Ep. 06 | From Fundraising Dread to Joyfully Sharing Your Mission

Aug 25

Let’s be honest: Most ministry leaders didn’t sign up to become fundraisers.

You’re here because of the mission. You love the work. You’re passionate about the people you serve and the stories God is writing through your ministry. But when it comes to fundraising?

It feels awkward.

Uncomfortable.

Maybe even icky.

You might catch yourself thinking…

“I just want to do the work. I hate asking for money.”

“Fundraising feels like begging.”

“I wish I didn’t have to deal with donors at all.”

If that’s you—you’re not alone.

Why Fundraising Feels So Hard

Here’s the thing: most ministry messaging unintentionally puts the ministry at the center of the story.

It sounds like:

“Here’s what we’ve done.”
“Here’s who we’ve helped.”
“Here’s why we need you to give.”

The donor becomes the outsider. A checkbook. A wallet. Someone who funds your work but isn’t really part of it.

No wonder it feels awkward to ask.

Flip the Script: Make the Donor the Hero

What if you’re not the main character?

What if your ministry is simply the bridge—connecting the donor to the people God has called you to serve?

When you shift the focus from “look at what we’ve done” to “look at what you’ve made possible,” everything changes.

Fundraising stops feeling like taking.

And starts feeling like giving a gift.

Because that’s what it is.

You’re not asking someone to help you.

You’re inviting them to step into a story of impact, transformation, and Kingdom growth.

Examples That Shift the Focus

Let’s break it down with a few before-and-after messaging examples:

Before: “This summer, our ministry served over 300 families.”
After: “Because of you, over 300 families were served this summer.”
Before: “We’ve grown by 50% this year!”
After: “You helped us grow by 50%, reaching more families than ever.”
Before: “Here’s what our team accomplished.”
After: “Here’s what you accomplished through your generosity.”

Do you see the difference? The donor becomes part of the team. They’re not watching from the sidelines—they’re in the story.