Ep. 42 | Tired of Chasing Donors? How to Create Sustainability in Your Fundraising
Struggling to Write Your Newsletters so Supporters Engage?
You’ve seen God do amazing things- but if your emails are vague or unclear, your supporters won’t feel connected.
This free guide will show you how to:
Write subject lines that get your emails opened
Follow a simple story-driven format for every update
Engage donors with clear, Christ-centered storytelling
If fundraising feels like a constant sprint—always trying to find new people because the donors you do have don’t stick around—you’re not imagining it. That cycle is exhausting. It drains your time, your energy, and honestly, your hope.
And the worst part?
It feels like you’re constantly starting over, rebuilding momentum from scratch every few months.
But here’s the real truth:
This burnout isn’t happening because you’re doing something wrong.
It’s happening because you’re attracting the wrong type of donors.
The problem isn’t the work you’re doing.
The problem is the motivation your donors are coming in with.
Let’s talk about how to change that.
Why One-Time Donors Create Long-Term Burnout
Many ministries—especially in the early days—lean heavily on friends, family, and people who love them personally. Those supporters mean well, and they can help you get off the ground.
But their motivation is usually:
“I want to support you because I care about you.”
That only lasts so long.
When life gets hard, finances shift, or priorities change, support based on personal connection is the first to fade.
Suddenly, you’re back at the beginning.
New people. New conversations. New asks.
Same exhaustion.
The solution isn’t to work harder.
The solution is to attract donors who are motivated by something deeper than knowing you.
The 3 Traits of Donors Who Actually Stay
1. They Care Deeply About the Need You Help Meet
The strongest donors aren’t supporting your ministry because they like you—they’re supporting it because they feel a burden for the very need you address.
When a donor’s motivation is rooted in the mission itself—not the relationship—their commitment is stronger, deeper, and far more sustainable.
They think:
“This need matters. I want to be part of solving it.”
That kind of conviction doesn’t fade when life gets busy.
2. They Trust Your Ministry
Trust builds loyalty.
When donors believe you are who you say you are, when they see transparency, impact, and consistency—they lean in.
Trust makes giving easier.
Trust makes referrals natural.
Trust builds a relationship instead of a transaction.
If you want donors who stay, you need donors who trust.
3. They’re Loyal and Excited to Grow With You
Loyal donors don’t drift.
They don’t hop from ministry to ministry searching for the next emotional high.
They’re invested.
They’ve seen the fruit of your work.
They’ve watched the impact grow.
And they want to be part of the story as it continues.
Loyal donors create stability.
Loyal donors create sustainability.
Loyal donors make fundraising feel life-giving instead of draining.
So… How Do You Attract Donors Like This?
It starts with your messaging.
Most ministries unintentionally speak in ways that attract one-time givers:
vague mission statements
unclear needs
inconsistent communication
stories that don’t highlight the deeper “why”
or messaging that focuses more on the ministry than the need
But when you begin speaking to the urgent need, when you show the real impact, and when you consistently communicate with clarity and trust-building transparency—you start drawing in people who are motivated by the mission itself.
And those are the donors who stay.
Imagine This for a Moment…
Imagine a donor base full of people who:
care deeply about the need
trust your ministry
and want to grow with you long-term
What would that do for your stress level?
Your ministry growth?
Your ability to plan ahead?
Your energy?
Fundraising would feel less like chasing
and more like partnering.
Less like survival
and more like discipleship.
It’s possible—and it starts with the donors you attract.
You Don’t Need More Donors. You Need the Right Ones.
If you’re stuck in the burnout cycle, this isn’t the end of the story.
This is simply the moment you pivot.
Shift your messaging.
Speak directly to the need.
Build trust consistently.
Show the impact.
Invite the right people in.
Your ministry was never meant to be sustained by constant turnover.
You were meant to grow with donors who walk alongside you—faithfully, prayerfully, and long-term.
Want Support from Other Women Raising Funds for Their Ministries?
If you’d love a place to connect with women who get it—who love Jesus, lead ministries, and navigate the same fundraising challenges you do—I’d love to invite you into my free community: Ministry Fundraising for Women Leaders.
It’s a space for encouragement, practical learning, honest conversations, and not feeling so alone in the work God has called you to.
You don’t have to build a donor base alone. Come be part of a group that will cheer you on as you grow.
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