The Spirituality of Fundraising by Henry

Nouwen
Thursday November 15 @ 12:08 PM Filed in: Best Practices
This has made the rounds, but I've always enjoyed this lecture from Henri Nouwen. It is
such a fresh way of looking at fundraising. If you are feeling a little weary on the FR
front or just enjoy his writings in general, take a few minutes to read this. I hope you are
encouraged:
This has made the rounds, but I've always enjoyed this lecture from Henri Nouwen. It is
such a fresh way of looking at fundraising. If you are feeling a little weary on the FR
front or just enjoy his writings in general, take a few minutes to read this. I hope you are
encouraged:

The Spirituality of
Fundraising
Notes Taken From A Lecture By Henri Nouwen 09/92

From the perspective of the Gospel, fund raising is not

simply a response to crisis, it is first a form of ministry, a
way of announcing your vision and inviting others into your
vision with the resources available to them.

Fund Raising is proclaiming what you believe in, in such a

way so that you offer the other person an opportunity to
participate in your vision. It is the exact opposite of begging
during crisis.

We have a vision that is so exciting and we give you the

opportunity to participate in that vision with the resources
that God has given you and for you to be pleased for that
occasion.

Since fund raising is ministry, it is always a call to

conversion, to say to people "I invite you to a new way of
relating to your resources so that making your resources
available to us is good for you."

If the donation of money is only good for the person who

receives, it is not fundraising in the spiritual sense of the
word. From the point of view of the Gospel--"I will only
receive your money if it is good for your spiritual journey,
for your health."

The donor should not be becoming poorer, but becoming

richer by giving.

Fund Raising from a spiritual point of view is a very

concrete way to help the kingdom come about. What is the
Kingdom? The Kingdom is the creation of a community of
love in the world and beyond this world. It reaches beyond
a chronological perspective. Whatever love is created it is
stronger than death. If you are raising funds, you are
building a community of love you are doing exactly what
you should be doing as Christians.

Jesus calls us to be fruitful, are you fruitful? If you are

becoming fruitful then you don't need to beg.

In communicating your vision to the donor the heart of your

message is "Aren't you glad that we give our life and our
time, that we are involved in this essential love-building
work? You are invited into this work. You are allowed to give
you resources for this lifegiving work." This means that you
are no longer begging.

We are talking about a real turn around. The world is often

smarter than those in the Kingdom. The corporate world
says that you do not give money if people beg for it.

People like to invest money in people who can make it

grow. Can you make money grow (i.e. increase in impact)?
People don't like to invest money in people who have
nothing and will be back begging next week.

Spiritually speaking, I [Henri Nouwen] ask for money

"standing up" and not by bowing down and begging. I
believe in what I am about. I believe that I have something
important to offer and invite people to become a part of it.

A Discussion Concerning Those Who Ask For Money:

The key question is: "What is your security base, God or

mammon?" Where do you find your security? What is your
relationship with money?

The question is in general, "What is the place of money in

your life?" You will never be able to ask for money if you
don't know its place in your life (your relationship with
money).

Do you know how much money your father or mother

earns? Do you talk to them about money? Did your parents
ever talk about money with you? Do you ever talk to your
kids about how you earn it and use it?

If you have money how do you spend it? Do you cling to it

in case of possible emergencies? Do you like to give money
to friends or to institutions? If you have a friend in need do
you give him or her a thousand dollars?

Are you concerned whether gifts are tax deductible? Is

giving dependent on government tax regulations? How does
having or not having money affect your selfesteem? Do you
feel good when you have a lot? Do you ever say "I don't feel
good if I don't have money," or "I'm not as good since I
don't have money?”

Do you use money to control people or events, or using

financial resources to make sure something happens you
way?

Do you ever use money to simply give others the freedom

to do what they want to do? "I don't care how you spend it, I
just want you to have it."

How do you feel when people ask you for a thousand dollars
to pay a salary to someone, or help someone with a
project? What if someone said, "I know you have a
thousand dollars. Can I have it right now?" What happens to
your heart? Do you say this person is up front and honest or
are they obnoxious and out of their mind?

How do you feel when people ask for a donation from you?
I [Henri Nouwen] am intentional in asking these questions. I
attempt to get you in touch with the key question: "Where
is your security base, is it in God or money?"

Where are you interior feeling secure or insecure? It is

important to realize that money is one of the greatest
taboos and it is more of a taboo than sex or religion.

It is possible that when you come to fund raising you can't

be up front about it. It has something to do with that
intuitive little place in your heart where you need security
and you don't want to give it away.

"As long as I have some money in the bank, nothing will

happen, i.e. when someone dies or if war develops."
Perhaps your earthly father said that you should be sure not
to become " dependent upon someone, you don't need to
beg, you need to be sure you have your own house, etc. It
is a very normal thing, however, we need to be aware of
these messages.
Jesus is saying something very radical you can't put your
security in God and money. Make a choice.

These questions are to assist in asking yourself: "Are you

still putting your security in money or in God?"

You can ask for as much money as you want when you are
free from money. When you have your security in God you
can ask for money. The reason we have such a hard time
asking for money is precisely because it is a taboo subject,
in that our little securities are wrapped up in finance and we
know that yours are too. We are not freed up.

If I am absolutely sure that my whole trust is in God and I

am only concerned for the kingdom, then I have no problem
asking for any amount. You can ask for any amount if the
person turns you down, you simply say that they missed
their opportunity.

You as a fundraiser need to be free from money in terms of

your security base.
What happens when we talk of raising money from rich
people? We sometimes express anger, jealousy or
judgementalism in terms of how they made their money.
These remarks mean that we are getting in touch with our
own feelings. This shows that you are not free and in a real
way, not ready to ask.

