Category Archives: Strategies from Popes

Posted on

Saint John Paul II’s advice to Catholic Apostolates during hectic times

Reviewing Pope John Paul II's Apostolic Letter on the importance of technology to Catholic Apostolates

You don’t need me to tell you that when it comes to fundraising there’s still plenty of challenges, twists, and turns.

But you shouldn’t take this journey alone.

With new challenges come new opportunities. Saint John Paul II taught us this in his Apostolic Letter, The Rapid Development. He recognized that technology would help Catholic apostolates fulfill their missions.

He says, ‘Do not be afraid of new technologies! These rank ‘among the marvelous things.”

We’ve seen technology help do this in these past weeks; Livestream Masses and Adoration, online education, virtual retreats, and online donation requests.

What can Saint John Paul II teach you about the rapid development of technology and how it can help your Catholic apostolate?

That is what’s this week’s discussion is all about:

Posted on

Saint Leo the Great explains how to fundraise

3 helpful fundraising ideas from one of the greatest popes in history

I am positive you know who Pope (and Saint) Leo the Great is. One of the greatest and most influential popes in Church history, he fought off the heresies of Pelagianism and Manichaeism in the 5th century. He also led Rome’s defense against Attila the Hun’s barbarian invasion on Italy.

Did you also know that he liked fundraising?

But pause for a second…

He didn’t like fundraising the way you are probably thinking. Pope Leo was not interested in running fundraising campaigns so that Catholic causes like yours can just get donations.

Like every saint, he saw the BIGGER picture.

Posted on

Saint John Paul II gives 3 fundraising tips for Catholics

Three practical recommendations from Saint Paul II's Apostolic Exhortation, Christifideles Laici

It might sound a little oversimplistic, but I have a simple solution to almost every fundraising problem.

And what I’ve noticed is that many of the most successful Catholic non-profits have this same solution to all their problems.

Are you ready for it?

Learn what the saints and popes did.

Today, I want to turn your attention to Saint John Paul II. He wrote a fantastic Apostolic Exhortation titled, CHRISTIFIDELES LAICI. In this document, John Paul II offers three powerful ideas on how to improve your fundraising.

See for yourself:

Posted on

Pope Benedict XVI, Hope, and How to Fundraise

Three recommendations on how to fundraise from Pope Benedict XVI's encyclical, Saved in Hope

I was reading Pope Benedict XVI’s encyclical, Saved in Hope.

How does this connect with raising funds?

When we fundraise, we often use the word hope. “I hope this campaign works.” “I hope they say yes.” “I hope to find donors.”

On the surface, these phrases may seem reasonable to you. But there is an important takeaway when it comes to hope.

Pope Benedict tells us that hope, if not understood properly, can do more harm than good. This is especially true in fundraising, and he explains why. Check it out:

Posted on

Saint Joseph, a model Catholic fundraiser

Three characteristics a Catholic fundraiser should adopt from Saint Joseph

This week, I spent time learning about the life of Saint Joseph.

I came across an encyclical written by Pope Leo XIII about Joseph titled, QUAMQUAM PLURIES.

If my Latin is correct, this means, “However often,” right?

I couldn’t help spotting the connections between Saint Joseph’s life and the life of a fundraiser. At first glance, this may sound impossible; however, I think you will agree with my findings.

Check out this week’s fundraising ‘thought-piece’:

Posted on

Pope Leo XIII teaches fundraising

3 tips from on how to raise funds from the Encyclical, Longinqua

It’s funny how people talk about their favorite popes. A lot of Catholic non-profits/causes love telling people, “You’ve got to read about this pope!”

And that’s true…

but the most successful Catholic non-profits/causes know that to grow your fundraising, sometimes you need to put a pope’s insight into practice.

Pope Leo XIII happens to be one of my favorites. One of his lesser know encyclicals, Longinqua, gives some fantastic advice on how to find donors.

Learn them here:

Posted on

Pope Benedict XV teaches how to fundraise

3 Fundraising Tips from Benedict XV's Encyclical Sacra Propediem

When CatholicFundraiser.net launched in 2016, the focus was to take a CATHOLIC approach to asking for donations.

Here we are years later, and I am talking to you about Pope Benedict XV…

Success!

Benedict XV left us a treasure chest of letters, homilies, bulls, and encyclicals on how to grow in holiness. And… yes, how to fundraise properly as well.

Here are insights that I’ve learned from his Encyclical Sacra Propediem: