“Is there a Catholic way to fundraise?”

I hear this question all the time, practically every day.

Let me put your worries at ease. The answer is YES.

For the last two weeks, I shared with you the advice of a Catholic priest regarding the key facts every apostolate should know about fundraising.

Fr Michael is a Catholic priest in Baltimore and wrote a book titled Church Money: Rebuilding the Way We Fund Our Mission – Lessons from a Catholic Parish (Order through Ave Maria Press).

Today, I want to share Fr Michael’s recommendation on how to ask for a donation. Yes, this priest gives concrete advice on how to make the request. Check it out:

P.S. You will be surprised that he does NOT organize fundraising events, all the while raising more than the parish needs. Anyone with ears should listen to his advice.

Last week, I shared with you the advice of a Catholic priest regarding the key facts every apostolate should know about fundraising.

Fr Michael is a Catholic priest in Baltimore and wrote a book titled Church Money: Rebuilding the Way We Fund Our Mission – Lessons from a Catholic Parish (Order through Ave Maria Press).

Today, I want to outline how Fr Michael recommends you START fundraising.

It’s great to learn what a priest has to say because he keeps you and me on the right path. Learn what this priest has to say:

There’s never been a better time to fundraise…

Yet standing out from the crowd can be more challenging than ever.

Enter Fr Michael White.

Fr Michael is a Catholic priest in Baltimore. He wrote a book titled Church Money: Rebuilding the Way We Fund Our Mission – Lessons from a Catholic Parish (Order through Ave Maria Press).

As a fundraiser, I was eager to review this book and share this priest’s advice which applies to ALL Catholic apostolates.

Check it out:

Nobody knows how to fundraise when they start.

Even I was naive during my first campaigns!

We all start in the same spot – zero knowledge and zero experience.

Just like with any activity, you have to learn along the way. Today, I want to share three essential fundraising skills that I think every Catholic apostolate should know.

Whether you are starting to raise funds or looking for some new ideas, you should know these three skills:

Check it out:

If you are starting your apostolate and wanting to fundraise, I have some advice.

Also, if you want a refresher of what to focus on, I think you will enjoy these words of wisdom.

Check it out:

Have you ever wondered why people might be reluctant to donate?

If you’ve ever had people reluctant to donate to your Catholic apostolate, then keep reading.

Asking for donations, as you can imagine, can be tricky. You spend all this time, energy, and effort fundraising, but instead of receiving financial support, you get crickets.

Why the silence?!?

Why were people so reluctant to donate?

This week, I dive into the reasons why people are so hesitant to donate to your apostolate. Check it out:

When it comes to asking for $, where is the sweet spot?

Some people like to use the “soft ask” – meaning you ask indirectly. For example, the donate button on your website or at the bottom of an email. It could also be a sentence somewhere in a mailer.

Other people like to use the “hard ask” – meaning you ask point-blank.

A common fear is that you will turn people off if you use the “hard ask.”

At the same time, if you use the “soft ask,” potential donors may not SEE your request… and you will lose donations.

So what’s the solution?

I learned early in my fundraising career that knowing which ask to use is essential. There’s a subtle difference between the two asks that every Catholic apostolate should understand. Let me explain: