcing your vision and inviting others into your vision with the resources available to them.

Fund Raising is proclaiming what you believe in, in such a way so that you offer the other person an opportunity to participate in your vision. It is the exact opposite of begging during crisis.

We have a vision that is so exciting and we give you the opportunity to participate in that vision with the resources that God has given you and for you to be pleased for that occasion.

Since fund raising is ministry, it is always a call to conversion, to say to people "I invite you to a new way of relating to your resources so that making your resources available to us is good for you."

If the donation of money is only good for the person who receives, it is not fundraising in the spiritual sense of the word. From the point of view of the Gospel--"I will only receive your money if it is good for your spiritual journey, for your health."

The donor should not be becoming poorer, but becoming richer by giving.

Fund Raising from a spiritual point of view is a very concrete way to help the kingdom come about. What is the Kingdom? The Kingdom is the creation of a community of love in the world and beyond this world. It reaches beyond a chronological perspective. Whatever love is created it is stronger than death. If you are raising funds, you are building a community of love you are doing exactly what you should be doing as Christians.

Jesus calls us to be fruitful, are you fruitful? If you are becoming fruitful then you don't need to beg.

In communicating your vision to the donor the heart of your message is "Aren't you glad that we give our life and our time, that we are involved in this essential love-building work? You are invited into this work. You are allowed to give you resources for this lifegiving work." This means that you are no longer begging.

We are talking about a real turn around. The world is often smarter than those in the Kingdom. The corporate world says that you do not give money if people beg for it.

People like to invest money in people who can make it grow. Can you make money grow (i.e. increase in impact)? People don't like to invest money in people who have nothing and will be back begging next week.

Spiritually speaking, I [Henri Nouwen] ask for money "standing up" and not by bowing down and begging. I believe in what I am about. I believe that I have something important to offer and invite people to become a part of it.

A Discussion Concerning Those Who Ask For Money:

The key question is: "What is your security base, God or mammon?" Where do you find your security? What is your relationship with money?

The question is in general, "What is the place of money in your life?" You will never be able to ask for money if you don't know its place in your life (your relationship with money).

Do you know how much money your father or mother earns? Do you talk to them about money? Did your parents ever talk about money with you? Do you ever talk to your kids about how you earn it and use it?

If you have money how do you spend it? Do you cling to it in case of possible emergencies? Do you like to give money to friends or to institutions? If you have a friend in need do you give him or her a thousand dollars?

Are you concerned whether gifts are tax deductible? Is giving dependent on government tax regulations? How does having or not having money affect your selfesteem? Do you feel good when you have a lot? Do you ever say "I don't feel good if I don't have money," or "I'm not as good since I don't have money?”

Do you use money to control people or events, or using financial resources to make sure something happens you way?

Do you ever use money to simply give others the freedom to do what they want to do? "I don't care how you spend it, I just want you to have it."

How do you feel when people ask you for a thousand dollars to pay a salary to someone, or help someone with a project? What if someone said, "I know you have a thousand dollars. Can I have it right now?" What happens to your heart? Do you say this person is up front and honest or are they obnoxious and out of their mind?

How do you feel when people ask for a donation from you?

I [Henri Nouwen] am intentional in asking these questions. I attempt to get you in touch with the key question: "Where is your security base, is it in God or money?"

Where are you interior feeling secure or insecure? It is important to realize that money is one of the greatest taboos and it is more of a taboo than sex or religion.

It is possible that when you come to fund raising you can't be up front about it. It has something to do with that intuitive little place in your heart where you need security and you don't want to give it away.

"As long as I have some money in the bank, nothing will happen, i.e. when someone dies or if war develops." Perhaps your earthly father said that you should be sure not to become " dependent upon someone, you don't need to beg, you need to be sure you have your own house, etc. It is a very normal thing, however, we need to be aware of these messages.
Jesus is saying something very radical you can't put your security in God and money. Make a choice.

These questions are to assist in asking yourself: "Are you still putting your security in money or in God?"

You can ask for as much money as you want when you are free from money. When you have your security in God you can ask for money. The reason we have such a hard time asking for money is precisely because it is a taboo subject, in that our little securities are wrapped up in finance and we know that yours are too. We are not freed up.

If I am absolutely sure that my whole trust is in God and I am only concerned for the kingdom, then I have no problem asking for any amount. You can ask for any amount if the person turns you down, you simply say that they missed their opportunity.

You as a fundraiser need to be free from money in terms of your security base.

What happens when we talk of raising money from rich people? We sometimes express anger, jealousy or judgementalism in terms of how they made their money. These remarks mean that we are getting in touch with our own feelings. This shows that you are not free and in a real way, not ready to ask.

We are not asking out of anger or "entitlement" of competition then it is no longer you speaking in the name of God in whom your security is based. That is what you are called to do.

The issue of money has to do with your family, your children, your future, your calling, etc. You are really at the center of the questions of the Gospel.

What About People Who Have Money?

