I struggled with the idea that much of my role would be carried out half a world away from the place I wanted to see healed and transformed. Over time, God has helped change that perspective, and helped me embrace the challenges and joys of fundraising, until I have come to see the fundraising task as an integral part of the ministry of our organization.

In 2007, I was given a small booklet written by Henri Nouwen called The Spirituality of Fundraising, a transcript of an informal address he had given to a non profit foundation. I have included some excerpts from the booklet because they so clearly articulate our desire to use fundraising as a form of ministry and engage in real partnership with Wellspring donors.

Fundraising is proclaiming what we believe in such a way that we offer other people an opportunity to participate with us in our vision and mission. Fundraising is precisely the opposite of begging. When we seek to raise funds we are declaring, “We have a vision that is amazing and exciting. We are inviting you to invest yourself through the resources God has given you—your energy, your prayers, and your money, in this work to which God has called us.”

Fundraising is always a call to conversion. Whether we are asking for money or giving money we are drawn together by God, who is about to do a new thing through our collaboration (Is. 43:19).

We must not let ourselves be tricked into thinking that fundraising is only a secular activity. As a form of ministry, fundraising is as spiritual as giving a sermon, entering a time of prayer, visiting the sick, or feeding the hungry.

God’s kingdom is the place of abundance where every generous act overflows its original bounds and becomes part of the unbounded grace of God at work in the world.

If we ask for money, it means that we offer a new fellowship, a new brotherhood, a new sisterhood, a new way of belonging. We have something to offer—friendship, prayer, peace, love, fidelity, affection, ministry with those in need, and these things are so valuable that people are willing to make their resources available to sustain them.

This is how we envision Wellspring for the community of people that so generously are involved in the life of our organization. Our prayer is that this perspective on fundraising increasingly pervades every aspect of who we are and what we do as an organization. How can we do it better? If you are a current or potential donor of our organization and want to share your perspective on this very important topic, please feel free to contact me.

You can get your own copy of The Spirituality of Fundraising from the Henri Nouwen Society (www.HenriNouwen.org).