Week One: Sunday, October 4: Chapter 2: Helping the Kingdom Come About (p. 9)
In Chapter 1 Henri offered many jewels of wisdom regarding his understanding of fund-raising as ministry and the act of asking as an “invitation” to join others on a journey toward fulfilling a mission, building the Kingdom and/or “doing good” in a world with great need.
I hope everyone will continue the conversation on “Fund-Raising as Ministry” (Chapter 1) for the rest of the week. Given, however, that the second chapter, “Helping the Kingdom Come About” occupies a grand total of one page I suggest that we also put this one page chapter “on the plate” for this week’s discussion. While very short, this is the chapter where Henri presents fund-raising in the context of a mustard seed “which, at the time of its sowing, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth”.
As a person who has spent most of the past 35 years bearing the title of “fund-raiser”, one of the great joys of this work is the opportunity and privilege of being part of “planting a seed” and seeing it grow. Take a moment to share a story that illustrates this “jewel” as reflected in your work and experience. And, if you would like, share any insights that this experience of “seed planting” provides for those who struggle with the question of how to “do fund-raising” for the work or ministry to which they have been called.
And a reminder: If joining the discussion for the first time, welcome! Please also go to the section “Getting Started—About You” section (below) and provide a brief bit of information about yourself—where you are from, what you feel called to do, etc.
Again, welcome to all this first week of the conversation!
- Henry
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October 8th, 2009 @ 7:29 pm
I first took part in the Fellowship of the Least Coin many years ago in a Presbyterian church. The Fellowship of the Least Coin, is a yearly collection of “least coins” from women all over the world and is (I think) organized by Church Women United in the US.
I believe the “Fellowship of the Least Coin” is an example of what Henri Nouwen means when he writes “If we raise funds for the creation of a community of love, we are helping God build the Kingdom.”(p9) The “least coin” is certainly an example of a mustard seed.
A quote from the PC(USA) web site about this collection: (http://www.pcusa.org/pw/leastcoin/)
“Fellowship of the Least Coin, an ecumenical prayer movement, was begun in 1956 by Shanti Solomon of India who believed that women anywhere could have a sense of being part of a worldwide family of faith as they prayed for peace and reconciliation and set aside the least coin of their country as a symbol of that prayer. As coins are gathered from around the world, they become a sign of our oneness in the common quest for peace, justice and reconciliation…Grants are made by an international committee for special projects of evangelism, service, ecumenical solidarity, awareness-building among women and relief throughout the world.”
October 6th, 2009 @ 9:16 am
Jaree–Thanks for wanting to explore in more detail Jim’s comment. I should begin by saying that I hope Jim will “chime in” as well with any further elaboration that might be helpful.
From my perspective, any hesitation in the “asking for financial support process” is most often grounded in one of two things: 1) some hesitancy about “where the other person is” in relation to “what we would be asking them to support” (Is this something they care about?) or 2) we don’t fully embrace (at the level of being fully comfortable with “talking about money”)the idea that “when we ask” we are issuing an invitation to the other person–that that person should be comfortable accepting (at whatever level is “right” for them) or rejecting (and our understanding “no” as not “rejecting us” but simply a desire to “partner elsewhere”. Part of what, I believe, Jim is referring to (in “comments 7″) is that it is far easier for us to “connect” around “what interests both of us” and more difficult to take the next step and–by asking–invite that person “through the door” to “joining us” as a partner in support of that work–and shared interest.
While I’m not sure that I have done a good job of providing an explanation, there it is.
And Jaree–I like the “El Capitan” part…..makes me feel important….like being named captain of my high school football team (only 44 years too late).
October 6th, 2009 @ 8:30 am
Chad-Thank you so much for sharing your story, it was a great example of relationship building. You shared areas where you thought you could have kept in touch more but yet the relationship still flourished. We are taught that in many ways the key to fundraising is the relationship. I will keep these comments in mind as I myself begin my career in a couple of months.
El Capitan(Henry)-This discussion is enriching and full of great questions and commentary. However could you elaborate a little more to Jim’s apprehension of “I often fear that I put too much emphasis on the shared relationship of service that I short change the opportunity to seek financial help from others on behalf of people who are in need.”
October 6th, 2009 @ 7:41 am
Teresa,
Putting on my consultant’s hat, one of the challenges facing organizations who rely heavily on fundraising events is determining the “role” of events in the fundraising process. Generally speaking (from my perspective), events are good for “building community” and “drawing in” (to some degree) new people and new donors but they do so at a cost……specifically, when “work and time” is added in, many events prove to “drain energy away” from more effective fundraising strategies. (A colleague and I recently completed a 4 1/2 hour series of short videos focused on 50 fundraising “tips”–including one specifically on “event fundraising”. Unlike some of the tips, it is not on YouTube. If I can figure out a way to send it–or post it–I would be glad to do so–since it provides a far more indepth explanation.)
