Fundraising Assumptions

Assumptions form the unwritten code of why we do things and guide every fundraising project.

There are certain assumptions that we at Faith Based Fundraising make in relation to campaigns for church capital projects. Assumptions form the unwritten code of why we do things.  The following are ideas that will have a major impact on the success achieved in your church's campaign:          

  1. People give to people.  A most important consideration often is who is asking or who is recruiting or who is leading. Connecting people with the right people is an important factor in a successful Campaign.
  2. People give to ministry.  People do give to buildings and capital items but only if these are seen as a necessary tool to accomplish ministry objectives.  This is particularly true of the younger generation.
  3. People give to vision.  As we have noted, fund-raising is not so much asking for money as ‘sharing’ a vision.  The extent to which vision is clear and understandable is the extent to which stewardship Campaigns are successful.  Andrew Carnegie, noted American philanthropist, was fond of saying, "Money chases good ideas!"  It’s true in the church!  Money follows vision.
  4. Asking people to support God's work is biblical.  In fact it is increasingly necessary in our humanistic and materialistic society to help Christians understand that supporting God's work is a logical extension of our commitment to Christ, and an essential part of our discipleship responsibility.
  5. People do have the potential financially to provide very significant support for this project.  Christians give an average of 1.5% to 2% of their income to the church.  The truth is that even of those who give, 20% usually give 80%.  This means that the majority have the potential to give much more.
  6. If you want money, don't just ask for prayer, ask for money.  This is not to suggest that prayer is unimportant, but only to point out that both ‘praying’ and ‘asking’ are very necessary.  One problem in fund-raising is to assume that people will give without a proactive process of asking.  The committed core of course will give but others need to be encouraged.

If you want to find out how to put these assumptions into action to guide your church to greater financial security and increased ministry growth, contact us today!