Ep. 122 | 3 Ways Your Personal Story Could Hurt Your Fundraising
You know your personal story. You can share how God called you into ministry, the journey that brought you here, and why you’re so passionate about what you do.
And people love hearing those stories! They connect with you, get excited about your calling, and want to see you succeed.
But then comes that awkward moment when you have to ask for financial support.
Why does asking for money still feel so uncomfortable when the rest of the conversation went so well?
I’ve been thinking about this lately because I’ve talked with several missionaries who know how to share their personal stories but still struggle with asking for support.
And I think the problem comes down to who you’re making the hero of your story.
When Your Ministry Story Is All About You
Think about the story you usually tell when you’re fundraising. Maybe you share how God first placed a country on your heart, the experiences that confirmed your calling, and the challenges you’ve overcome to get where you are today.
It’s a powerful story! But who’s the main character?
You are.
You’re the one on the journey, facing the challenges and working toward a goal. And when you ask someone to give, you’re inviting them to help you reach that goal.
This can create a few problems for your fundraising.
1. Asking for Support Feels Awkward
You’ve spent the entire conversation talking about your calling, your journey, and your dream. Now you’re trying to explain that giving is an opportunity for the donor.
But you’ve already established that the story is about you!
So when you ask for support, it can feel like you’re asking someone to fund your personal dream. Their role is simply to help you succeed.
And I think that’s why the transition can feel so uncomfortable, even when you genuinely believe you’re inviting people to participate in God’s work.
2. Your Story Eventually Comes to an End
Let’s say you’re raising support to become a missionary overseas. Your friends and family are excited about your calling, so they start giving to help you reach your fundraising goal.
Eventually, you raise the money and move overseas. Everyone celebrates!
But now what?
In your donors’ minds, the story you invited them into might be finished. They helped you reach your goal, and you’ve made it to the mission field.
Meanwhile, your ministry is just getting started!
You still need ongoing support, but some donors begin to disappear. And if their original motivation was helping you accomplish your personal goal, they may not see why they need to continue giving.
You want donors who are connected to the ongoing mission, beyond your personal milestones.
3. Eventually, You Run Out of People Who Care About Your Story
When you’re first starting out, sharing your personal story can be one of the easiest ways to raise support.
I actually did this myself when I was in college and raising money for a summer ministry internship in the Philippines. My fundraising was centered around my personal journey, and my friends and family were excited to help me get there.
And that worked for a short-term goal!
But what happens when you’re raising ongoing support and you’ve already asked everyone you know?
Now you need people who’ve never met you to care about your personal calling.
And that’s a much harder sell.
Your fundraising can almost start to resemble trying to become an influencer. You constantly need to find more people who want to follow your journey and see you succeed.
But what you really want is for people to care about the ministry itself, even if they’ve never met you.
So Whose Story Should You Be Telling?
I want you to think about the role you’re giving donors in your fundraising story.
When your story revolves around your personal calling, donors become the people helping you accomplish something.
But what if you started with the problem your ministry exists to address and helped donors see the difference they could make?
Now you’re inviting them into something much bigger than your personal journey.
They can connect with the people your ministry serves and understand how their generosity makes an ongoing impact.
And that gives them a reason to stay involved long after you’ve reached your initial fundraising goal.
This is what I mean when I talk about making the donor the hero of the story. You’re helping them see that they have a meaningful role in what God is doing through your ministry.
God has given you the incredible honor of being part of His work. And He’s also given you the opportunity to invite others into that work!
I love thinking about fundraising this way because it takes so much of the pressure off.
You’re simply helping people see an opportunity to participate in something God is already doing.
Should You Stop Sharing Your Personal Story?
Absolutely not!
Your personal story can be incredibly powerful for building trust and helping donors understand your heart for the ministry.
But I want you to pay attention to how much of your fundraising message revolves around you.
The next time you’re preparing for a church presentation or sitting down with a potential donor, ask yourself:
Am I inviting people to help me fulfill my dream, or am I helping them see the impact they can make through this ministry?
That shift can completely change how you approach fundraising and help you build stronger, longer-lasting donor relationships.
Need Help Finding the Right Words?
I know this can be a difficult shift to make, especially when you’ve spent years telling your ministry story a certain way.
In my one-on-one fundraising coaching sessions, I’ll help you rethink your message and find the words to communicate your ministry in a way that connects with donors.
We’ll work together to make your message clearer so you can approach your next donor conversation with more confidence.
Ready to make your fundraising message clearer?
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