Specifically, one of the primary challenges with events is that they often “cycle through” donors rather than building/growing a strong base of support. The real key–and I think Henri would agee–is to embody in whatever activities we do a focus on relationship-building…..something that requires connecting points with individual donors.
Glad you have joined us!
Henry
October 5th, 2009 @ 7:16 pm
What a fascinating conversation! I’m not sure if it is relevant to jump in with this issue but here goes: my current struggle is the FUNDRAISING BANQUET. We peaked five years ago ( money raised ) during a period of rapid ministry growth and were not able to care for our perfunctory $100 one time donors. They, of course, vanished because they were not relationally connected to our ministry. We have faithful monthly donors who love us but suffer from banquet burn-out; and hey this is Young Life, our events are FUN! My quandary is spending hard-earned ministry dollars on fundraising. I know it is an important part of seed-casting, but it can seem more like a maintaining market share event. What would Henri say? (wwhs)
October 5th, 2009 @ 2:52 pm
Rose–Thank you for your comment and suggestion regarding a pamplet dealing with the whole issue of the impact of “fundraising” on the experience of children–including then 8 year-old Sara……..It would be interesting to hear from others about childhood experiences.
Jim–What an interesting story. In many ways it points to the fact that fundraising is a process that often “connects” with people at some important level……and, at times, is not the “place” we necessarily anticipate. I remember many years ago talking with someone on a plane about my experience with orphans in El Salvador. Several weeks later, I received a check in the mail from the person in the seat behind me–a person I never met but a person who “overheard” my story when talking to the stranger in the seat beside me. For years that person sent me a check to be used for my work in El Salvador–not because I had “asked” but because the conversation they over-heard on the plane prompted their wanting to become involved.
The “key” to your story on some level your statement that “she trusted our relationship”….When trust is present, doors open. When it is not, doors (and people) rarely allow others to come in.
October 5th, 2009 @ 2:08 pm
Henry, I was touched by your sharing that happened so many years ago but still is lifegiving today. Some of these sharings could be made into a pamphet called, “the gift of fundraising for children”.
October 5th, 2009 @ 1:17 pm
The sentence that affirms and challenges my own work as a volunteer fund raiser is, “So when we give ourselves to planting and nurturing love here on earth, our efforts will reach out beyond our own chronological existence.” Planting and nurturing take time and you can never be sure of the results. So my story reflects this.
I served on the board of a organization dedicated to bringing profoundly physically challenged folks, information technology and employment into a productive relationship. That is, helping folks move from “welfare” to full time employment and the dignity of work by learning technology skills. We were gathered as a board in service to these people in need.
I went to visit one of my board colleagues to talk about this work and as I was driving to her home I was pondering another effort I was part of that involved starting a new public school in a very poor urban community. I found my attention moving to the school and by the time we met, I told her that I wanted to share some good news with her about an urban education experiment and how she might help. Unbeknownst to me she had a profound commitment to educating young people and a personal connection with the town where our school was to be located. Her question to me was a simple one, “How much do you need to get going?” In some ways this was the shortest development cycle in my experience (30 minutes). In other ways it was quite long in that we had shared a very specific commitment to people in need for about 15 years. She trusted our relationship and was committed to the vision of quality public education in an urban environment
Given our relationship, I found it easy to share the good news. However, I find it so much harder to do this with people I am only just getting to know. I often fear that I put too much emphasis on the shared relationship of service that I short change the opportunity to seek financial help from others on behalf of people who are in need.
October 5th, 2009 @ 12:37 pm
Chad–Thank you for your story. I was struck by your statement (in one of your final sentences) that “So much of it seems organic”…….which has been my experience as well. Yes, fundraising involves careful planning, attention to detail, and thought-out “next steps”. These things, however, are the “activities” and “environment” in which the “connecting” with other people–in geniune and thoughtful ways–takes place………and, when all is said and done, it is “what happens” in the relationshiips–how we treat people, are we listening, are we “led” in our conversations, etc.–that “lead” to people “wanting to partner with us” and our organization/ministry.
Henry
October 5th, 2009 @ 11:04 am
My story involves a man I did not know named Robbie. I along with my Committee Chair went on a “solicitation” to an organization for our fundraising with Young Life. It was the easiest ask I have ever been to. We walked away with $5000 without really bring this organization along. Of course, I did a horrible job of keeping in touch with Robbie and this organization over the course of a year. But God had a plan. Robbie was invited to our annual fundraising banquet, soon became a part of our committee, and then became the chair of the committee. This all happened over the course of 18 months. While that was going on I started to develop a relationship with Robbie and we became friends outside of our commitments with Young Life. It was great to see how our relationship-just friends hanging out, going to play golf, seeing movies, dinner, etc developed into opportunities to hear about Robbie and his hopes and dreams. Soon, the values of Young Life and the importance of its impact in that community became very important to Robbie, it was before but as I saw our relationship grow I saw his commitment grow. And soon he came up with a plan to ask his organization for $50,000! Ten times the first amount. I was even wary of this, I thought: what if this makes them mad?, how does this make us look to this organization?, to the community?-how does this make me look?! So many thoughts, but I trusted God and Robbie and I agreed it was worth the ask. Well, of course Robbie had great bonds with this organization and walked away from the meeting with a $50,000 check! It blew me away and it took me some time to see it through the “mustard seed” lense. I had not intended for my relationship with Robbie to be profitable financially for Young Life. I just liked him as a friend and enjoyed having discussions about life and how God fit into this picture. I see now that it was a seed planted and that seed grew through relationship development, commitment, and pursuing Jesus.
To answer your question above, I do not know how we begin this process. So much of it seems organic. I know that you can strategically pursue people with means and access, but for me in my situation-I am so new to my current community, that I do not know who a lot of those people are today. So I just go and go and go and meet so that I can begin the process. What do you think?
October 5th, 2009 @ 10:57 am
Good question Jaree. Anyone have thoughts to share?
October 5th, 2009 @ 9:10 am
I think one of the most difficult areas I’ve experienced thus far with the idea of fundraising as a ministry and “planting the seed” is starting to build the relationship. As someone new to the area of fundraising, Nouwen’s words “Fundraising is proclaiming what we believe in such a way that we offer other people an opportunity to participate wih us in our vision and mission.” stand out as a passage to implement into practice. My question is how do begin to plant seeds and build those relationships?
October 4th, 2009 @ 2:45 pm
One of my favorite stories of “seed planting” is a very personal one that involved my daughter Sara (now a 33 year-old soon to be mother……thus making me a soon-to-be grandfather–the first week in January!).
The “story” unfolded when Sara was 8 years old and met a man in a wheelchair holding out a jar in front of our local K-Mart collecting money to help children (as he had been at one time) who “could not walk”. While “my putting in a dollar” was one thing, little 8 year old Sara “wanted to help too” so “in went her dime”. Upon returning home she kept asking about “what the man in the wheelchair was doing” and “how could she help”? As someone who “raised money for a living” I knew that Sara–in her own 8-year old way–had “experienced what I had experienced”….specifically, that “the act of giving” is an active of engagement, an act of sharing, and an act of “standing with” another person. Repeatedly over the next few days Sara asked about “children who can’t walk” and also “the man” in the wheelchair who “we gave money to” but “so many people” didn’t. Several days later, Sara had her can (provided by the local Multiple Schlorosis Chapter)going around the neighborhood “collecting money for children who can’t walk”.
Anyone who knew my 8-year old Sara at that time would know that walking up to a person’s door and asking them for money would be very difficult for her. It was also difficult for her father–a professional fundraiser sensitive to the fact that rejection (at age
is not something you want your child to experience. I also knew that through the “act” of asking–and placing herself in a “vulnerable place”–was a first step by my daughter on a journey that I know can be very uplifting and rewarding. I also knew that “going up to the door with her tin can” was her way of “inviting people” to do something that was important.
To be perfectly honest, I think “Sara’s asking” was one of the “hardest fundraising asks” I have ever experienced. When, however, I saw the look on her face when people would “give” (and they did give–everybody in our neighborhood “knew Sara”!)I knew that “far more than the gift of money was involved”……….indeed, each person who “gave that day” planted a seed that has “grown” into an incredibly giving and wonderful young woman who deeply cares about people and will be a wonderful mother. In turn, each person “who gave” had the privilege of “nurturing the life” of this young person who wanted to “do something” for children who “unlike her” could not walk.
Other stories of “seed planting” to share?
Henry
October 4th, 2009 @ 1:42 pm
The fund-raising thing that our church/community does every year that I believe illustrates very well helping the kingdom come about is the Church World Service CROP Hunger Walk that we help organize locally. These Walks have been going on all over the United States for over 60 years. Church World Service has workers, partnering with local agencies, in over 80 countries. CWS responds to local needs, peoples bring their needs for help with water technology, food technology, making schools safe, disaster relief, refugee needs, etc. The whole focus is that people bring their needs and have in mind solutions, for us walkers trying to raise money, we don’t define their needs for them and we don’t impose our solutions upon them. To me, this seems like mustard seed work because we have to let ourselves get small and without our own agendas to do the responding and a lot of people seem to find meaning in helping this way–in fact, it seems like people everywhere are crying out for this kind of help and to join in in giving this kind of help rather than the more oppressive help that is often given by governments and agenda-driven sometimes organizations. It’s do unto others as you would have them do unto you. It takes a lot of discernment and trust when people get to know others in this way and prayer to keep on track for the other. Church World Service puts energy and resources into teaching us walkers who gather pledges about the lives and situations of people we are collecting funds for. Relationships are first, money second.