Ep. 37 | Out of People to Ask? 3 Steps to Mission-Driven Fundraising
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Engage donors with clear, Christ-centered storytelling
If you’ve ever reached the point where you think, “I’ve already asked everyone I know… now what?” — you’re not alone.
This is one of the most common (and most stressful) experiences ministry leaders face when raising support. You’re asking friends, family, church members, old classmates, former coworkers… and at some point that circle starts to dry up.
And suddenly you’re stuck in this scary place:
You need more funds, but you don’t know who else to ask.
It’s an overwhelming feeling.
It can make you question your calling, your abilities, and even your worth.
But here’s the truth:
You didn’t do anything wrong — you just started with a limited strategy.
Many people begin fundraising with the belief that:
“People support me because they like me.”
And while personal relationships can be a meaningful part of your support system, they were never meant to be the foundation of long-term, sustainable fundraising.
Because once those familiar names and faces are exhausted, you’re left with no clear path forward.
The good news?
There is a better, deeper, more God-centered way to raise support — one that connects donors to the mission, not just your personal relationships.
Let’s walk through three steps to help you shift from relational fundraising to mission-driven fundraising… the kind that grows with your ministry, not your friendship circle.
1. Lean Into the Real Vision — Not Yourself
When fundraising centers around you, it creates enormous pressure:
Am I likeable enough?
Do they still want to support me?
Are people tired of helping me?
This is an exhausting and unsustainable mindset.
But when fundraising centers around the mission, everything changes.
Your ministry exists because there is a real need in the world — a gap, a pain point, a spiritual urgency. That’s what donors need to see first. Not your résumé, your personality, or your connections.
What is the main need your ministry exists to meet?
Why does it matter in the Kingdom of God?
What happens if that need isn’t addressed?
Speak to that.
When donors see the mission clearly, they connect with it deeply — and they stay long-term because the vision is bigger than one person.
2. Highlight the People You Impact — Not Your Qualifications
People don’t connect with a ministry description.
They connect with people.
The humans you serve — their stories, their struggles, their transformation — make your mission real, tangible, and emotional.
When your fundraising is rooted in “support me and what I do,” it places the weight on your shoulders and keeps donors at a distance.
But when donors see the faces and hear the stories of the people your ministry serves?
Something changes.
Their hearts awaken.
They understand the urgency.
They see what God is doing.
And they want to be part of it.
This creates far deeper engagement than a personal appeal ever could.
3. Validate the Donor’s Own Desire to Make an Impact
This may be the most important shift of all.
Your donors are real people with real lives, real struggles, and real longings. Many desperately want to feel purposeful, useful, and connected to something bigger than themselves.
Your job is not to convince people to help you.
Your job is to affirm the God-given desire in them to join the work He’s already doing.
Some donors feel stuck in the mundane routines of life.
Some long for kingdom impact but don’t know where to start.
Some feel deep compassion for the people your ministry serves.
When you validate that desire — and show them the role they can play in the story — they come alive. Their giving becomes meaningful, joyful, and spiritually fulfilling.
This is how donors become long-term partners… not just one-time supporters.
This Is What Sustainable Fundraising Looks Like
Mission-driven fundraising isn’t about having hundreds of personal connections.
It’s about:
✨ Casting a clear vision
✨ Showing the human impact
✨ Inviting donors into their God-given role
When you make this shift, you’re no longer relying on who likes you, who knows you, or who feels obligated to help. You’re building a foundation that lasts — because it’s rooted in what God is doing, not in your social circle.
You won’t “run out” of people anymore, because God continues to stir the hearts of people everywhere to join His work.
If You’re Fundraising and Feeling Alone, You Don’t Have to Be
Come join a community of women who understand the struggle and are learning how to fundraise with clarity, confidence, and freedom:
👉 Ministry Fundraising for Women Leaders
irisstorytelling.com/community
And if you want help clarifying your message or crafting mission-driven fundraising language, you can book a 1:1 coaching session here:
👉 irisstorytelling.com/coaching
You were never meant to fundraise on personality alone.
Your mission is powerful — and when donors see it clearly, they will respond.
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