We are not asking out of anger or "entitlement" of

competition then it is no longer you speaking in the name of
God in whom your security is based. That is what you are
called to do.

The issue of money has to do with your family, your

children, your future, your calling, etc. You are really at
the center of the questions of the Gospel.

What About People Who Have Money?

We can say that God has a preferential option for the poor,
but sometimes we also have a prejudice against the rich, Le
that they are less "good" or "holy" thank the poor. We often
ask the questions "Where did they get their money from,
did they obtain it unjustly?"

But nowhere in the Bible does it say that we should love the
rich less, if we do so, they will realize it when we are
speaking with them.

My experience is that the rich are poor in other ways. They

are lonely, have feelings of rejection, and feel that they are
used. They all need a lot of attention and care. They are as
poor as the poor. Many people are in a prison in that
wherever they go, people only see them as having money,
i.e. "boy is lie loaded!" The rich can't break out of this.
"Everyone is after my money. I can't get away from the
fact. I never feel people love me for who I am."

Let's not just talk about money, let's talk about you and
your needs. This is not a relationship of begging, but
relating in terms of spiritual wealth. It is only through the
poverty of the rich that somehow, very much of the
Kingdom has developed. Do not be overly impressed with
money.

Two people need to know each other and share resources.

You may have spiritual resources, and they may have
financial resources and both work for the kingdom and
through this interaction, you let something happen that is
greater than the two people.

You have to minister to the rich from your place of spiritual

weakness. You have to have the courage to say "I love you,
not for your money, but for who you are." There can be no
jealousies you need to see it as someone who is just as poor
and in need of love as I am. Can I discover the poor in that
person, that is where that person's blessing is. "Blessed are
the poor." The rich are also very poor.

If you ask for money from people who have money, you
need to love them deeply. Worry not if they give you
money, worry if they get closer to God.

Every time you invite the rich to put their security base in
God, you are raising consciousness and allowing people to
look at structural problems from a different place. We have
to liberate the rich from their clinging to a way of living that
keeps the structural process going. Those who challenge
the system are often free from the security base of money.

It is interesting to look at Jesus' relationship with the rich

young ruler. Jesus offered the man the kingdom and he
turned it down.

Asking For Money:

Once you have found your security base in God and have
learned to love those who are rich, and once you have
discovered you have something of great value to give, then
you call ask whatever you want and get it. That's what tile
Gospel says. "Ask and it shall be given, knock and the door
will be opened unto you."

Asking someone for money is offering the other person the

opportunity for them to offer their resources for the work of
God.

Asking for money is inviting people into a new communion.

If you have something you believe in, if you ask for money
you have do any possible thing to make the potential donor
to be part of the vision. "We want you to come into
communion with us." Offer communion and friendship.

Fund raising has to be community building. People have a

need for community and you can offer it. You offer a new
brotherhood, a new sisterhood and a new way of belonging.
Money is the least interesting thing.

Every time you ask for money, the person needs to be

invited into this ideal that you have, to be invited into
communion. Getting to know a visitor we want you to know
what god means when lie says be fruitful. We want you to
know that fruitfulness is a whole rich vision that is much
more important than successfulness or productivity. You are
called to be fruitful. This affects the whole way we look at
life.

The spirituality of fruitfulness involves inviting people into

that vision. "It is exciting to have you on board this visions
is open to you." You need to ask whether there is a vision
behind your project. How can you deepen the vision and let
it grow?

Do you take time to develop the vision and pray for the
vision? We are giving life by who we are. What is your
vision, why get involved?

Is fund raising your real vocation? The spirit of

communication has to come from the body, which sends
you out. You can't fear rejection from the body about
finances.

Asking Has To Be Good For You, The Person Asked And The
Kingdom:

If you come home from fund raising and do not feel good,
something is wrong. You have to love fund raising.
Fund raising is as spiritual as giving a sermon that is, if you
believe in the kingdom.

It is good for your conversion too, because you have to get

in touch with your prejudices and your hangups with
money, and with who you are. After all, what is there to be
afraid of?

Are you willing to be converted so you are no longer afraid,

are you willing to "find the freedom?"

Jesus says to go in peace into every town that you enter

and pray that the peace of God descends. If not, shake the
sand off your sandals and walk on.

It is not a problem if people don't give. You are free. If you

go home depressed, it shows other people have more
influence over your moods.

It has to be good for the person you ask they need to feel
invited into something new.

It has to be good for the kingdom. You need to be very

convinced of your call, and your call of your life has to be
deepened and strengthened in your fund raising life.

You also have to listen to those who give you money. They
may say that you should slow down.

"I will give to you if you are becoming more faithful in your
vocation to give you freedom to do higher things."

Conclusion:

Fund raising has to always create new, lasting relationships

(i.e. an extremely personal and spiritual form of
networking).

Fund Raising has to focus on ministry you have something

to offer, a home, faithfulness, friendship, prayer, peace,
love, friendship, affection etc. These are so valuable that
people are willing to make their resources available. I hope
that fund raising gives you some excitement. It is as much a
ministry as praying.

Ask for what you need and not a cent more. Be specific
about the amount.

Give yourself, if you are not afraid to lose your security

base.

You have to be really generous to ask for money. Don't just

say you are poor. Take a risk, or ask others to take a risk.
That is what the kingdom is all about.
So fund raising is a real opportunity for our own conversion.
It is wonderful. If you do it well, you will discover it is an
extremely beautiful form of ministry.