Ep. 30 | 3 Fundraising Mistakes That Are Costing You Donors—And How to Fix Them
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 you’ve been working hard to grow your donor base—but nothing seems to be moving—you’re not alone.
You’ve updated your website.
You’ve posted regularly.
You’ve reached out to pastors.
You’ve shared the need, the stats, the stories…
yet your monthly support still feels stuck.
You find yourself asking:
“Why isn’t this working?”
“Why aren’t people getting it?”
“Why does fundraising feel so hard for me?”
Here’s the truth that most ministry leaders never hear:
👉 The problem usually isn’t your ministry.
And it’s not your calling.
It’s your clarity.
In fact, there are three hidden messaging mistakes that quietly repel donors—and many ministry leaders make at least one of them without even realizing it.
Today, we’re going to walk through all three… and more importantly, how to fix them.
Because when you repair these clarity gaps, everything changes.
Donors lean in.
Support grows.
Momentum builds.
And the pressure you’ve been carrying finally begins to lift.
Let’s dive in.
Mistake #1 — Donors Can’t Tell Who You Minister To
Every ministry begins with a calling.
A burden.
A people group God put on your heart.
But here’s what often happens:
You do so much incredible work…
serve so many types of people…
meet so many different needs…
that your messaging begins to blur.
Maybe your website lists everything you do.
Or your five-minute window at church includes every update possible.
Or your social posts are all over the place.
You know exactly who you serve—
but it’s not immediately clear to your donors.
And this is the critical truth:
If donors don’t know who you’re helping,
they don’t know why they should give.
Clarity here is everything.
Because the moment a donor recognizes who you serve, they immediately understand:
the need
the urgency
the heart behind your calling
and the impact their giving will make
Your messaging must clearly answer:
👉 “Who is the primary person we minister to?”
Not five people groups.
Not “everyone.”
Not “the community.”
One.
Clear.
Specific.
Group.
This alone can open the door to more donor engagement.
Mistake #2 — The Problem You Solve Isn’t Clear
Even if donors understand who you minister to, there’s a second clarity gap:
Do they understand the main problem you solve?
Not the list of problems…
not the 20 needs your ministry meets…
but the one primary problem that defines why your ministry exists.
When this is unclear, donors aren’t moved.
Why?
Because people give when they understand what’s at stake.
They want to know:
What’s the pain point?
What happens if this problem isn’t solved?
Who suffers if nothing changes?
Why does this matter now?
If donors don’t see the problem, they can’t recognize the solution.
If they can’t feel the weight of the need, they won’t feel the urgency to help.
The moment you clearly name the problem, donors lean in and think:
“This matters. And I can help.”
Mistake #3 — Donors Don’t Understand How You Solve It
Let’s say you’ve clarified:
✔ who you minister to
✔ what problem you solve
There’s still one more essential piece:
👉 Do donors know exactly how you solve it?
Donors don’t have a plan.
They don’t know the steps.
They don’t know the process.
That’s your role.
They need to see:
your plan
your process
your initiatives
your on-the-ground work
the tangible “how” behind your mission
Not in overwhelming detail—
but in a simple, clear, 1–2 step explanation.
When donors understand your plan, they can finally see:
“Oh… this is how I can be part of the solution.”
This is the moment they shift from observer → partner.
This is where momentum begins.
This is where monthly support grows.
The Thread Through All Three Mistakes? Clarity.
People do not give when they’re confused.
And most ministries aren’t struggling because they lack passion, calling, or hard work.
They’re struggling because their messaging doesn’t have the clarity donors need to confidently say:
“Yes. I want to be part of this.”
The good news?
Clarity is fixable.
Quickly.
Simply.
Powerfully.
And once you refine these three areas—your who, your problem, and your how—you will see:
✨ more engagement
✨ more understanding
✨ more momentum
✨ more donors saying “yes”
Your Challenge This Week
Choose just one piece of messaging:
your website homepage
your next donor email
your five-minute window script
a social media post
And ask three questions:
Is the “who” clear?
Is the main problem clear?
Is how we solve it clear?
If not—adjust it.
Simplify it.
Clarify it.
You will be amazed at the difference even one shift makes.
You Don’t Have to Fundraise Alone
If you’re tired, discouraged, or feeling invisible in your fundraising…
you don’t have to walk this road by yourself.
Join a community of women ministry leaders who get it—
women who love Jesus, love ministry, and are learning to fundraise with clarity, peace, and purpose.
👉 Join the free community at:
irisstorytelling.com/community
You are not alone.
And you are not behind.
You are becoming clearer—and that changes everything.
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