We can say that God has a preferential option for the poor, but sometimes we also have a prejudice against the rich, Le that they are less "good" or "holy" thank the poor. We often ask the questions "Where did they get their money from, did they obtain it unjustly?"

But nowhere in the Bible does it say that we should love the rich less, if we do so, they will realize it when we are speaking with them.

My experience is that the rich are poor in other ways. They are lonely, have feelings of rejection, and feel that they are used. They all need a lot of attention and care. They are as poor as the poor. Many people are in a prison in that wherever they go, people only see them as having money, i.e. "boy is lie loaded!" The rich can't break out of this. "Everyone is after my money. I can't get away from the fact. I never feel people love me for who I am."

Let's not just talk about money, let's talk about you and your needs. This is not a relationship of begging, but relating in terms of spiritual wealth. It is only through the poverty of the rich that somehow, very much of the Kingdom has developed. Do not be overly impressed with money.

Two people need to know each other and share resources. You may have spiritual resources, and they may have financial resources and both work for the kingdom and through this interaction, you let something happen that is greater than the two people.

You have to minister to the rich from your place of spiritual weakness. You have to have the courage to say "I love you, not for your money, but for who you are." There can be no jealousies you need to see it as someone who is just as poor and in need of love as I am. Can I discover the poor in that person, that is where that person's blessing is. "Blessed are the poor." The rich are also very poor.

If you ask for money from people who have money, you need to love them deeply. Worry not if they give you money, worry if they get closer to God.

Every time you invite the rich to put their security base in God, you are raising consciousness and allowing people to look at structural problems from a different place. We have to liberate the rich from their clinging to a way of living that keeps the structural process going. Those who challenge the system are often free from the security base of money.

It is interesting to look at Jesus' relationship with the rich young ruler. Jesus offered the man the kingdom and he turned it down.

Asking For Money:

Once you have found your security base in God and have learned to love those who are rich, and once you have discovered you have something of great value to give, then you call ask whatever you want and get it. That's what tile Gospel says. "Ask and it shall be given, knock and the door will be opened unto you."

Asking someone for money is offering the other person the opportunity for them to offer their resources for the work of God.

Asking for money is inviting people into a new communion. If you have something you believe in, if you ask for money you have do any possible thing to make the potential donor to be part of the vision. "We want you to come into communion with us." Offer communion and friendship.

Fund raising has to be community building. People have a need for community and you can offer it. You offer a new brotherhood, a new sisterhood and a new way of belonging. Money is the least interesting thing.

Every time you ask for money, the person needs to be invited into this ideal that you have, to be invited into communion. Getting to know a visitor we want you to know what god means when lie says be fruitful. We want you to know that fruitfulness is a whole rich vision that is much more important than successfulness or productivity. You are called to be fruitful. This affects the whole way we look at life.

The spirituality of fruitfulness involves inviting people into that vision. "It is exciting to have you on board this visions is open to you." You need to ask whether there is a vision behind your project. How can you deepen the vision and let it grow?

Do you take time to develop the vision and pray for the vision? We are giving life by who we are. What is your vision, why get involved?

Is fund raising your real vocation? The spirit of communication has to come from the body, which sends you out. You can't fear rejection from the body about finances.

Asking Has To Be Good For You, The Person Asked And The Kingdom:

If you come home from fund raising and do not feel good, something is wrong. You have to love fund raising.

Fund raising is as spiritual as giving a sermon that is, if you believe in the kingdom.

It is good for your conversion too, because you have to get in touch with your prejudices and your hangups with money, and with who you are. After all, what is there to be afraid of?

Are you willing to be converted so you are no longer afraid, are you willing to "find the freedom?"

Jesus says to go in peace into every town that you enter and pray that the peace of God descends. If not, shake the sand off your sandals and walk on.

It is not a problem if people don't give. You are free. If you go home depressed, it shows other people have more influence over your moods.

It has to be good for the person you ask they need to feel invited into something new.

It has to be good for the kingdom. You need to be very convinced of your call, and your call of your life has to be deepened and strengthened in your fund raising life.

You also have to listen to those who give you money. They may say that you should slow down.

"I will give to you if you are becoming more faithful in your vocation to give you freedom to do higher things."

Conclusion:

Fund raising has to always create new, lasting relationships (i.e. an extremely personal and spiritual form of networking).

Fund Raising has to focus on ministry you have something to offer, a home, faithfulness, friendship, prayer, peace, love, friendship, affection etc. These are so valuable that people are willing to make their resources available. I hope that fund raising gives you some excitement. It is as much a ministry as praying.

Ask for what you need and not a cent more. Be specific about the amount.

Give yourself, if you are not afraid to lose your security base.

You have to be really generous to ask for money. Don't just say you are poor. Take a risk, or ask others to take a risk. That is what the kingdom is all about.
So fund raising is a real opportunity for our own conversion. It is wonderful. If you do it well, you will discover it is an extremely beautiful form of ministry.