I think at the very core of our missions funding success is, most of the time, our attitude towards funding in itself. From our attitude towards our fundraising comes our success or failure. If we are ever going to be a tree that bears fruit, in regards to our funding, then I would say that a positive attitude is what itneeds to be rooted in.
I would have to say that viewing fundraising as a spiritual ministry was probably my weakest attitude. Reading about it has been very helpful. I think we have got to view fundraising as a spiritual ministry, just as much as we view the ministry with the children we’re involved with. It’s something to be excited about, we get the privilege of telling others about our ministry and seek to gain partners in ministering to the children and families in our community. After that I’d say either “poor talk” or “get by mentality” would be a. Lose second. That being said, I do tend to focus on the giver’s needs before my own and I do try to focus on the big picture and vision of Project Samuel over only presenting my needs.
I think the big area where I have expected God to do my job is by not taking full advantage of inviting others to partner with me. An invitation is far more than just a news letter or a Facebook request with a photo attached. Reaching out to more than just “those who have shown interest”, but rather asking others to meet with me about funding, and giving them the opportunity to partner with me is my job, not God’s. I could be a lot more open and enthusiastic about it instead of putting the perfect one-on-one meetings under the category of “God’s Job”. The areas where I’ve been trying to do God’s job, I’d say, would be with me having this mindset of getting others on board to fund me, or rather “to go for the bait”. I don’t think that’s my job at all. I believe God’s job is to put a desire on their hearts to help. Mine is simply to inform them and ask to partner and simply trust the Lord with the outcome. My giving that job to God takes a pressure off of my shoulders, which in my opinion, will allow me to enjoy funding meetings much more.
