Biblical Fundraising: What does it look like in daily practice?

By Ruston Pierce
Fundraising and Capital Campaign Manager| Fortify Foundation

In a world where financial concerns can sometimes overshadow moral principles, it’s essential to ground your school’s fundraising practices in integrity and righteousness. It’s so easy for mission drift to creep into our fundraising as Christian schools because we are so dependent on additional funds for capital growth or possibly even our operating budget.  Boards and administrators struggle with what types of gifts they are willing to take based on the person or organization making the gift.  These conversations can be very difficultto navigate.  It’s paramount that the school leadership is in alignment on how biblical principles guide their decision-making in fundraising practices.

In the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30), Jesus teaches about stewardship and accountability. Fundraisers should approach their responsibilities with the understanding that they are stewards of the resources entrusted to them. This implies a duty to manage funds wisely and transparently, being answerable not only to donors but ultimately to God. Clear communication and consistent follow-up with donors will ensure accountability is in place to manage the funds your school has been blessed with.  Good stewardship is inferred when you model this level of communication with donors.

The Bible encourages generosity and cheerfulness in giving (2 Corinthians 9:7). Fundraising efforts should reflect this spirit, focusing not only on the need but also on the joy of giving and making a positive impact. Donors should feel inspired and uplifted, rather than coerced or guilt-tripped into contributing.  By putting the focus of giving on Kingdom growth, we can honestly talk to donors about supporting our mission.  Avoid the priorities of giving becoming buildings or programs.  Giving to the mission is about sacrificing to advance God’s Kingdom.  Celebrate all gifts to build a culture of generosity in your school.

Proverbs 11:1 states, “The Lord detests dishonest scales, but accurate weights find favor with him.” Transparency and honesty are critical in fundraising endeavors. Donors should have full confidence that their contributions will be used as intended, and fundraisers must provide accurate information about their projects and finances. Good, bad, or ugly, do not hesitate to show donors the realities of your school’s finances.  Help them understand how they fit in with the mission of what you are doing.  That may mean they are helping you maintain your budget.  Don’t avoid hard conversations if you believe you are fulfilling God’s calling for your school.

Proverbs 3:5-6 advises, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Fundraisers should acknowledge their dependence on God’s guidance and provision, approaching their work with humility and prayer. In his book, A Spirituality of Fundraising, Henri Nouwen explains this perfectly, “Once we are prayerfully committed to placing our whole trust in God, and have become clear that we are concerned only for the Kingdom; once we have learned to love the rich for who they are rather than what they have; and once we believe that we have something of great value to give them, then we will have no trouble at all in asking someone for a large sum of money”

“And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8) Fundraising should prioritize fairness and compassion.  The easiest way this is fleshed out in a school setting is in our scholarship programs.  If you believe in making Christian education accessible to all people, you must put a priority on creating a scholarship program. Never discount what you offer to families.  Kingdom education is valuable, and you have donors who want to help provide it to more families.  With a correct scholarship program, you can maintain the integrity of your tuition level without discounting your incredibly valuable product.

Proverbs 21:5 reminds us, “The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.” Fundraising efforts should focus not just on short-term gains but on sustainable solutions that address root causes and have lasting impact. Many schools make the mistake of only asking for gifts to solve short term issues. Proactive strategic and financial planning is critical to building credibility with donors and gift cultivation.  Schools should be planned at a minimum of three years out both in financial planning and capital planning.  This level of planning gives your donors faith in how you are stewarding their gifts.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 encourages us to “give thanks in all circumstances.” Fundraisers should express gratitude for every donation, regardless of size, recognizing the sacrificial nature of giving and the trust placed in their organization. Nouwen’s words on this topic changed my perspective on how I viewed my role in fundraising.  “When we approach fundraising in a spirit of gratitude, we do so knowing that God has already given us what we most need for life in abundance. Therefore, our confidence in our mission and vision, and our freedom to love the person to whom we are talking about donating money, do not depend on how that person responds. In this way, gratitude allows us to approach a fund-raising meeting without grasping neediness and to leave it without resentment or dejection.

Coming and going, we can remain secure in God’s love with our hearts set joyfully on the Kingdom.

By adhering to these biblical principles, fundraisers can cultivate a culture of integrity, trust, and righteousness in their schools. Ultimately, the goal of fundraising should not be merely to meet financial targets but to glorify God through compassionate service, faithful stewardship of resources, and mission-focused Kingdom growth.