Fundraising is a "sacred trust"

FundRaising Success magazine recently interviewed National Catholic Development Conference President Sr. Georgette Lehmuth. Keeping the Faith provides a good look at the spiritual dimension of fundraising. Sr. Lehmuth said:

In the faith-based community, it is all about love of God and neighbor. What seems to work best is to clearly articulate the mission and demonstrate to the donor how that mission is realized in the lives of others.

For our members, giving is a process of engagement. It is about relationship. It is about the donor's need to participate in doing good for the love of God and neighbor. It is about the needs of those most vulnerable.... the role of the fundraiser is to nurture that relationship and reverence it as a sacred trust.

The faith-motivated fundraiser is always pointing in two directions: at the cause, and at the donor. The work benefits both.

Even if your organization is not faith-motivated, you are involved in this spiritual transaction -- the majority of donors to virtually all nonprofits are believers. (I wouldn't be much surprised to learn that American Atheists had a high percentage of religious donors!) What you do is a "sacred trust." Being aware of this dimension of your mission will help you do better work as a fundraiser.

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