Category Archives: fundraising

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Three Myths about Fundraising to Avoid

What many Catholic Apostolates think about fundraising but should reconsider

Make sure to get your free copy of ‘The 10 Commandment of Catholic Fundraising’. It’s a book that highlights the ten tasks you should do to keep you focused on your mission and hit your fundraising target, every time.
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Several Catholics apostolates this week shared with me their biggest challenge when it comes to fundraising.

Oddly, I noticed most of their challenges fit the category of myths rather than facts.

“People don’t give because of the economy.”

“I live in a community that doesn’t have a lot of money.”

“My donors are getting older, and I need to replace them with younger donors.”

People believe these myths for a variety of reasons. You might think these myths are true, too. I’m here to tell you the opposite.

Today, I want to debunk three of the most common myths when it comes to finding donors. By doing so, you will become a better fundraiser.

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Matthew 7:7 – The Lenten Appeal Blueprint

How to make your next Lenten Appeal more Catholic

Make sure to get your free copy of ‘The 10 Commandment of Catholic Fundraising’. It’s a book that highlights the ten tasks you should do to keep you focused on your mission and hit your fundraising target, every time.

This week I got to catch up with a few of the Catholic causes that I’m fundraising for this Lent.

One is a religious order.
Another is a school.
Another is a lay apostolate.
The 4th is a Catholic entrepreneur.

Each of them has different goals (a few thousand to millions), but all want to run their appeal as CATHOLIC as possible. We talked all about what makes for a Lenten appeal that is both faith-based and successful.

Surprisingly, the ‘secret’ formula can be found in Matthew’s Gospel, chapter 7.

Check it out:

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A Monastic Approach to Catholic Fundraising

3 Pieces of Advice I've Learned from Fundraising for Religious Communities

Make sure to get your free copy of ‘The 10 Commandment of Catholic Fundraising’. It’s a book that highlights the ten tasks you should do to keep you focused on your mission and hit your fundraising target, every time.
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So if you’ve been following along for the last few years, you know that I take my Catholic faith seriously in all parts of life…

… especially when it comes to fundraising.

I believe you have to look at the teachings of the Church, doctrine, and saints for ideas on how to fundraise.

This week I was in Detroit… and the blistering cold weather (along with a few books) got me thinking about the monastic traditions.

I asked myself, “How would a monk fundraise?”

Yes, religious communities do fundraise! … and after helping several these past few months, here is what I’ve learned.

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How Catholics Should Fundraise – Recommendations from a Homily

3 Practical Tips I learned from a Homily

Make sure to get your free copy of ‘The 10 Commandment of Catholic Fundraising’. It’s a book that highlights the ten tasks you should do to keep you focused on your mission and hit your fundraising target, every time.
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It’s 2019 and you might be thinking about setting some fundraising targets for the New Year. Well, you might want to hold off on that until you watch this. As Catholics, you know that we see the world differently. Take for example Saint John the Baptist in today’s reading.

I think the same applies to how Catholics should fundraise. Remember, we can’t simply copy what everyone else does. Today, I want to share with you some great ideas that can help you have a holier and faith-based approach to fundraising.

I can’t take all the credit for these ideas. A priest inspired me during his homily… and he hit it on the nail.

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3 Ways Catholics Can Better Fundraise in 2019

Make sure to get your free copy of ‘The 10 Commandment of Catholic Fundraising’. It’s a book that highlights the ten tasks you should do to keep you focused on your mission and hit your fundraising target, every time.

Fundraising has changed dramatically in the past decade, and 2019 will be another year of new ways to ask for donations. The focus used to be on direct mail appeals. You’d collect a mailing list of people and mail them your appeal. That method is slowly being replaced by online appeals for two reasons.

The first is online appeals are dramatically less expensive. Mailing a letter would cost you around a buck and change, while an email usually costs less than a nickel.

The second reason is ‘return on investment’ or ROI Non-profits – especially ones with smaller fundraising budgets – find this new approach to be more successful. You can send 2,000 emails for the same price as it would cost to send a single letter. More requests equal more donations, and fewer costs mean more money back into the mission.