This is a topic that I think about a great deal. How does what I believe impact how I work and how I fundraise? This may be a weird question for some of you but it is on my mind a great deal of the time.
I do believe that Jesus is the hope of the world and that I have a personal relationship with him. And it is my love for the world God created that motivates my work in nonprofit. Because fundraising is so relationship-based there are great opportunities for some incredible discussions.
My faith or fundraising dilemma is a conflict between building programs and changing people. Fundraising can become so mechanical about talking to the right people about the right things and almost looses the deep human relationship. Sometimes I get caught up in catering to the major donors and those that are the very most well off. I try and use my faith to remind me of the value of ever conversation and every giver.
Another difficulty I have is that I do not always see a direct connection to my beliefs and my passions. Providing scholarship opportunities, or keeping someone’s house warm are great things to do but they do not provide answers to heart problems in the world and in the lives of our clients.
